Cook County - City of Chicago

*If you are in Cook County but outside the city of Chicago, please click here for your local service providers.*

Shelter

If you are in need of immediate emergency shelter, you can call 311 to request transportation to a shelter-placement location if you are not able to travel to the option that meets your household listed below. 

Single adults: May also go to the 24/7 shelter intake location called the Shelter Placement and Resource Center (SPARC). It is located at 2241 S Halsted, Chicago, IL 60608. The SPARC is a central place where single adults are assessed for diversion and shelter placement and receive interim basic services, such as food and overflow shelter. Space is available for up to 200 people. Please call 773-526-3707 to inquire about capacity.

Families in need of shelter: Please go to the Salvation Army Shield of Hope Center located at 924 N. Christiana, Chicago, IL 60651. If you are unable to make it to that location, call 311 and request shelter.

18–24-year-olds: The Crib at 1735 N Ashland Ave, go after 5pm, or call 773-549-4158, or Ujima Center at 7320 S. Yale Ave or call 312-778-5732. Check out the Street Light app or link below for additional options and supports for young adults here: 

https://www.streetlightchicago.org/en 

Fleeing Domestic Violence 

Call the Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline - (877) 863-6338

• This is available 24/7

• Or you can visit The Network's website to chat anonymously through the Chat Hotline located at the top of the website's homepage.

Veterans

Call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at (877) 424-3838

• This is available 24/7

You can also visit the All Chicago website for more information and resources.

Affordable Housing Resource List

The City of Chicago Department of Housing published this resource list for people searching for housing.

Coordinated Entry System

Individuals and families seeking shelter or living outside or in places not meant for people to live in can complete a housing needs assessment through the Coordinated Entry system, which is designed to streamline access to housing, and supportive services. Coordinated Entry assessments can be done over the phone or in person.

Phone Access Point Hours:

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Tuesdays: 3:00 – 9:00 PM

The Phone Access Point Number: 312.971.4178

Please visit the Coordinated Entry Website for a full listing of locations, days, and hours for in-person assessments:

Coordinated Entry System - All Chicago 

Drop-In Centers and Street Outreach 

• For Drop In, visit this site below:  https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/fss/provdrs/emerg/svcs/drop-in-centers-for-individuals-and-families-experiencing-homele.html , 

• Call 211

• For youth-specific drop in (through age 24) consult the Streetlight website or app https://www.streetlightchicago.org/en 

• Please click here for warming center locations. 

Resource for Young Adults Ages 14-24 

Streetlight Chicago is an app developed by the Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness that shares details for youth and young adults ages 14 - 24 on the following topics:

• Drop-in centers

• Youth shelters

• Food

• Health and mental health care

• Warming/cooling centers

• Housing waitlists and more!

You can use this website or download the Streetlight Chicago app on your phone. Resources are also available in Spanish/los recursos están disponibles en español and primarily available in Chicago and some surrounding suburbs. 

Community Resources

Community Action Agencies may assist with rental/mortgage, food, employment training/placement, financial management, energy assistance (LIHEAP), and temporary shelter. 

Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County, Inc. (CEDA)

567 West Lake Street, Suite 1200

Chicago, Illinois 60661

Toll-Free Hotline: (800) 571-2332

https://tubr.cedaorg.net/public/laa/v2

**Please note, this is NOT an intake site. Applications are NOT taken at this location**

To find an intake site near you, please visit https://tubr.cedaorg.net/public/laa/v2.

Englewood Community Service Center

1140 West 79th Street, Chicago, IL 60620

312-747-0200

Garfield Community Service Center

10 South Kedzie Avenue, Chicago, IL 60612

312-746-5400

Dr. Martin Luther King Community Service Center

4314 South Cottage Grove, Chicago, IL 60653

312-747-2300

North Area Community Service Center

845 West Wilson Avenue, Chicago, IL 60640

312-744-2580

South Chicago Community Service Center

8650 South Commercial Avenue, Chicago, IL 60617

312-747-0331

Trina Davila Community Service Center

4312 West North Avenue, Chicago, IL 60639

312-744-2014

Public Housing Authority

Chicago Housing Authority

Phone: (312)742-8500

Email: CHACETeam@thecha.org

The Chicago Housing Authority has homeless dedicated housing under the Project Based Voucher list. You can search for options that are only for people experiencing homelessness and select one of these options.

1. Click here to search for properties

2. Scroll down to see "Target Audience" on the left-hand side of the screen and select an option including the word "homeless" that applies to you to view homeless dedicated properties. You can filter more than once for different homeless dedicated housing options. 

To be eligible, people must also be part of the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) such as by enrolling in any homeless program or completing a Coordinated Entry assessment. Experiencing homelessness includes people who stay in shelters, outside, or any place not meant for human habitation.