Emergency Shelter
Families can access emergency interim shelter (up to 270 days) by going to the Salvation Army Shield of Hope Emergency Homeless Assessment and Response Center (EHARC) at 924 N Christiana, or if they do not have transportation they can call 3-1-1 from a hospital or police station to be transported to EHARC. Staff at EHARC will assess the family and place them in an available interim shelter. Family placements are made to ensure that families remain intact.
If a youth under the age of 18 needs emergency shelter, contact Comprehensive Community Based Youth Services (CCBYS) at 1-877-870-2663 for 24 hour crisis intervention. CCBYS will place the youth under age 18 in a shelter that serves minors if an alternative placement (e.g. reunification with family, placement in a safe household) is not possible.
Youth homeless shelters primarily serve youth ages 18-24. Unaccompanied youth can access emergency shelter (stay for the night) by contacting homeless youth shelters directly to identify their process for filling beds. Find a complete listing of Homeless Youth Resources and contact information including shelter, housing programs, street outreach, drop-in centers, and hotlines at www.streetlightchicago.org or by downloading the Streetlight Chicago smartphone app.
Housing
Families (with a head of household age 25 and older) who are staying in a shelter, are unsheltered, or are fleeing domestic violence (but not those who are doubled up) can apply for permanent supportive housing through the Chicago Coordinated Entry System (CES). Families accessing this system need to complete an assessment with a trained assessor at a community Access Point to determine their needs. Access Points are available throughout the city. Contact a nearby Access Point directly to set up an assessment appointment.
Youth (ages 18-24, including parenting youth in this age range) are eligible for housing through the CES process if they are staying in a shelter, are unsheltered, at imminent risk of homelessness (i.e. have 14 days or less to leave their current, safe environment), are fleeing domestic violence, or are unstably housed (including youth who are doubled up).
Housing through the CES is only available to people who would not be able to stay housed without supportive services (i.e. there is a chronic medical condition, serious mental illness, or substance abuse). Following the assessment the youth or family will be matched with the housing program that best suits their needs, and will be provided with support through the housing process. Matches will be made based on the family or youth’s level of need (determined through the standardized assessment) and the availability of suitable housing programs.
More information on Access Points and the CES process can be found at http://www.csh.org/chicagoces.
Homeless Prevention Funds
The Chicago Homelessness Prevention Call Center provides immediate financial assistance to help Chicagoans through a crisis or transition. Examples of short-term assistance given to help individuals or families avoid homelessness include help with rent, utility bills, transportation to work, and other needs. Dial 3-1-1 and ask for “Short-Term Help.”
Families can access emergency interim shelter (up to 270 days) by going to the Salvation Army Shield of Hope Emergency Homeless Assessment and Response Center (EHARC) at 924 N Christiana, or if they do not have transportation they can call 3-1-1 from a hospital or police station to be transported to EHARC. Staff at EHARC will assess the family and place them in an available interim shelter. Family placements are made to ensure that families remain intact.
If a youth under the age of 18 needs emergency shelter, contact Comprehensive Community Based Youth Services (CCBYS) at 1-877-870-2663 for 24 hour crisis intervention. CCBYS will place the youth under age 18 in a shelter that serves minors if an alternative placement (e.g. reunification with family, placement in a safe household) is not possible.
Youth homeless shelters primarily serve youth ages 18-24. Unaccompanied youth can access emergency shelter (stay for the night) by contacting homeless youth shelters directly to identify their process for filling beds. Find a complete listing of Homeless Youth Resources and contact information including shelter, housing programs, street outreach, drop-in centers, and hotlines at www.streetlightchicago.org or by downloading the Streetlight Chicago smartphone app.
Housing
Families (with a head of household age 25 and older) who are staying in a shelter, are unsheltered, or are fleeing domestic violence (but not those who are doubled up) can apply for permanent supportive housing through the Chicago Coordinated Entry System (CES). Families accessing this system need to complete an assessment with a trained assessor at a community Access Point to determine their needs. Access Points are available throughout the city. Contact a nearby Access Point directly to set up an assessment appointment.
Youth (ages 18-24, including parenting youth in this age range) are eligible for housing through the CES process if they are staying in a shelter, are unsheltered, at imminent risk of homelessness (i.e. have 14 days or less to leave their current, safe environment), are fleeing domestic violence, or are unstably housed (including youth who are doubled up).
Housing through the CES is only available to people who would not be able to stay housed without supportive services (i.e. there is a chronic medical condition, serious mental illness, or substance abuse). Following the assessment the youth or family will be matched with the housing program that best suits their needs, and will be provided with support through the housing process. Matches will be made based on the family or youth’s level of need (determined through the standardized assessment) and the availability of suitable housing programs.
More information on Access Points and the CES process can be found at http://www.csh.org/chicagoces.
Homeless Prevention Funds
The Chicago Homelessness Prevention Call Center provides immediate financial assistance to help Chicagoans through a crisis or transition. Examples of short-term assistance given to help individuals or families avoid homelessness include help with rent, utility bills, transportation to work, and other needs. Dial 3-1-1 and ask for “Short-Term Help.”