Homelessness

The Catholic Charities Emergency Assistance Department of Chicago operates from several offices around the region. Various services are offered as part of this resource, with a focus on addressing urgent basic human needs. Case managers from the department coordinate the Catholic Charities Food Stamp Employment Training and Earnfare Program. The centers provide intake for clothing, emergency shelter, emergency financial assistance for bills, referral, advocacy, short-term case management, a food pantry and information on government benefits screening.

The Chicago Coalition for the Homeless' mission is to organize and advocate to prevent and end homelessness. It offers general outreach, as well as programming specific to ex-offenders and unemployed individuals. 

The Greater Chicago Food Depository provides food for 10 Older Community Adult Markets throughout Cook County. In these markets, older adults aged 60+ can choose from a variety of fresh produce and nonperishable food items at twice a month distributions. The Food Depository also supports distributions at low income senior residential buildings throughout Cook County. Distributions are limited to aged 60+ residents of the buildings. Also, look up local food pantries and soup kitchens on their website by clicking "Find Food"

Heartland Alliance helps those in need find a residence and supportive services through its various housing programs. Programs include supportive services for families transitioning from shelters to permanent housing, case management for formerly homeless residents living Heartland Alliance residencies, supportive services for veteran families, and rental/mortgage assistance through its HIV Prevention Advocacy Program. As of November 2017, all housing waitlists have been temporarily closed. However, there are several programs that do not require residency at a Heartland Alliance property to access services. Call to ask for program availability, locations, and eligibility.

Hope Manor II is a campus-style community that provides a flexible continuum of housing and supportive services to individual veterans and veterans with families through a unique combination of studio apartments, 1, 2 and 3-bedroom units and 4-bedroom townhomes. Interested veterans must be approved by Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) and complete the following paperwork: DD214 Honorable or Under honorable discharge, Valid State ID or DL, Social Security Card, Birth Certificate, Proof of Income.

Englewood Apartments provides 99 homes to people who are chronically homeless, disabled, and/or at high risk of homelessness. The community also offers a range of services designed to help residents address health issues, substance abuse, mental illness, and a host of other challenges that come with living on the street.

Thresholds is a service in Illinois that provides healthcare, housing, and hope for thousands of persons with mental illnesses and substance use disorders each year. Through care, employment, advocacy, and housing, Thresholds assists and inspires people with mental illnesses to reclaim their lives.

The Renaissance Apartments provides the chronically homeless with the resources necessary for eventual self-sufficiency. These individuals have been homeless for a year or more or four times in the last three years. On site supportive services include employment education and training, job readiness, employment referrals and retention, health and wellness support including continued recovery support, nutrition education, mental and physical health services and general management of life skills. Application available on the website, application must be returned for an interview. Call for any questions.

The Supportive Housing Services program of Heartland Human Care Services provides case management to formerly homeless or at-risk of homelessness residents living in four Heartland Alliance subsidized apartment buildings. Monthly rent is based on resident's income, and market-rate apartments are available. The social services program model is designed to assist residents in reaching housing stability and to promote personal growth, well-being and self-sufficiency. Services consist of case management, employment and career development, financial literacy programs, substance use counseling and housing services. To qualify for Supportive Housing Services, an applicant must be homeless or at risk of homelessness and meet the building entrance criteria. Appointments are required to receive services, and this program does not accept walk-ins.

Featherfist provides housing and supportive services to the homeless community throughout Chicago and neighboring suburbs. It offers services in the core areas of case management, locating housing, and veterans' services. In addition, Featherfist provides social services as senior housing development throughout Illinois. Prospective clients meet with a case manager to complete an assessment, after which a service plan will be made that addresses barriers to housing and prepares the client for a move into permanent housing. Factors to determine if the client needs subsidized or affordable housing include the number of family members, current income and barriers to housing. Case management continues through the housing process and for as long as the household needs support.

Chicago 311 services is a way for residents of Chicago to request, track, and explore non-emergency services. The 311 operation is available to request senior well-being checks, receive senior related literature, and gain information on and assistance with senior related services, programs, and events. 

Chicago 311 also provides homelessness prevention and shelter information, as well as a variety of options designed to help improve residents’ quality of life, including the “Home Ownership Preservation Initiative (HOPI)” and the “Homelessness Prevention Call Center (HPCC).”

In order to access Chicago 311 services, dial 311 or visit their user-friendly website. Phone operators are able to connect you with a translator for more than 100 languages, if needed.