Targeted initiatives of the Rental Subsidy Program were created to assist special needs groups with strategic services that link social services to housing subsidies.

Homeless Dedicated Initiative

About the Initiative

This special initiative has been in place since 2006, providing assistance to homeless individuals and families in obtaining and maintaining permanent housing status.  Social service partners provide supportive services to households who have previously been without permanent housing and/or living in shelters.

Partners

• City of Chicago, Department of Family and Support Services
• Catholic Charities
• Deborah’s Place
• HOW
• Inner Voice, Inc.
• Inspiration Corporation
• La Casa Norte
• North Side Housing and Supportive Services
• Primo Center for Women & Children
• Renaissance Social Services, Inc.
• Thresholds
• Heartland Human Care/Heartland Alliance (Second Chance)

Homeward Bound

About the Initiative

Formerly known as Street-to-Home, this initiative focuses specifically on housing unsheltered homeless single adults in stable permanent housing; social service partners provide supportive services that focus on housing retention, connect participants with a source of income, and engage participants in substance abuse treatment and mental health services, as applicable.

Partners

• City of Chicago, Department of Family and Support Services
• Center for Housing & Health
• Franciscan Outreach Association
• Catholic Charities
• Thresholds

HIV/AIDS Initiative

About the Initiative

Working in conjunction with the Chicago Department of Public Health and the AIDS foundation of Chicago, this special initiative exists to provide permanent housing opportunities to households living with HIV/AIDS with the assistance of rental subsidies.

Partners

• City of Chicago, Department of Public Health
• AIDS Foundation of Chicago

Homeless Dedicated Prevention

About the Initiative

In 2011, the Board of Directors of the Trust Fund approved funding to provide rental subsidies for this initiative to assist households which were currently benefiting from an expiring federal housing program.  Priority households were identified as those including large families, disabled family members, and those at risk of becoming homeless or being subjected to domestic violence.

Partners

• City of Chicago, Department of Family and Support Services
• Catholic Charities
• HOW
• La Casa Norte

Veterans Initiative

About the Initiative

This initiative began as a partnership between the Trust Fund and the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services, and exists to aid U.S. Military Veterans suffering from chronic homelessness.  As of February 2016, 78 Veterans who would be otherwise homeless are afforded stable housing and supportive services.

Partners

• City of Chicago, Department of Family and Support Services
• Featherfist
• North Side Housing and Supportive Services
• Thresholds

There are also drop-in centers (not affiliated with the Trust Fund) available to any person who served in the active military who is experiencing homelessness, open Monday through Friday, from 9am – 5pm.  See the locations here.

Families First

About the Initiative

This initiative provides permanent housing for formerly homeless families, and links them directly to work force development and other supportive services.  The goal of this initiative is to provide each family with a large enough apartment for the entire family to be comfortably housed, and – via workforce development and other services – prepare each family to attain to self-sufficiency.

Partners

• City of Chicago, Department of Family and Support Services