Patients & Visitors

Supportive Housing Resources

Supportive housing resources can help when people have nowhere safe to go / stay, need more support getting to stable housing, or need help staying housed.

Emergency Shelter

Emergency shelters are available for when you have nowhere safe to go right now.

Single individuals or couples.

Call 3-1-1 if needing immediate shelter*, can also go to nearest police station or hospital and ask staff to assist with calling 3-1-1

Individuals/couples with children.

Call 3-1-1 if needing immediate shelter and ask to be connected to options for adults with children, may request direct referral to Salvation Army Shield of Hope Center (family shelter placement referral system).*

*Obtain SR (service request) number; if 3-1-1 has not called back within a couple of hours, call back and provide them with SR number for an update

Individuals fleeing domestic violence.

Call IL DV hotline (877.863.6338). Ask for shelter placement, and note if you are okay going somewhere outside of Cook County- sometimes there are more options in other counties or nearby suburbs

You can also request your provider place a referral for DV services.

For permanent housing solutions, call 3-1-1 and note that you are currently fleeing from domestic violence; you will be prompted to complete a Gender Based Violence (GBV) Coordinated Entry housing assessment. This is a housing pool open to survivors of domestic violence or individuals currently fleeing from domestic violence

Walk-In Shelter

Shelter Placement and Referral Center (SPARC)
2241 S. Halsted St; Chicago, IL 60608.

• Shelter is off of the Orange Line to Midway, Halstead station 
• Bus Route 8 to Halsted and Cermak, 1 minute walk from SPARC 
• Route 21 to Cermak and Halsted, 3 minute walk from SPARC
• Route 62 to Archer and Lowe stop, 9 minute walk from SPARC

What to Expect

• SPARC is open 24/7 and currently has a capacity of 200 people. Day and overnight waiting areas are closed once capacity is reached.
• Try to arrive by 6 pm, there are more beds available in the early evening
• Resources available on site include meals, showers, shelter placement waiting area and laundry.

Supportive Housing Resources

Supporting housing resources are longer term than emergency shelter and are more immediately available for persons who are chronically homeless or experiencing other risk factors, such as disability.

The Coordinated Entry System (CES)

Connects people who are experiencing chronic homelessness or homelessness along with other risk factors, such as disabilities, to housing opportunities.

Coordinated Entry Hotline

Call 312.971.4178 to get directly connected to complete a housing assessment.

Hotline hours

• Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10 am to 3 pm
• Tuesdays from 4 pm to 9 pm

Community Resource Centers

Complete a CES housing assessment at one of the Department of Family and Social Services (DFSS) operated Community Resource Centers. All centers are open Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm.

Other services available at Community Resource Centers

• Shelter referrals and placement 
• Warming and cooling centers in extreme outdoor temperatures

Public or Subsidized Housing

Public or Subsidized Housing options offer reduced rent for low-income tenants.

Check go.uic.edu/thecha for more information and to apply.

Options in Cook County, outside of Chicago

The Housing Authority of Cook County either provides or has information on housing support options in Cook County, outside of Chicago.

More information: go.uic.edu/hacc

Options Outside of Cook County

If you are outside of Cook County and need shelter or housing, please call 2-1-1 or text ‘SHELTER’ to 552020 to be connected to IDHS resources.

The local county Housing Authority agency may also have more information on local resources.