Chicago City Wire

The Chicago Department of Housing (DOH), in collaboration with the Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS), has secured $4 million in grant funds for the Non-Congregate Shelter Acquisition program. The funding, administered by the State of Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s Office of Community Development, will allocate $2 million each to La Casa Norte and Unity Parenting and Counseling, Inc.

Mayor Brandon Johnson expressed his support for the initiative: “This investment in non-congregate shelters will give individuals the stability and care they need to transition to permanent housing. By working alongside community partners like La Casa Norte and Unity Parenting and Counseling, Inc., we are building a future where every Chicagoan has a safe place to call home. I am grateful for the collaboration of the State of Illinois and our local partners in advancing these critical efforts.”

La Casa Norte will use its grant to provide non-congregate shelter for youth aged 18–24 experiencing homelessness in Humboldt Park. The funds will be used to rehabilitate the building's first floor to enhance community spaces and supportive services.

Unity Parenting and Counseling, Inc. plans to establish a new shelter facility in Washington Heights with its grant. The funding will cover property acquisition and rehabilitation to create a non-congregate shelter, community service facilities, and an outdoor courtyard.

The DOH is collaborating with five organizations through its Non-Congregate Shelter Acquisition program, which aims to shift Chicago’s shelter infrastructure towards a non-congregate model. This approach aligns with the city's goals of improving shelter services and facilitating transitions to permanent housing.

Research by University of Chicago Medicine and Lawndale Christian Health Center at hotels used as non-congregate shelters during the pandemic supports this model. It found improvements in health measures, mental health symptoms, and rates of transition to permanent housing among participants.

“We are extremely appreciative of the State of Illinois’s support for the Non-Congregate Shelter Acquisition program,” said Lissette Castañeda, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Housing. “DOH is excited to partner with DFSS, La Casa Norte, and Unity Parenting and Counseling, Inc. in bringing these essential, evidence-based services to the community.”

According to the city’s annual Point-in-Time Count conducted on January 25, 2024, there were an estimated 18,836 people experiencing homelessness either sheltered or unsheltered.