When the COVID-19 crisis forced the suspension of our regular PADS emergency shelter schedule, Oak Parker Michelle Afenya, who is affiliated with Calvary Memorial Church, missed her site captain duties and wanted to continue helping Housing Forward in some way.
Housing Forward has exciting news! The next step in our response to the COVID-19 crisis is to move clients from hotels to permanent homes. We believe that no one sheltered temporarily due to the pandemic should return to the street.
As our nation continues to be impacted by the horrific death of George Floyd, and countless other Black and Brown lives lost caused by acts of violence, brutality and racism, Housing Forward stands in solidarity with those calling for justice and reform.
We are listening to our staff and our clients, and digesting the events that occurred over the past week and weekend. Housing Forward is not just a set of programs, we are humans helping humans. Many...
This is Lalema Bakate, a valued member of the Housing Forward Outreach and Engagement Team. Lalema is an Engagement Specialist and according to Armando Smith, Director of Operations and Client Services, she is able to keep a shelter site running smoothly without ever raising her voice above a whisper.
As we monitor the COVID-19 issue, Housing Forward’s goal has been to provide uninterrupted shelter services, while safeguarding the health and welfare of our clients, volunteers and staff.
When brothers Joe and Anthony Shaker, of Shaker Recruitment Marketing, told their Lake Street neighbor Veronica Ciobotaru, owner of Delia’s Kitchen, that they wanted to help those affected by COVID-19...
What do some of our regular PADS emergency shelter volunteers do when our clients have been relocated due to COVID-19, and are sheltered in place in several locations?
Long before our PADS shelter program was moved from regular locations to individual accommodations, a volunteer at First United Church of Oak Park noticed that when many clients used the restrooms to clean up in the evening, they entered in bare feet.
This past weekend, Hidden Valley Ranch and Gino’s East of Wheaton and Gino’s East of South Barrington partnered to respond to the needs of people who have been deeply affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The plan came together when Sarah Dolan, a member of the Housing Forward Board of Directors, connected the Maywood nonprofit agency with offers of help from the makers of Hidden Valley Ranch, and two Gino’s East franchises.
