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Serving homeless adults and families and those threatened with homelessness |
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Continuum of Care
Continuum
of Care
In
the 1980s, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) created a continuum
of care model for services to people who are homeless—prevention;
outreach/assessment; emergency shelter; transitional housing and supportive services; and
permanent housing. Connections has been an active participant in the
Evanston Alliance on Homelessness and
the Cook County
Alliance on Homelessness. Area efforts are focused on
creating a regional approach to services and funding.
Dimensions
Program
Evanston
Ecumenical Action Council
Connections works with the
Evanston
Ecumenical Action Council (EEAC), which operates a drop-in center at St. Mark’s
Episcopal Church for shelter residents. Hilda's Place case managers meet with shelter
residents at the Hospitality Center where they provide support, counseling, goal planning,
advocacy, and referrals. EEAC also provides a job coordinator at the drop-in center and a
volunteer mentoring program. Several soup kitchens in Evanston are coordinated by EEAC;
residents of Hilda's Place utilize these at lunchtime.
Evanston
Health Department
Connections’ health services
program is a creative partnership between Connections and the
Evanston
Department of Health and Human
Services.
Connections refers residents for STD treatment as well as X-rays and prophylactic
treatment for TB. Influenza vaccine is made available to Connections through the
department. City staff provided training for Connections’ nurse regarding community
services available to the indigent population and continue to assist professional staff as
needed.
This program is a collaborative
effort by five agencies in Northfield Township that is funded by HUD through the Continuum
of Care in Cook County. The project is to provide transitional housing and intensive,
comprehensive, supportive services to homeless families in the area. Other providers
participating in the project are: Youth Services of Glenview/Northbrook, Josselyn Center
for Mental Health, PEER Services, Jewish Vocational Services, and Wesley Child Care.
Glenview
Values Project
In the
village of Glenview, leaders of government, civic, and social services meet monthly to
share information and collaborate on community problem-solving. A representative from
Connections is on the committee, which identifies problems that may need attention (e.g,.
hate crimes) and develops community interventions. One of their projects, for example, was
a values-training program for school--age children.
Housing
Options for the Mentally Ill in Evanston
Connections works with Housing
Options to identify, refer, and collaborate in the transition of shelter residents who are
appropriate for their Pathways program. The program provides permanent supportive housing
for six homeless individuals who have a persistent and chronic mental illness and have
difficulty functioning. The two agencies collaborate in the assessment and treatment
planning process with potential program participants.
Northbrook
Interfaith Ministry for Emergency Housing (NIMEH)
A subgroup of the Northbrook Clergy
Association, this group meets to administer funds donated by Northbrook congregations to
provide emergency and prevention assistance to families in need. Connections has a formal
agreement with NIMEH to screen, provide services, and monitor families seeking this
assistance.
Service
Providers Interagency Network
Connections works with this group of
Evanston agencies that have funds to meet housing emergencies and to prevent homelessness.
The group meets to share information on resources, coordinate services to avoid
duplication, and collaborate to meet client needs. Other participants include the
city’s Emergency Services, CEDA Neighbors at Work, and the Salvation Army.
Sunset
Village Planning Committee
Sunset Village is a manufactured home park in Glenview. A group of
representatives of major service provides in Northfield Township meet regularly with the
owner/management of the park to plan for meeting the needs of residents, most of whom are
low- to moderate-income.
Village Treasure House, a generous supporter of Connections for the Homeless for many years, has provided grants from their re-sale shop in Glenview and makes household merchandise available for Connections’ Family Housing Services program. In 2004, the Village Treasure House was honored as the agency’s Community Partner of the Year.
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