25 years of providing services to the community

As Housing Forward celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, the agency has achieved an important milestone by becoming the leading provider of scattered-site Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) with 166 units for single adults and families who have a disabling condition.  The units are located within existing multi-unit residential buildings throughout west suburban Cook County with roughly 1/3rd of the units contracted out to partnering agencies – BEDS Plus, Heartland Alliance, Thresholds, Thrive, and South Suburban PADS.

We can end homelessness for people in our community with disabilities and other complex needs, including people who have the most extensive experiences of homelessness. We know the solution is Permanent Supportive Housing and we have seen its effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness, in our community.

The National Alliance to End Homelessness recently published a report on the cost-savings to taxpayers on the benefits of providing PSH to those who are experiencing chronic homelessness. If you would like to learn how “chronic homelessness” is defined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) click here. The report on the costs and savings to communities in providing housing and services can be viewed here.