Housing Forward Secures Funding to Expand Emergency Overnight Shelter

Housing Forward, a nonprofit working to end homelessness, has been awarded $250,000 from the Cook County Department of Planning and Development to establish a congregate shelter at 112 S. Humphrey Avenue in Oak Park. This new, larger space is expected to open in mid-September, and will enable the organization to double its Emergency Overnight Shelter capacity from 20 to 40 beds.   

This new grant builds on earlier support from the Village of Oak Park, which allocated $366,000 to fund operations and staffing for the shelter- critical investment without which the expansion would not have been possible. Housing Forward is deeply grateful for the Village's continued partnership and commitment to addressing homelessness in our community. 

The site is owned by the Oak Park Housing Authority and was previously operated by Catholic Charities. Housing Forward will use the Cook County grant—funded through unspent American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars—to make leasehold improvements to meet life and safety codes. 

Housing Forward will name the facility The Anderson Emergency Shelter, honoring Tri-Village P.A.D.S. founding member and long-time homeless services advocate Pat Anderson. 

“The Cook County Department of Planning and Development (DPD), within the Bureau of Economic Development (BED), is pleased to continue its partnership with our nonprofit partner, Housing Forward, through a $250,000 grant in support of their congregate shelter project in Oak Park,” says Susan M. Campbell, Director of the Cook County Department of Planning and Development. “This vital investment strengthens the regional response to homelessness and underscores the power of cross-sector collaboration. Through our continued partnership with Housing Forward, we remain committed to advancing solutions that provide stable shelter and long-term housing. Together, we are making progress in the areas of fixed-site shelter and permanent supportive housing, ensuring more individuals and families in Cook County have access to safe, dignified places to call home.” 

Housing Forward has provided Emergency Overnight Shelter services since its founding in 1992, when the organization was known as Tri-Village P.A.D.S. For nearly three decades, Housing Forward operated a rotating shelter model hosted and supported local faith communities and staffed with a network of community volunteers. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a transition to a fixed-site model, and since January 2023, the organization has operated a 20-bed, year-round shelter in the former rectory of St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy Church. 

In 2024, Housing Forward served 173 people through its Emergency Overnight Shelter. However, the shelter has been over capacity for more than half the nights of operation so far this year. That means more people and families are forced to sleep in their cars, in unsafe situations, or in places not meant for human habitation. Adding beds at The Anderson Emergency Shelter will allow the organization to serve more people during a time when homelessness is rising across the county. The new shelter also features a commercial kitchen for preparing meals on site, four shower rooms, offices and a dining area. While staying in Housing Forward’s shelter programs, clients have access to safe, dignified space, three meals a day, and connections to case management services that help them work toward permanent housing. 

“This investment from Cook County will help us meet an urgent and unfortunate growing need in our community,” says Housing Forward CEO Lynda Schueler. “In 2024, Housing Forward saw an 18% increase in unsheltered homeless across its 26-community service area. By expanding our shelter capacity and offering more comprehensive support, we’re not just providing beds—we’re opening doors to long-term housing stability.” 

Founded by local congregations and community members to provide emergency shelter, Housing Forward has evolved into a comprehensive service organization that supports individuals from the onset of a housing or financial crisis through to long-term stability. The organization works to prevent homelessness whenever possible, respond to housing crises when they do occur, and stabilize individuals with permanent housing and supportive services. 

This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number ALN 21.027 awarded to Cook County by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.