Volunteers - We Need You!

Housing Forward has been fortunate to be able to help those in our community for the past 24 years and one of the most important assets we have is the wealth of talented and caring volunteers that help us achieve our mission.

Our volunteers are vital to us, annually giving thousands of hours of their time and resources; they exemplify kindness, compassion and treat everyone with dignity and respect, whether or not they have a home. They truly touch the lives of those who stay at the shelter and in turn, often the lives of volunteers are also changed.

As a PADS shelter volunteer, you are an essential component of our organization which provides basic needs of food and shelter. The PADS Emergency shelter runs from September 19, 2016 through May, 2017 providing overnight shelter and three daily meals, seven days a week, for 40 to 70 individuals at 10 rotating sites in Berwyn, Forest Park, Franklin Park and Oak Park. The program is a gateway for a wide array of supportive services aimed at reducing the length of homelessness for our overnight clients and helping them work toward the ultimate goal of achieving and sustaining housing stability. Volunteers are needed in shelter in the following capacities:

• SHELTER SHIFT WORKERS: Serve in a variety of capacities, depending on selected shifts: First shift (6:30pm – 10:30pm), Second Shift (10:30pm – 5:00am), or Third Shift (5:00am – 7:30am). 
• SITE CAPTAINS: Provide overall management and coordination of the volunteer team and site.  Site Captains are responsible for decision making and leadership during the evening (First) or morning (Third) shift.  The site captain welcomes volunteers and guests and delegates volunteer work assignments.
• MEAL PROVIDERS:  Dinner is prepared and served by a volunteer dinner team. Sack lunches and breakfast items are dropped off by volunteers in the evening and served by the Third Shift volunteers.

Housing Forward is also looking for individuals and/or groups to help with our current Summer Transitional Shelter that will run until August 28. There are still shifts available and volunteers can sign up for the following options: Breakfast Provider, Lunch Provider and Dinner Provider. Dates for the following shelter sites are listed below. Click on the links to sign up!

St. Paul Thai Lutheran 7/25 – 7/31
Oak Park Temple 8/1 – 8/14
First United Church of Oak Park 8/15 – 8/28  

If you are interested in getting involved with the PADS Emergency Shelter, or with our current Summer Transitional Shelter program, please contact Volunteer Associate, Hannah Williams, at volunteer@housingforward.org or 708.338.1724 ext 242.