Respond

Street Outreach

Identifies people who are unsheltered and homeless and works to transition them into supportive housing. Our team connects with people by addressing basic needs such as food, water, toiletries, and clothing. As trust is built, the outreach team connects individuals with case management, supportive services, and assessment of their housing needs.

See our street outreach card

Support Center

Is open five days a week as a walk-in space where individuals can attend to their immediate needs - take a shower, do laundry, and grab something to eat. They can also speak with an outreach specialist and begin to make a plan for their long-term housing needs. The Support Center is located at 1851 S. 9th Ave, Maywood and is accessible via the door under the teal awning on Lexington.

Emergency Overnight Shelter

The Anderson Emergency Shelter (located at 112 S. Humphrey Ave., in Oak Park) provides temporary overnight sleeping accommodations for individuals and families with minor children experiencing homeless. The program is open year-round, providing up-to 40 beds, three meals, personal storage, and showers.  The shelter has a weekly on-site medical clinic, engagement specialists, and is the entry point to Housing Forward’s housing and support services. It is open 7:00 pm to 8:00 am seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Respite

Provides short-term residential care to people experiencing homelessness to recover from a medical or behavioral health event while accessing care and supportive services. Individuals receive case management to plan for their post-respite housing and are connected to the resources they need to succeed.

The RISE Center, located at 211 N. Oak Park Ave., is a 19 bed medical respite program in partnership with Cook County Health. Learn more about medical respite and the RISE Center in this video from Cook County Health.

Sojourner House is a medical respite program in partnership with MacNeal Hospital and Loyola Medicine. The house, located at 324 N. Austin in Oak Park, has six apartment style units that provide temporary housing for families with minor children, persons with physical limitations, and those who need care and respite after receiving hospital services. Learn more here.

Interim Housing

This fixed-site model provides individuals and families experiencing homelessness with short-term  private accommodations combined with structured programming focused on securing permanent housing. We provide access to wraparound services, case management, on-site health assessments, and income supports.

Read more about our work to update and improve 211 N. Oak Park Avenue, home for our Interim Housing and RISE Center Medical Respite Programs.

Transitional Housing

This scattered-site model provides individuals and families experiencing homelessness with short-term housing combined with structured programming focused on securing permanent housing. We provide access to wraparound services, case management, and income supports.