Programs

Center for Changing Lives (CCL)

The focus of all CCL’s programs is empowering members of our community to gain stability in their lives and to maintain or become permanently housed. To that end, the Center for Changing Lives (CCL) provides coordinated, comprehensive services to prevent homelessness and to assist clients in obtaining permanent housing.

Services include:

  • HUD certified housing counseling, including housing relocation assistance
  • Employment coaching and placement,
  • Financial counseling, including accessing to emergency fund assistance and asset building programs,
  • Income support screening and advocacy,
  • Intensive case management, including assessment and goal planning
  • Representative Payee Program, in which HPSS manages the Social Security funds for over 60 clients found incapable of managing their financial affairs to secure their basic needs and encourage their housing stability,
  • Job readiness and life skills training,
  • Referrals to external resources for vocational training, substance abuse recovery services, and mental health counseling,
  • Mail services and a resource room, with three independent computer stations

While already providing needed supportive services to those experiencing and at-risk of homelessness, an additional focus of all HPSS’ programs is to address the unique issues facing Latinos on the Logan Square area. HPSS is one of few programs in the city with the focused cultural and language skills needed to effectively provide culturally appropriate services for clients who are native or primarily Spanish-speakers.

Financial instability continues to be the leading reason that many of HPSS’ clients are experiencing housing instability. In order to address the causes of housing instability, HPSS has embraced the Center for Working Families model, which “bundles” income supports, financial and employment counseling. By increasing employment, mobilizing subsidies and mainstream benefits, and reducing household fees and expenses simultaneously, the Center for Working Families model takes a holistic approach to building financial and housing stability.

HPSS has been nationally recognized as a leader in this work. In 2010, HPSS applied to Local Initiatives Support Corporation in a national competition to receive Corporation for National Community Services’ “Social Innovation Funds.” HPSS was awarded these funds in February 2011, a significant honor and testament to the effectiveness of HPSS’ efforts to improve the financial and housing stability of individuals and families in our communities.

CCL is open Monday through Thursday from 10am to 6pm and Fridays from 10am to Noon.

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Interim Housing

HPSS operates two Interim Housing programs: A thirty bed program for single women and families and a twenty-two bed program for single men. The goal of each program is to exit clients into permanent housing through case management, emotional and spiritual supports, life skills, family support programming and supportive services. Most of these services are provided through the Center for Changing Lives.

Participants in our Interim Housing programs typically reside with us 4 to 6 months, while they receive the support they need to overcome the formidable obstacles presented by homelessness.

Individuals and families experiencing homelessness are encouraged to go to the Center for Changing Lives for intake and eligibility screening for Interim Housing.

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Food Pantry and Clothing Distribution

The Food Pantry serves more than 150 households who reside between North Avenue, Diversey, Kedzie, and Western each month. Through this program HPSS provides neighboring households with food packages that could feed a family for up to a month. During its hours of operation, any HPSS participant is welcomed to access to gently used clothing generously donated by our supporters and neighbors. The Food Pantry serves as a prevention strategy, defraying a monthly expense and allowing families who are housed the option of redirecting their income to rent to improve housing stability.

The Food Pantry is open Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 9am – 12pm.

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Soup Kitchen

Offering a full meal six nights a week, 52 weeks a year, this program is open to anyone in the community. In 2010, Over 24,094 meals were served through the soup kitchen. On average, 66 people were served at least one hot, homemade meal each day.

The Soup Kitchen is open Monday through Friday from 4:30pm – 6:00pm and Saturdays at 3:30pm – 5:00pm.

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