New shelter in Chicago offers permanent homes and healing for the unhoused
CHICAGO - A local nonprofit is opening a new space aimed at promoting healing and dignity for the unhoused.
The shelter has been carefully designed to feel more like a permanent home and less like a temporary living arrangement.
On Monday morning, city officials, including Mayor Brandon Johnson, gathered to cut the ribbon on the new facility.
Located in the 7400 block of North Clark Street, the space represents a significant step forward in supporting those experiencing homelessness.
North Side Housing and Supportive Services, or NSHSS, opened the non-congregate shelter, which provides private spaces for those living there.
With the help of a $6.9 million grant from the city, the new shelter is thoughtfully equipped with a commercial kitchen, laundry facilities and spacious shower areas.
Open 24/7, the shelter will provide a safe haven for 70 men this winter, serving approximately 250 individuals annually.
Some residents have already moved in, including those who were previously living in the Humboldt Park encampment, which was cleared last week.
At the new facility, residents will receive a bed, shelter, meals, and access to on-site wraparound services and healthcare—all aimed at helping them successfully reintegrate into society.
"This is the place of healing, this is the place where our men will be safe, secure and stable, to receive housing services, wraparound services, and the great thing about it, they don’t have to leave during the day," said Duncan Ward, executive director of NSHSS
"This is a game-changer. It means people seeking shelter here can begin to rebuild their lives without the added pressure of having to leave and return each day. They will have constant access to supportive services, as well as the dignity of a place they can truly call their own," said Lissette Castaneda, commissioner of Chicago's Department of Housing.
The city's Department of Housing said it has set aside $30 million to invest in other, similar shelters, with this being one of five non-congregate shelters the department is working to open.