What is Housing Insecurity?
Housing insecurity includes a broader set of challenges such as the inability to pay rent or utilities, or the need to move frequently. All of these challenges affect students, and the results this year suggest that it is more common to endure them during college than to have all of one鈥檚 needs met.
Homelessness means that a person is without a place to live, often residing in a shelter, an automobile, an abandoned building, or outside.
Housing Insecurity Resources
In an effort to provide assistance to students experiencing homelessness, 绿帽社 has designated a liaison to assist enrolled homeless students.
If you are at risk or experiencing homelessness, contact:
Melisa Lopez
Director of Student Success and Retention
University Ombudsperson
IBHE HOUSE Liaison
lopez@iit.edu
Below is a list of community resources to support students who are experiencing homelessness or do not have stable housing.
Food
2907 South Wabash Avenue
Chicago, IL 60616
Regular Pantry Program
St. James Food Pantry distributes food on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday between 9鈥11 a.m. If you would like to get help, call 312.842.1919 ext. 215 or visit the pantry during its regular operating hours.
Emergency Program
Emergency services are available to all clients with social service referrals. Emergency food, infant formula, and diapers are provided Monday through Thursday between 9鈥11 a.m.
Lunch Program for Persons Without Housing
The Lunch Program began in 2005 to address the needs of people without housing who have no way of cooking or refrigerating food. Lunches are served Monday through Thursday from 1鈥3 p.m.
Second Saturday of the Month Pantry Program
St. James Food Pantry participates in the Food Depository鈥檚 Mobile Pantry program to provide supplemental perishable and non-perishable food products to individuals on the second Saturday of the month from 9鈥11 a.m. This service is designed to ensure that all people in Cook County have access to food during times not typical for food distribution.
3728 South Indiana Avenue
Chicago, IL 60653
Matthew House, a nonprofit and community-based organization, provides food, daytime shelter, permanent supportive housing, and supportive services to men, women, families, and children who are experiencing or at risk of becoming homeless.
The Greater Chicago Food Depository ensures that no person goes hungry in Chicago or the surrounding areas. Please visit the link for information to find food at local food pantries and meal kitchens.
Clothing
There are many discount clothing options throughout the city. Here are just a few options:
Goodwill stores
Goodwill stores are abundant across the city and the surrounding areas and provide used clothing and household items at a significant discount. To find the Goodwill store closest to you: http://www.goodwill.org/
Bridge to Success
Bridge to Success鈥檚 mission is to enhance employment opportunities for at-risk, low-income, or no-income men, women, and young adults by providing high-end, contemporary interview clothing, coupled with a personal stylist and coaching, to build self-confidence through appearance, interview preparation, and a sense of belonging in the workplace. For more information and to shop their store:
Cornerstone Community Outreach
Cornerstone Community Outreach is an community organization in Chicago鈥檚 Uptown neighborhood that is dedicated to providing shelter to individuals and families in need of a home. Part of its mission and outreach is providing a 鈥渇ree store鈥 its specific communities and its neighbors. The 鈥渇ree store鈥 is a place where you can 鈥渟hop鈥 for clothing items and household essentials. For more information: http://www.ccolife.org/services-for-our-neighbors/
Legal Services
Youth Futures Mobile Legal Clinic
The Law Project provides legal services to homeless and unaccompanied youth through its Youth Futures Mobile Legal Clinic. The goal of this clinic is to provide civil legal service to homeless youth through various established outreach sites. Youth Futures can assist you if you are experiencing housing instability with a variety of civil legal problems, including but not limited to education enrollment, school fees, transportation, discrimination, immunization records, civil rights, public benefits, identification documents, housing, and shelter.
For more information:
Law Offices of Adam David Ingber, P.C. Ingber
Ingber is contracted by the university to provide free, limited legal services to 绿帽社 students. He can be reached at 312.853.3588 or ingberlaw@gmail.com.
