DFSS Announcement: Winter Beds Availability

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

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.

Pat speaks up to help others

Black grandmother and her three grandkids -- ages 11, 12, and 16 -- pose smiling with their arms around each other. They are sitting on a bench and wearing winter jackets. Banner text reads: Pat speaks up to help others

Born to a large family with nine siblings, Patricia “Pat” Franklin understands the importance of working together so that everyone has what they need to thrive. A grandmother of three and self-described jokester, Pat aspires to make the world better for families like hers.

“Growing up, I never knew we were poor,” recalls Pat. “Sleeping three to a bed – I just thought that’s the way it was. My mother was always helping and taking people in. She taught me that there’s always someone else out there who is worse off than you.”

Today, Pat channels her mother’s generous spirit by serving as grassroots leader with CCH, leading advocacy efforts to support people experiencing homelessness.

“CCH is like my second family,” Pat said. “I just love being here and advocating. By sharing my story, I hope it helps the next family and prevents them from going through what I did.”

Continue reading Pat speaks up to help others

NBC 5 Chicago – A Look Inside the Often-Invisible Crisis of Homeless Youth in Chicago Schools

By  Sandra Torres, February 20, 2023

Homelessness among families with children is often an invisible crisis, but it’s a growing reality.

Some families may not be living in the streets. In many cases, they’re likely doubling up with other family members, couch surfing, or temporarily living in hotels as a means of survival, according to the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless.

Continue reading NBC 5 Chicago – A Look Inside the Often-Invisible Crisis of Homeless Youth in Chicago Schools

Telemundo Chicago – 10 p.m.

February 6, 2023

 llegan a un arreglo economico el departamento de policia de chicago y una mujer de origen hispano quien demando a la entidad por supuesta violacion de derechos civiles, el incidente se habia registrado tras un acto de vandalismo en una tienda, durante las protestas por la muerte de george floyd en 2020. segun los abogados de julie campos, ella se encontraba haciendo labors de limpieza en la tienda donde trabajaba, cuando llego este oficial la insulto , y al ver que grababa, la detuvo y le presento cargos sin causa.

Continue reading Telemundo Chicago – 10 p.m.

Telemundo Chicago- 4:30 p.m.

February 6, 2023

Llegan a un arreglo economico el departamento de policia de chicago y una mujer de origen hispano quien demando a la entidad tras un caso de violacion de derechos civiles, segun abogados de la union americana de libertades civiles. De acuerdo con el comunicdado, la mujer, identificada como julie campos, fue sometida por un oficial de CPD, que investigaba actos de vandalismo en una tienda, en las protestas por la muerte de george floyd.

Continue reading Telemundo Chicago- 4:30 p.m.

CBS – City to settle lawsuit filed by woman who accused police of false arrest at Family Dollar store

By CBS CHICAGO TEAM February 6, 2023

CHICAGO (CBS) — A woman who accused Chicago police of violating her constitutional rights when an officer arrested her in 2020 has agreed to settle her lawsuit against the city.

Julie Campos claimed she was falsely arrested and assaulted by police officer while she was trying to clean up damage at the Family Dollar store where she worked on 79th Street in June 2020, during widespread civil unrest and looting in Chicago.

Continue reading CBS – City to settle lawsuit filed by woman who accused police of false arrest at Family Dollar store

WBBM – South Side woman who was falsely arrested, assaulted by CPD settles with City

February 6, 2023

CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A South Side woman reached a settlement with the City of Chicago after being falsely arrested and assaulted by police.

Julie Campos was working at a South Shore Family Dollar Store on East 79th Street when she was physically assaulted by Chicago Police Officer Eric Taylor.

Continue reading WBBM – South Side woman who was falsely arrested, assaulted by CPD settles with City

WBEZ – Why are so many homeless people seeking shelter at O’Hare and in transit hubs?

By  Sasha-Ann Simons, January 24, 2023

If you’ve flown through O’Hare Airport recently, you may have noticed people sleeping in hallways or near the baggage claim. This isn’t uncommon in Chicago when the temperature drops, but the number of unhoused people seeking shelter in these transit hubs has increased over the last several years.

Continue reading WBEZ – Why are so many homeless people seeking shelter at O’Hare and in transit hubs?