Shelter Diversion Program Finishes First Year

Shelter Diversion is a strategy that attempts to prevent homelessness for individuals and families seeking shelter by helping them identify alternate housing arrangements and, if necessary, connecting them with services and financial assistance to help them return to permanent housing and not land in an emergency shelter situation. In September of 2013, West Suburban PADS launched a Shelter Diversion program for the first time in its 23-year history. In the first year of the program, 272 individuals were provided with case management, with 19 ending up in the Emergency Shelter. This is a remarkable success for the program, as it successfully diverted 93% of clients to a housing situation more appropriate for their needs than the shelter. Successfully diverting these individuals means there is less demand for shelter beds, which provides more individuals in all-out crisis with a place to stay. It also prevents individuals and families from experiencing the trauma of becoming homeless, at a much lower cost than providing long-term shelter.