Homeless Services

Homeless services vary. You can get help with emergency funds to pay rent or utilities so you do not become homeless. If you are homeless help is available for housing and temporary shelter, help with food, access to health care, public benefits, and employment. Who you contact is based on where you live:

• If you live in Chicago call 3-1-1
• If you live outside of Chicago, resources are harder to find. Here are a few options:
• Emergency funds to prevent homelessness
  • scroll down to the bottom of the page to link with a list of agencies that provide prevention services
• Housing/temporary shelter (see housing on this page)
• Food
  
• Access to health care
  • Healthcare to the homeless
    
  • Free or low cost clinics
    
  • Medicaid (see public benefits)
  • Other Illinois health resources
    
• Public benefits (food stamps, Medicaid, cash help)
  
• Employment: many shelters or homeless programs have training as part of the service provided. Following are a few general resources:
• Illinois Department of Employment Security Apply for unemployment benefits, access services for veterans or ex-offenders, career research, job preparation, training and apprenticeship programs and much more
• Job training or education you can apply to college, find internships, get information about GED programs and much more
• Homeless children are able to continue to go to school even though they no longer live in the district
• Go to the Illinois State Board of Education site for information about access to education and schools for homeless children
  

Emergency/Temporary Shelters

If you need temporary shelter on an emergency basis this is the housing you may need. Often when you contact a shelter, you will be asked basic information to help determine if the shelter is best for your needs. If not, the worker who is interviewing you will try to help you find a shelter that best fits your needs. Emergency shelters in Illinois are split by shelters outside the City of Chicago, and shelters in Chicago. If you need to locate a shelter in Chicago please call 3-1-1.

Transitional Shelters/Second Stage Housing

Transitional shelters can provide you housing for up to 24 months. Organizations that operate these shelters often require you to apply, be interviewed and meet specific criteria. There is often a waiting period before you can enter transitional housing. If you reside in Chicago, call 3-1-1 for information about housing options. Outside the city of Chicago, there is no one central source for information about housing. You need to contact your local homeless Continuum of Care to obtain information about HUD funded transitional shelters in your area.

Permanent Supportive Housing

Permanent Supportive Housing is available to individuals and sometimes families who need additional supports through substance abuse or mental health services, or due to a disability, in order to remain housed. If you need this type of housing call 3-1-1 if you live in Chicago, or your local homeless Continuum of Care if you are outside of Chicago.