Support Services for the Unemployed
Meals
As Chicago's food bank, the Greater Chicago Food Depository is the charitable food distribution hub for Cook County. Located on the southwest side of the city, the organization's state-of-the-art warehouse distributes food to 600 member soup kitchens, food pantries and shelters. During the last fiscal year, the Food Depository distributed more than 46 million pounds of food. Most of the Food Depository's product donations come in from food retailers and manufacturers that find a convenient, safe and reliable way to channel food to hungry people that might otherwise go to waste. The following table shows locations of food pantries in the Cook County area.
| Name | Location | Service |
|---|---|---|
| Village Pantry Coalition | 2700 W. 98th Pl.
Evergreen Park IL 60805 (708) 422-8776 Contact: George O'Grady |
Hours of Operation: Fri. 10 a.m.-Noon, 2-4 p.m.
Boundaries: N: 87th St. - S: 108th, W: Pulaski - E: Western |
| Christ UM Church - Alsip | 3730 W. 119th St.
Alsip IL 60803 (708) 385-8034 Contact: Martha Schusler |
Hours of Operation: Tues. 12:45-2:45 p.m.
Boundaries: Alsip, Garden Homes, Blue Island, Robbins, Merrionette Park |
| United Methodist of Worth | 7100 W. 112th St.
Worth IL 60482 (708) 448-6682 Contact: Kate Morgan |
Hours of Operation: Tues. 9-11 a.m.
Boundaries: N: 79th St. - S: 127th St, E: Cicero - W: La Grange Ave. |
| St. Blase-Catholic Charities | 7438 W. 61st Pl.
Summit IL 60501 (708) 563-2407 Contact: Sister Wanda Gil |
Hours of Operation: Mon., Thurs., and Fri. 9 a.m.-Noon and 1-4 p.m.
Boundaries: Cook County |
| Orland Township | 15100 S. 94th Ave.
Orland Park IL 60462 (708) 403-4222 Contact: Marianne Hill |
Hours of Operation: Mon.-Fri. 9-11 a.m. and 2-4 p.m. Boundaries: N: 135th St. - S: 183rd St., E: Harlem - W: Will-Cook Rd. |
| Elsie's Pantry Savior Divine Lutheran Church | 10040 S. 88th Ave.
Palos Hills IL 60465 (708) 598-4434 Contact: Beth Heinrich |
Hours of Operation: Thurs. 3-5 p.m.
Boundaries: Palos Hills, Palos Heights, Palos Park, Hickory Hills and Orland Park but we will serve everyone once. All that is required is a proof of address such as a driver’s license, state id or a utility bill with their name and address. No proof of income is required. |
| Tinley Park Food Pantry | 6875 173rd Pl.
Tinley Park IL 60477 (708) 614-7739 Contact: Chuck OKresik |
Hours of Operation: Wed. 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Boundaries: Tinley Park, Orland Hills |
| Together We Cope | 17010 Oak Park Ave.
Tinley Park IL 60477 (708) 633-5040 x28 Contact: Carol Ettema |
Hours of Operation: Mon., Tues., Wed., Fri. 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Thurs. 2-7 p.m.
Boundaries: N: 87th St - S: 183rd St, E: Western - W: Will-Cook Rd |
| Incarnation Parish Food Pantry | 2339 York St.
Blue Island IL 60406 (708) 597-3180 Contact: Juan Limon |
Hours of Operation: Fri. 10 a.m.-Noon
Boundaries: Blue Island and Robbins, 60406 and 60472 |
| Robbins SDA Church | 14002 S. Claire Blvd.
Robbins IL 60472 (708) 388-5756 Contact: Sylvia Reeves |
Hours of Operation: Wed. 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Boundaries: No boundaries |
| Seed of Faith Ministries | 3520 W. 137th St.
Robbins IL 60472 (708) 225-3636 Contact: Loretta Bayless |
Hours of Operation: Sat. Noon-2 p.m.
Boundaries: Robbins, Alsip, Posen, Crestwood, Midlothian |
| Right Start Outreach Center | 13838 Claire Blvd.
Robbins IL 60472 (708) 371-5503 Contact: Patricia Loving |
Hours of Operation: Fri. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Emergency Hours: Mon., Tues. and Thurs. 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Boundaries: No boundaries |
| Community Covenant Church | 12446 S. Loomis St.
