Harriet S. Hawkins is a recipient of the 2018 Dr. William Fitzsimmons Public Health Award from the Oak Park Board of Health and the Department of Public Health. We are proud and immensely grateful to her. The award honors individuals who have contributed to keeping Oak Park a healthier place to live. She was nominated by Betsy Rogers, our Nurse Case Manager in recognition of Harriet’s 22+ years as a registered nurse providing medical care for people who are facing the challenges of homelessness in the Housing Forward Medical Clinic, and contributing to the overall health of this community. www.oak-park.us/news/public-health-contributors-honored-2018-fitzsimmons...
Thursday, December 13th, 2018
This month, our Volunteer Spotlight section features a new staff member we'd like you to know. Since starting at Housing Forward last month, Etta has really hit the ground running. With a leadership position open on the volunteer program team, the learning curve has been steep, but she’s proving to be up for it.
Thursday, September 6th, 2018
This is Edward (at left), one of the young people who volunteered their time around our office this summer. He's posing with David Flint (at right), our Monitoring, Compliance & Evaluation Manager, who he often worked alongside.
In the past, Edward volunteered at the PADS emergency shelter hosted by St. Christopher Episcopal Church in Oak Park during dinner shifts with the youth group and sometimes with his parents, who are also committed volunteers.
Thursday, August 17th, 2017
This month Housing Forward is spotlighting one of the groups that provides a meal during our Summer Transitional Shelter program. This group is composed of 6 family members that have served dinner for the past 3 summers. Pictured from left to right is Michelle Ptack, Marge Kozak, Donna Logisz, Elizabeth Martin and Cathy Sajn. Pat Kardasz is also a member of the summer meals group but is not seen here.
Friday, July 21st, 2017
Volunteers supplement the important work of staff in delivering compassionate care and services to our clients. Housing Forward recognizes volunteers as "everyday heroes" who come from all walks of life, all ages, with something special to offer. This month we are spotlighting Laura Jordahl, a Short-Term Stability Services Volunteer.
Wednesday, June 14th, 2017
Our work is partly made possible by vital volunteers, who lend a helping hand. Housing Forward recognizes volunteers as "everyday heroes" who come from all walks of life, all ages, with something special to offer. This month we’d like to spotlight local Oak Park resident and youth volunteer, Sophie Essig.
Tuesday, May 23rd, 2017
Our work is largely made possible by vital volunteers who lend an open heart and a helping hand. Housing Forward recognizes volunteers as "everyday heroes" who come from all walks of life and all ages with something special to offer. This month, we’d like to spotlight Jon Fjortoft.
Thursday, April 20th, 2017
Every day, Housing Forward transforms the lives of those in need by helping people meet their immediate housing and crisis needs, addressing health and income needs and transitioning individuals and families back to housing stability.
Our work is made possible in large part by vital volunteers who lend a helping hand. Housing Forward recognizes volunteers as "everyday heroes" who come from all walks of life, all ages, with something special to offer. This month we’d like to spotlight Vanessa Klugman, a Housing Forward Prevail Program volunteer.
Thursday, March 16th, 2017
If you live Oak Park or River Forest, you are invited to take a survey to help decide future public health priorities, including those for behavioral health and developmental disabilities. The survey is an important part of a Community Health Needs Assessment conducted every five years by the Oak Park Department of Public Health Department and its partners, the Community Mental Health Board of Oak Park Township, the River Forest Township Mental Health Committee, and the Rotary Club of Oak Park and River Forest.
Wednesday, January 18th, 2017
Alan Goldberg began volunteering in 2015 after retiring as an attorney with the Office of the State Appellate Defender for almost forty years. Alan learned about Housing Forward like many Oak Park community residents, as the PADS shelter program was hosted by his synagogue as one of the rotating shelter sites. After attending a benefit concert on behalf of Prevail...
Tuesday, December 13th, 2016
Volunteering has always been a part of Gale Zemel’s life. In her 35-years in Oak Park, Gale has been giving back to the community by helping Housing Forward for the last 10. Her work in Housing Forward’s Support Center in Maywood has transformed a once cluttered space filled with boxes of weekly donations into a well-organized and accessible clothing closet...