WTTW: Volunteers, Faith Leaders Working to Help Unhoused Chicagoans Amid Freezing Temperatures

Posted on by Vanessa Álvarez

By Emily Soto (WTTW), January 17, 2024

Most of us can avoid Chicago’s frigid temperatures just by staying home. But for those experiencing homelessness, the solution is not that simple. Local organizations work directly with those individuals, hoping to provide relief and find long-term solutions.

Many groups like Thresholds are looking to the Bring Chicago Home ballot measure — which would change the real estate transfer tax in order to raise revenue to house the homeless — as the way forward.

CCH is a proud coalition member of Bring Chicago Home.

Continue Reading

Sun-Times: Blankets, gloves, a tent and some propane protect some homeless Chicagoans during ‘brutal’ cold snap

Posted on by Vanessa Álvarez
A man in a heavy parka warms himself by an outdoor trash fire.

By David Struett, Chicago Sun-Times

The Chicago Coalition for the Homeless doesn’t perform street outreach, and instead focuses on advocacy and legal assistance.

Its executive director, Doug Schenkelberg, said that extreme weather events — such as this cold snap or heat waves in the summer — are examples of why the city needs more robust homeless services.

“We push over and over that we need better funded long-term strategies, primarily long-term access to housing, so when crisis like this pops up, we have fewer people in harm’s way to begin with,” he said.

Continue Reading

DFSS Announcement: Winter Beds Availability

Posted on by Vanessa Álvarez
A blue stripe and red star form the DFSS logo, accompanied by the text: "DFSS, Department of Family and Support Services"

DFSS officially launched the Salvation Army’s winter beds at the Freedom Center. This is an overnight shelter that will serve single men and will be filled via 3-1-1 referrals, but also allow people to walk up or be dropped off by Outreach Teams. There will be 100 beds available every night.

Clients that are placed in this shelter through the walk up/outreach team drop-off option will not need an SR #, but will instead sign in upon arrival starting at 6:30 p.m.

Salvation Army Freedom Center

  • 825 N Christiana Ave, Chicago, IL 60651
  • South Door, Door A
  • Overnight Congregate-Bed Shelter

Normal Hours of Operation:

Weekends

  • Fridays: Referrals start at 6:30 pm
  • Saturday-Sunday: Referrals can be made 24/7
  • Monday mornings, the shelter will close at 8:30 a.m. directly after breakfast

Monday – Thursday

Shelter will operate as an overnight shelter from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 a.m. the next day.

If a count of winter beds is needed, please call the front desk at 312-667-2204

2024 Chicago Cold Weather Updates

Posted on by Vanessa Álvarez

Information updated as of 1/8/24

Renters/Homeowners

Renters’ Rights

Evictions: The Cook County sheriff is not allowed to carry out an eviction on any day when extreme cold weather conditions could endanger your health and welfare, regardless of temperature.

Minimum Temperatures: The Chicago Heat Ordinance mandates that between September 15 and June 1, landlords must provide heat to apartments where occupants do not have individual control of the unit’s heating. Temperatures must be above 68°F from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and at least 66°F from 10:30 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. for most or all of the heating season, depending on the type of unit.

For more information, call Chicago’s Chicago Renters’ Rights Hotline at (312) 742-RENT [(312)-742-7368]. To report a landlord’s violation, call 3-1-1.

Heating Bills

Rights: While your gas and heat cannot be disconnected for nonpayment in below-freezing weather, there is no general winter moratorium on utility disconnection during cold weather above freezing. If the temperature is forecasted to be above 32º for 24 hours, proper notice has been sent, and a Deferred Payment Arrangement has been offered, your account can legally be shut off.

LIHEAP: The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program is available in all Illinois counties through an online application.

  • LIHEAP Direct Vendor Payment (DVP) provides one-time payment assistance to all income eligible households.
  • LIHEAP Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) is not accepting applications through August 15, 2024.
  • Crisis Reconnection Assistance (RA) can help households with disconnected utilities or facing a disconnection notice in the next week.
  • Crisis Furnace Assistance (FA) is available from October 2, 2023 to May 15, 2024. Households enrolled in LIHEAP without a furnace can receive assistance for an operating furnace or heating supply.

Other LIHEAP benefits include:

  • A moratorium on utility disconnection between December 1, 2023 and March 31, 2024.
  • A prohibition on electric and gas utilities charging reconnection fees, connection deposits, or late-payment fees.
  • Deferred Payment Arrangements, available to all income-eligible households, have a maximum down payment of 10%.

CEDA: The Community and Economic Development Association’s “Peoples Gas Share the Warmth” program gifts up to $200 in one-time assistance for utility bills. The application can be found here.

Seeking Shelter

Warming Centers

Locations:

  • 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)747-0500
  • Trina Davila Community Service Center
    • 4312 West North Avenue, Chicago, IL 60639
    • (312)744-2014

Hours: The warming centers are open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Other: Chicago Public Library locations and some park buildings are open as warming centers for cold weather during normal business hours.

Senior Citizens

Service Connection: Senior citizens in Chicago can connect with the Chicago Senior Services Hotline during business hours at (312)-744-4016, or by emailing Aging@CityofChicago.org.

If you are concerned on behalf of a senior citizen, request a well-being check by calling 311 or file an online service request at this link.

