Volunteer Opportunities

Today marks two weeks since we moved all clients staying in our 24/7 PADS Shelter at Oak Park Temple to individual accommodations. As you might imagine, it’s been challenging, but with ongoing help from our donors, local restaurants and caterers, and community volunteers, a plan for providing nutritious food is in place. This weekend’s meals came from Cucina Paradiso in Oak Park.

Here are 12 ways...

Warmer weather brings changes and beginning May 28th Summer Transitional Shelter begins. The summer shelter program operates from mid May to late August, seven days a week, at seven sites and is designed to foster sustained stability by providing a combination of short-­term shelter and supportive services for 15 participants nightly.

We are almost half way through the regular shelter season but it's not too late to pick up a shift!

Three Key Places We Need Volunteer Support

Somewhere in this community, before each new regular shelter season begins, a variety of unassuming people file into a room, pick up a folder and sit down. At first glance they have the familiar faces of neighbors, family, fellow church members and friends – but they are in fact superheroes.

 EMERGENCY SHELTER

Emergency Shelter is in need of meal providers to provide breakfast, lunch or dinner on a monthly basis. Click HERE to view open meal slots.

PADS shelter is in need of additional volunteers for the following shifts. Please contact Tonisha Daniel, tdaniel@housingforward.org, (708) 338-1724 ext.220.

Housing Forward is in need of volunteers to assist in our Support Center with sorting donations, management of the clothing closet and assistance with client laundry services. Our Support Center is open Monday through Friday during business hours (8am – 5pm). Volunteers are needed to volunteer in 60-90 minute shifts.

Summer Transitional PADS Shelter

We are just about halfway into our Summer Transitional PADS Shelter program, and if you haven't already, we’d like to invite you to help by donating a meal to those that are in the shelter. The program runs through September 4^th and volunteers can sign up for the following options: Breakfast Provider, Lunch Provider, Dinner Provider, and Over Night Helper. Dates for the following shelter sites are listed below. If you are interested in getting involved with this program, please click on the links to sign up!

The summer Transitional Shelter program provides short-term shelter for up to 12 clients that are on an employment or educational track or have an imminent housing plan in order to rapidly re-house individuals and families.  There are also three beds dedicated to those who are newly homeless.