Calumet Park IL 60827 (708) 385-7477 Contact: Clydie Green |
Hours of Operation: Wed. 10 a.m.-Noon
Boundaries: N: 119th St. - S: Vermont St., E: Halsted - W: Western |
| Queen of Apostles Food Pantry | 14424 S. Wentworth Ave.
Riverdale IL 60827 (708) 841-4355 Contact: Maryellen Hanley |
Hours of Operation: Tues.: 10 a.m.-Noon
Boundaries: N: 140th St. - S: Sibley Blvd. (147th St.), E: Indiana Avenue - W: Halsted |
| CEDA - Calumet Park | 12549 S. Ashland Ave.
Calumet Park IL 60827 (708) 371-0308 Contact: Gail D. Allen-Scott |
Hours of Operation: Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Boundaries: South Suburban Region |
| Bridgeview John Oremus Center | 7900 S. Oketo Ave.
Bridgeview IL 60455 (708) 458-4675 Contact: Sherri Mazzone |
Hours of Operation: Fri. Noon-2 p.m.
Boundaries: Village of Bridgeview |
| Mosque Foundation | 7210 W. 90th Pl.
Bridgeview IL 60455 (708) 430-6888 Contact: Connie Al-Ramahi |
Hours of Operation: Mon. 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Boundaries: Cook County |
| Our Savior's Lutheran Church | 8607 Narragansett Ave.
Burbank IL 60459 (708) 599-4782 Contact: Darlene Marquart |
Hours of Operation: Tues. 9-11 a.m.; Thurs. 1-3 p.m.
Boundaries: N: 87th St. - S: 103rd, E: Pulaski - W: Harlem |
Housing
Illinois Homeless Shelters and Social Services
Find information on
homeless shelters and other social services,
as well as information on
mental health services.
Comprehensive Housing Services Program
The goal of the Comprehensive Housing Counseling Program is to educate,
inform, assess, listen, and find creative ways to empower participants in acquiring and maintaining affordable housing. Since 1974,
the CEDA Comprehensive Housing Counseling Program has provided individualized one-on-one and group counseling education to families in
the areas of:
- pre-purchase and home buying
- resolving or preventing mortgage delinquency or default
- non-delinquency post purchase
- improving mortgage terms
- home improvement
- locating, securing or maintaining residence in rental housing and shelter
- and services for the homeless
All types of counseling include budget analysis to help client's determine the best options available in their efforts of moving towards self-sufficiency. Typically, the Comprehensive Housing Counseling Program serves more than 2,000 unduplicated clients every year.
| Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Southeast CEDA | 3518 West 139th Street
Robbins, IL 60472 (708) 389-1914 |
| Southwest Development Association | 7666 West 63rd Street
Summit, IL 60501 (708) 458-9258 |
Chicago Department of Family and Support Services
The Chicago Department of Family and Support
Services (FSS) tracks approximately 100 temporary shelter programs in Chicago that serve homeless men, women and families.
In total, these facilities provide more than 5,000 beds on any given night. Shelters vary in whom they serve and the scope of
service they provide. Some shelters welcome walk-ins, while others require a referral.
Emergency Response Shelters
Emergency response shelters are overnight shelters that provide initial
assessment of clients, information and referrals. Most shelters for single adults close during the day but family shelters
remain open 24 hours. Some Emergency response shelters are seasonal, opening during the winter months and other times of high need.
These shelters are meant to provide one or two night's respite while more adequate living arrangements are made.
Transitional Shelters
Transitional shelters operate 24 hours and provide support services for families and single adults.
Clients stay up to 120 days at which time they may move into second stage or permanent housing.
Second Stage Housing
Second Stage Housing programs provide subsidized housing with supervised care and support services
for families and single adults. Clients may be charged up to 30 percent of their income and can stay up to two years. At the end of
their stay, successful clients have gained self-sufficiency and can support themselves in permanent housing.
Safe Haven
Safe Havens are shelters with services for homeless
adults who suffer from severe mental illness.
| Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Chicago Department of Family Support Services | 1615 W. Chicago Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622 Telephone: (312) 743-0300 Fax: (312) 743-0400 |
