Safe Housing United States Project #2815

Help Empower Women Who are Homeless in Chicago

by Sarah's Circle

Help Empower Women Who are Homeless in Chicago

Project Report | Apr 27, 2023
Ending Homelessness for Women in Chicago

By Mac Dressman | Development Associate

Dear Sarah's Circle supporter,

Over the past year, Sarah's Circle has been busy strengthening our services for women in need and expanding our programming to serve the Chicago community.

Last year, Sarah’s Circle offered personalized case management to 434 women and helped more than 150 move into permanent or more stable housing. We provided more than 14,000 nights of shelter and served almost 40,000 meals to women in need.

But our work is not finished. Here at Sarah’s Circle, we’re not stopping until every woman has a safe place to call home. We'd like to share a few of our recent accomplishments with you!

First of all, Sarah’s Circle has recently forged a partnership with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). NAMI comes on-site to facilitate peer-to-peer counseling sessions. Many of our women, as is common among people with trauma, are resistant to more traditional forms of therapy. This peer-to-peer model was created with this in mind and allows our women to share their story in a safe space among others with similar experiences. We have seen an encouraging amount of engagement with our peer-to-peer groups.

What's more, we've recently created a new position of Activities Coordinator. This person leads therapeutic activities for the women and coordinates opportunities for enriching experiences. Some of the experiences she has coordinated thus far include partnering with a local artist to teach art classes and provide art supplies to our women, an activity that has had much interest. We have also secured tickets and a travel stipend for our women to go to Navy Pier and ride the Ferris wheel this summer. The Activities Coordinator also leads weekly game days, movie nights, music nights, and other activities that the clients have suggested/responded to positively.

Finally, Sarah’s Circle is currently in the process of constructing our third building. In the fall of 2020, Sarah’s Circle secured a purchase of the southern 40% of a parking lot just blocks from our other two buildings at 4737 N. Sheridan Road in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood. On this site Sarah’s Circle will develop our third building, Sarah’s on Lakeside, which will have a five story, 28 unit, 28,000 sq ft, Permanent Supportive Housing building for women who are homeless.

Amenities include a large meeting room that can be used for resident and staff programming, case management offices, a demonstration kitchen, computer lab, laundry facilities on each residential floor, two elevators, and a small balcony. Each of the 28 studio apartments will be furnished with a bed, dresser, nightstand, and dining table with chairs. Bed linen, dishes and cutlery will be provided for all residents. Rents will be affordable to very low-income residents. Utilities are included in the rent. We will break ground on Sarah’s on Lakeside later this spring and it will be completed and ready for leasing in 2024.

The future site of our third building, Sarah's on Lakeside.

Even as we expand our programs, the costs of providing food, shelter, and supportive services have increased as inflation rises.

To provide personalized support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, Sarah’s Circle relies on the hard work of dozens of program staff, including seven full-time case managers.

Your gift of $500, $250, $100, or however much you can afford will help us hire the additional case managers necessary to give personalized support to more women in need. Donate today to help end homelessness for women in Chicago!

Links:

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Jan 10, 2023
Hundreds of Women Safely Housed in 2022

By Mac Dressman | Development Associate

Judith overcame homelessness with Sarah's Circle

Dear Sarah's Circle Supporter,

We’ve got good news for you. Despite the challenges of Omicron and inflation, Sarah’s Circle has kept hundreds of women safely housed or permanently ended their homelessness. Job losses from the pandemic coupled with higher rent, food and fuel costs have placed even women with stable incomes and housing into uncertain circumstances.

In these tough conditions, Sarah’s Circle has been a lifeline for more than 800 women. Our staff has provided case management services to get over 450 lives back on track and placed 173 women in permanent housing in 2022.

The growing needs of vulnerable women mean that your support has become more crucial than ever. Sarah’s Circle operates a Daytime Support Center open to all women experiencing homelessness with showers, computers, laundry, nutritious meals, coats, case management, and educational programming.

