New shelter season brings new volunteer openings

 EMERGENCY SHELTER

Emergency Shelter is in need of meal providers to provide breakfast, lunch or dinner on a monthly basis. Click HERE to view open meal slots.

PADS shelter is in need of additional volunteers for the following shifts. Please contact Tonisha Daniel, tdaniel@housingforward.org, (708) 338-1724 ext.220.

Day: Monday
Week: 4^th
Site: First United Church of Oak Park, 848 Lake Street, Oak Park
Shift(s): 1^st (6:30pm – 10:30pm) 2^nd (10:30pm – 5:00am) and 3^rd (5:00am – 7:30am)

Day: Tuesday
Week: Varies
Site: Oak Park Temple, 1235 N. Harlem Avenue, Oak Park
Shift(s): 3^rd (5:00am – 7:30am)

Day: Wednesday
Week: 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 5^th
Site: Grace Episcopal Church, 924 North Lake Street, Oak Park
Shift(s): 1^st (6:30pm – 10:30pm) 2^nd (10:30pm – 5:00am) and 3^rd (5:00am – 7:30am)

Day: Friday
Week: 1^st, 2^nd, 5^th
Site: St. John Lutheran, 305 S Circle Avenue, Forest Park
Shift(s): 1^st (6:30pm – 10:30pm) 2^nd (10:30pm – 5:00am) and 3^rd (5:00am – 7:30am)

Day: Saturday
Week: 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th
Site: St. Mary of Celle, 1428 S. Wesley Avenue, Berwyn
Shift(s): 3^rd (5:00am – 7:30am)

Day: Sunday
Week: varies
Site: St. Christopher Episcopal
Shifts: 1^st (6:30pm – 10:30pm) 2^nd (10:30pm – 5:00am) and 3^rd (5:00am – 7:30am)

STABILITY SERVICES

Housing Forward’s Emergency Assistance program provides a wide variety of emergency assistance and support for individuals facing financial or housing crisis in west suburban Cook County. The program's compassionate volunteers listen to each person’s individual situation and, working together with the client, use solutions-based counseling to develop a plan of action. Have some time during daytime business hours? Take a look at our skills based volunteer opportunities in this program.

Client Counselor: Meet with individual clients to discuss their needs and develop an action plan. To learn more, click here.

Short Term Stability Services Volunteer: Assist in providing short term solutions based on case management to clients. To learn more, click here.

BEST PRACTICES:

We need our supporters to also act as ambassadors to spread the news that volunteering with Housing Forward is a good way to connect and inspire others to do good in your community. Remember, volunteering can be fun for the whole family! When your family or friends volunteer together you build deeper bonds with each other and with your community. We want to make it easy to make a difference together. You can volunteer in 3 easy steps:

1. Start off by referring your friends or family to our Get Involved page to fil out a volunteer profile
2. Fill out a Volunteer Profile Survey and attend a volunteer orientation
3. Schedule your once a month volunteer commitment.

ADVOCACY:

Curious about govornance in your community? Want to know firsthand what’s going on and how policies are created where you live? Attend a Board Meeting and get to know your officials!  
Berwyn - The City of Berwyn holds regular meetings every 2nd and 4th Tuesday at 8pm in Council Chambers in the Municipal Building, 6700 W. 26th Street

Forest Park - The Village Council meets on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month at 7pm in the Council Chambers located at the lower level of Village Hall, 517 Desplaines Avenue.

Maywood - The Village Board of Trustees meet on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month at 7pm unless otherwise changed by the Mayor and Board of Trustees,125 S. 5th Avenue, 2nd Floor Council Chamber

Oak Park - The Village Board meets regularly on the first and third Mondays of each month at 7pm at Village Hall 123 Madison Street.

River Forest - The Village Board meets on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month at 7pm for regular meetings and the third Monday of each month for a Committee of the Whole (workshop meeting) in the Community Room of Village Hall, 400 Park Avenue

Best to confirm these meeting times in the event of a change or to accomodate a holiday.