Senior Centers: Senior citizens can find warm shelter during cold weather at Senior Centers.

  • Central West Center 
    • 2102 W. Ogden Avenue
    • (312)746-5300
    • 8:30 a.m. -4:30 p.m., Mon-Fri
  • Northeast (Levy) Senior Center
    • 2019 W. Lawrence Avenue
    • (312)744-0784
    • 8:30 a.m. -4:30 p.m., Mon-Fri
  • Northwest (Copernicus) Senior Center
    • 3160 N. Milwaukee Avenue
    • (312)744-6681
    • 8:30 a.m. -4:30 p.m., Mon-Fri
  • Renaissance Court
    • 78 E. Washington
    • (312)744-4550
    • 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Mon-Fri
  • Southeast (Atlas) Senior Center
    • 1767 E. 79th Street 
    • (312)747-0189  
    • 8:30 a.m. -4:30 p.m., Mon-Fri
  • Southwest Center
    • 6117 S. Kedzie Avenue
    • (312)747-0440
    • 8:30 a.m. -4:30 p.m., Mon-Fri

If you are experiencing homelessness and need legal assistance, call the CCH Law Project at 1 (800) 940 – 1119.

Satellite Locations:
  • Abbott Park Satellite Senior Center
    • 49 East 95th Street
    • (312)745-3493
    • 8:30 a.m. -4:00 p.m., Mon-Fri
  • Auburn Gresham Satellite Senior Center
    • 1040 West 79th Street
    • (312)745-4797
    • 8:30 a.m. -4:30 p.m., Mon-Fri
  • Austin Satellite Senior Center
    • 5071 W. Congress Parkway
    • (312)743-1538
    • 8:30 a.m. -4:30 p.m., Mon-Fri
  • Chatham Satellite Senior Center
    • 8300 S. Cottage Grove
    • (312)745-0401
    • 8:30 a.m. -4:30 p.m., Mon-Fri
  • Edgewater Satellite Senior Center
    • 5917 N. Broadway 60660
    • (312)742-5323
    • 8:30 a.m. -4:30 p.m., Mon-Fri
  • Englewood Satellite Senior Center
    • 653-657 West 63rd Street
    • (312)745-3328
    • 8:30 a.m. -4:30 p.m., Mon-Fri
  • Garfield Ridge Satellite Senior Center
    • 5674B South Archer Avenue
    • (312)745-4255
    • 8:30 a.m. -4:30 p.m., Mon-Fri
  • Kelvyn Park Satellite Senior Center
    • 2715 N. Cicero Avenue
    • (312)744-3799
    • 8:30 a.m. -4:30 p.m., Mon-Fri
  • North Center Senior Satellite
    • 4040 N. Oakley 60618
    • (312)744-4015
    • 8:30 a.m. -4:30 p.m., Mon-Fri
  • Norwood Park Senior Satellite
    • 5801 N. Natoma
    • (773)775-6071
    • 8:30 a.m. -4:30 p.m., Mon-Fri
  • Pilsen Satellite Senior Center
    • 2021 South Morgan
    • (312)743-0493
    • 8:30 a.m. -4:30 p.m., Mon-Fri
  • Portage Park Satellite Senior Center
    • 4100 North Long 60641
    • (312)744-9022
    • 8:30 a.m. -4:30 p.m., Mon-Fri
  • Roseland Satellite Senior Center
    • 10426 South Michigan Avenue
    • (312)745-1500
    • 8:30 a.m. -4:30 p.m., Mon-Fri
  • South Chicago Satellite Center
    • 9233 South Burley 
    • (312)745-1282
    • 8:30 a.m. -4:30 p.m., Mon-Fri
  • West Town/Logan Square Satellite Senior Center
    • 1615 West Chicago Avenue
    • (312)743-1016
    • 8:30 a.m. -4:30 p.m., Mon-Fri

If you are experiencing homelessness and need legal assistance, call the CCH Law Project at 1 (800) 940 – 1119.

Where to Turn for Help When Temperatures Drop

Posted on by Vanessa Álvarez

Originally posted January 2022, last updated December 2022.

Chicagoans should call 3-1-1 if they need weather-related assistance in frigid winter weather, including access to homeless shelters or city warming centers.

Here is a list of warming centers in the city:

Englewood Community Service Center
1140 West 79th Street, Chicago, IL 60620
312-747-0200

Garfield Community Service Center (only shelter open at night and on weekends)
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
312-747-0500

Trina Davila Community Service Center
4312 West North Avenue, Chicago, IL 60639
312-744-2014

 

In addition to functioning as a warming center, Garfield Community Service Center at 10 South Kedzie Avenue is open 24-hours day, seven days a week to connect families and residents to emergency shelter.

Chicago residents can also seek shelter at Chicago Public Library locations and select Park District buildings during business hours. Library locations and hours of operations available here. Park District information is available here.

Older adults are welcome at one of the city’s 21 Senior Centers. Location and hours are available here.

In the suburbs, people can contact police non-emergency numbers to ask about warming centers, many of which are housed in police station lobbies and libraries. To find a warming center statewide, see www.keepwarm.illinois.gov

People experiencing homelessness can seek legal aid by calling the CCH Law Project at 1 (800) 940-1119.