Housing and Drop-In Centers
Homeless Youth Resources in Chicago鈥擠rop-In Centers
NORTH SIDE
Neon Street Dorms鈥4506 North Sheridan Road (two blocks east of the Wilson Red Line stop). 773.366.6740. Monday鈥揊riday, 9 a.m.鈥7 p.m. Male, female and transgender youth ages 18鈥24.
Broadway Youth Center鈥擶ellington Avenue United Church of Christ, 615 West Wellington (at Broadway). 773.935.3151. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, noon鈥3 p.m. Youth ages 12鈥24. Free and confidential testing on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 3鈥8 p.m.; Wednesday 10 a.m.鈥8 p.m.
Center on Halsted鈥3656 North Halsted (Corner of Halsted and Waveland, Near Addison Red Line stop). 773.472.6469. Monday鈥揟hursday, 9 a.m.鈥7 p.m. Youth ages 13鈥24.
WEST SIDE
La Casa Norte Casa Corazon West鈥3543 West North Avenue (on North Avenue and Central Park Avenue). 773.276.4900. Monday鈥揟hursday, 9 a.m.鈥7:30 p.m. Youth ages 16鈥21.
Vida/SIDA Generation L鈥2640 West Division. 773.278.6737. Tuesday鈥揝aturday, noon鈥9 p.m. Youth ages 18鈥24.
SOUTH SIDE
Garfield Community Services Center鈥10 South Kedzie (Madison and Kedzie). 312.722.3885. Monday鈥揊riday, 9 a.m.鈥5 p.m.
Teen Living Programs Drop-In Center鈥5500 South Indiana (located in the basement of Life Center Church). 773.891.2505. Monday and Tuesday 11 a.m.鈥6 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday 11 a.m.鈥5 p.m., Friday by appointment only. Youth ages 18鈥24.
La Casa Norte Casa Corazon South鈥1736 West 47th Street. 773.276.4900. Monday 9 a.m.鈥6 p.m., Tuesday鈥揊riday 9 a.m.鈥7:30 p.m. Youth ages 18鈥24.
DOWNTOWN
Drop-In Space鈥877.606.3158. Tuesday 1鈥8 p.m. Women/trans women ages 14鈥22 who may have had to engage in sex to survive (involved in the sex trade). Call for address and more information.
Street Outreach Programs
NORTH SIDE
The Night Ministry鈥檚 Street Outreach Events鈥擟orner of Belmont and Halsted. Tuesday and Thursday, 8:30鈥10:30 p.m.
SOUTH SIDE
Teen Living Program鈥檚 Street and Community Outreach鈥攃all 866.803.8336 for dates, times, and locations.
Emergency Housing Options (Overnight Shelters)
NORTH SIDE
The Crib鈥835 West Addison Street at the Lakeview Lutheran Church (two blocks east of the Addison Red Line stop). Meals, showers, laundry, bed. Arrive no earlier than 8:30 p.m. If necessary, a lottery takes place at 8:45 p.m. Catholic Charities is present to take any youth who are turned away from the lottery to another overnight program. Youth ages 18鈥24. 773.506.3123 (daytime number).
NORTHWEST SIDE
La Casa Norte鈥1940 North California Avenue. 773.276.4900 or 773.270.5126. Doors open at 9 p.m. Youth ages 18鈥24.
WEST SIDE
A Safe Haven鈥2750 West Roosevelt (on the northeast corner of Roosevelt and California). Hot meal, shower, laundry, bed. 773.435.8300. Arrive at 7 p.m. Youth 18鈥24.
SOUTH SIDE
Olive Branch Mission*鈥6310 South Claremont (one block east of Western and 63rd). 773.476.6200. Doors open at 5 p.m. and close at 11 p.m. No food, no drugs, no alcohol, no cigarettes, no lighters on the premises. Ages 18-plus.
La Casa Norte鈥1736 West 47th Street. 773.276.4900. Doors open at 9 p.m. Youth ages 18鈥24.
La Casa Norte鈥擮vernight shelter for pregnant and parenting youth