Emergency Shelter

If you need help, call (708) 354-0858

Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, we followed the best practices for mitigating the spread of the disease among the high-risk homeless people we serve, in the communities where they live, and among our staff, volunteers and donors. We are overwhelmed by the goodwill and generosity of new and old friends, who support our mission to help the most vulnerable members of our communities through housing and supportive services.

BEDS is pleased to report that all of our program staff have received the COVID-19 vaccine. We are now focusing efforts on helping our clients get vaccinated through our partnership with Pillars Community Health.

We continue to work with people in need on a case-by-case basis to find the best solutions for their situation. From mid-March through the end of July 2020, BEDS delivered 12,506 nights of emergency shelter to 234 clients and provided 37,518 meals. BEDS successfully prevented any COVID-19 infections among congregate shelter guests and BEDS staff by strictly adhering to CDC guidelines.

Since the shelter-in-place order was issued last year, BEDS and other members of the Alliance to End Homelessness in Suburban Cook County have provided 113,000 nights of emergency shelter for more than 1,200 individuals experiencing homelessness and secured rooms in local hotels for those with nowhere safe to stay. Some of the 1,200 came from homeless shelters, while others were pushed into homelessness due to the impact of COVID-19.

Members of the Alliance have been working tirelessly since the beginning of the pandemic to provide emergency housing in hotels, assist families unable to pay their rent, and help people find safe and affordable places to call home. The solution to homelessness is housing, and the Alliance and its members are mobilizing to move hundreds of people out of homelessness and into their own homes. Despite our best efforts, suburban Cook County needs more resources to meet the needs of a growing number of households who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. We need additional support from the community and all levels of government to respond to this crisis. Click here to read more.

Daytime Support Centers

• Our Ogden Avenue and Worth Daytime Support Centers remain closed.
• The Ogden Avenue Front Desk and our professional staff are still available 24/7 at (708) 354-0858.
• Pillars Community Health provides a COVID-19 Coping Help Line at (708) 995-3898.

Shelter Operations

• People who need shelter must call (708) 354-0858.
• BEDS Plus Care will place newly homeless individuals and families in motel rooms on a case-by-case basis until they can be tested for COVID-19 infection and assessed for program services. Space is limited.
• Pillars Community Health is supplying screening and testing for sheltered and housed clients.
• Sheltered motel clients receive daily delivery of freshly prepared meals, wellness checks by program staff, access to telehealth mental health services, and other supplies they need.

Homelessness Prevention and Supportive Housing

• As the freeze on evictions and increases in unemployment benefits come to an end, BEDS anticipates increases in requests for Prevention assistance.
• More information on how to access Prevention services can be found here.

Housing

• BEDS commitment to housing remains a top priority throughout our COVID-19 emergency response.
• We have moved 18 shelter clients into area apartments to date, with more in the queue.
• More information on how to access Housing services is available here.