News & Resources

Do you have a birthday coming up? Consider a fundraiser for BEDS Plus Care. We are incredibly grateful to those who held fundraisers for BEDS recently, including Mario J. Fotino and Aisha Caffey.

BEDS Bulletin! Graham Pruss, a postdoctoral scholar with the Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative, expects more Americans will seek shelter in their vehicles during the COVID-19 pandemic as government safety nets fray and evictions and foreclosures rise. Pruss said that millions struggled to afford a decent place to live even before the COVID-19 pandemic, which has only made the housing crisis worse. According to estimates, almost 1 in 500 Americans is experiencing homelessness.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2021/02/12/covid-unemployment-layoffs-foreclosure-eviction-homeless-car-rv/6713901002/ … See more

More Americans are being driven into their vehicles by the pandemic as the government safety net frays and evictions and foreclosures increase.

Ray Stewart, Robert LeGrand and Ulmon Thomas are key members of our Street Outreach team. They are all former clients who experienced homelessness before they were housed. They know how hard it can be on the streets, and they know how difficult it can be to trust someone who is offering to help. Their collective experiences are invaluable on the Street Outreach team — and a key reason why the team is successful in convincing those who are reluctant to accept help. Click here to read part two of our blog on our Street Outreach efforts: https://beds-plus.org/former-beds-clients-help-street-outreach-team-reach-those-experiencing-homelessness/.

Missed part one? Read it here: https://beds-plus.org/beds-street-outreach-team-braves-elements-to-find-those-experiencing-homelessness/.

Want to see our Street Outreach team in action? Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mi9V3cjkQYg … See more

We are so thankful for our supporters, volunteers and communities!

Thankful Thursday! A heartfelt thank you to St. Damian Church in Oak Forest. The church collected donations of hoodies, long underwear, underwear and socks for our clients over the holidays. Thank you! … See more

Thankful Thursday! We are so grateful for Congress Park School. The school recently held a coat drive and collected more than 12 large bags of coats and winter wear for our clients. Thank you!

Congratulations to Dewey, who recently moved into our Permanent Supportive Housing program. Dewey traveled a long way to find home – he was originally on the streets in Chicago Heights before he was connected to BEDS through Coordinated Entry. #ILSupportiveHousing … See more

Street Outreach encompasses so much more than simply searching our communities for those in need of shelter. Our team often works with our local police departments to respond to those in need of help. Recently, the team was able to connect with an individual experiencing homelessness in La Grange who had been sheltering at the police station. Our Street Outreach team was able to help and arranged for the individual to stay with nearby family so he was safely out of the elements before a winter storm set in with dangerously cold temperatures and snow. On Friday, we will post part two of our Street Outreach blog. Missed part one? Read it here: https://beds-plus.org/beds-street-outreach-team-braves-elements-to-find-those-experiencing-homelessness/ … See more

We are so thankful for our supporters, volunteers and communities!

Congratulations to Dewey, who recently moved into our Permanent Supportive Housing program. Dewey traveled a long way to find home – he was originally on the streets in Chicago Heights before he was connected to BEDS through Coordinated Entry. Congrats, Dewey! Your happy dance says it all!

#ILSupportiveHousing Alliance to End Homelessness in Suburban Cook County Cook County Government … See more