Our Interim Housing Program offers 50 beds, computers, case management, and comprehensive supportive services. The comprehensive supports are designed to move women from Interim Housing into stable housing as quickly as possible.

We also provide 73 fully furnished studio apartments and supportive services through our Permanent Supportive Housing Program (PSH). Additionally, our Rapid Rehousing Program helps women newly experiencing homelessness find a place to live within 30 days.

Judith’s Story

Judith is one of many women who have recently benefitted from our programs.

Judith came to Sarah’s Circle’s Interim Housing Program at the height of the Omicron spike. Judith has experienced multiple bouts of homelessness including most of her childhood. Before coming to Sarah’s Circle Judith had been homeless for over seven years. She is a survivor of intimate partner violence and several back surgeries have left her unable to work. Although Judith is a strong woman, her circumstances often left her feeling hopeless.

After living for three months in Sarah’s Circle’s Interim Housing Program, with the help of her case manager, Judith was able to secure a housing voucher. Sarah’s Circle covered the costs of her application fee and move-in fee. Today, Judith lives just blocks from Sarah’s Circle and loves her new home. As Judith says, “I wouldn’t be where I am today without Sarah’s Circle.”

As Judith’s story shows, many women can beat homelessness if they are given the support and resources that Sarah’s Circle provides. Your support has directly helped Judith, and many other women experiencing homelessness, find a warm, safe place to call home.

This year, we hope that we can count on you to help end homelessness for more women. Even a small donation increases our ability to provide nutritious meals, showers, and case management services for women in need.

Sarah’s Circle can only do this critical work because of the love and support of generous donors like you. Thank you for your commitment to the women of Chicago. Your help changes lives.

Links:

Learn more on our website, sarahs-circle.org

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Jul 15, 2022
Who do you call in a crisis?

By Taylor Walters-Chapman | Individual Giving Associate

Summer is in full swing in Chicago: backyard barbeques, days at the beach, and vacations with friends and family. With Chicago residents spending more time outdoors, the presence of people experiencing homelessness is more highly reported. Many residents wonder who they should call when they see someone in crisis-- this month, we'll provide a few options on how to help.

It can be difficult to take action when you come across a person who appears to be homeless and suffering from a mental health crisis. Fear of making things worse or calling the wrong help line frequently stops would-be helpers in their tracks.

It's important to remember that most people experiencing homelessness have the autonomy and ability to seek the resources they need. If they don't appear to be in danger to themselves or others, respect their space and don't try to intervene.

However, most residents of Chicago will, at one time or another, encounter someone who does need help right there and then, but don't know what to do. Here's a list of resources of organizations whose specialty is homelessness and mental health intervention:

IGNITE

Call them for: 14-26 year olds experiencing homelessness

From Ignite:

While Ignite’s programs and services are designed to meet the immediate and long-term needs of unstably housed youth, it’s our sense of community that truly makes Ignite unique. In each program we offer, participants build deep relationships with one another as well as our staff that continue to positively impact their lives long after they move on from our programs.

Call their hotline: 1 (866) 803-8336
Text: (312) 625-1858

COMMUNITY CRISIS CENTER

Call them for: Mental health services, domestic violence, sexual assault

From the CCC:

Employees provide comprehensive services to individuals and families in crisis due to domestic violence, sexual assault, or economic/ financial difficulties. We provide Safety, Hope, Advocacy, Respite and Education for those impacted by crisis and violence in Illinois.

Call their hotline: 847-697-2380

311

Call them for: Public safety, seniors, all people with disabilities, all people who need immediate shelter

Dialing 311 is perhaps one of Chicago's most underrated services. Many shelters are asked now to only take referrals via 311, and cannot take in new clients without taking this step first! This is by far the quickest way for a person to find immediate shelter.

Call the hotline: 311

You may already know that 988 is a new Mental Health Crisis hotline, but did you know it's for more than just those with suicidal thoughts? You can dial 988 if you see someone in a mental health crisis and they will advise you with next steps.

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