Our Mission

Since its inception, Southwest Chicago Homeless Services has served homeless and housing insecure persons.

The agency operates in the Chicago Lawn community, across from Marquette Park, a Chicago Park District property where many homeless persons congregate and bed down at night, making it readily accessible to a sizable homeless population. We feed, bathe and clothe up to 35 of those indigent and needy individuals six nights per week. Clients who are referred to case management are found to have major barriers to becoming housed, such as lack of income, criminal records, mental and other illnesses, including addictions. Many also face the issue of eviction or being displaced because of a property owner’s foreclosure. All of these clients are seeking housing immediately.

We offer case management services, and homeless prevention assistance. An experienced Housing Specialist is also part of our team.

We operate a small number of permanent housing units.

Agencies such as DHS, DOC, and nearby shelters often refer clients for securing IDs or case management. Last year, we helped 1700 individuals: the seventh year in a row we served over 1500 unduplicated persons.