This May, BEDS observes Mental Health Awareness Month. Sponsored by Mental Health America since 1949, the month seeks to raise awareness of mental health and its treatment. This year’s theme is Back to Basics, which recognizes how the pandemic and its restrictions affected our collective mental health and shares information […]
BEDS Faith-based Partnerships: First Congregational Church of Western Springs
First Congregational Church of Western Springs is a long-time supporter of BEDS Plus. The church supports BEDS and our programs through its mission programs as well as its Woman’s Society. Church volunteers over the years have worked summer shelter shifts, provided meals and provided transportation. Their support is essential to […]
Permanent Supportive Housing: Jonah’s move-in day
After experiencing homelessness for four years, Jonah now has a place to call home. He connected with BEDS while living out of his car. We were able to help Jonah find housing through our Permanent Supportive Housing program, which pairs case management with support services to help our clients stabilize […]
Volunteers vital to our work
BEDS was founded by a committed group of La Grange area residents. They did not have any formal human services training; they simply saw people living outdoors and decided to act. We started as a weekly shelter in an area faith-based organization. Other faith-based organizations soon joined in, bringing new groups […]
What does a housing advocate at BEDS do? Featuring staff member Priscilla Beecham-Joseph
What does a housing advocate at BEDS do? BEDS Housing Advocate Priscilla Beecham-Joseph works with clients to help them find housing but also provides them with case management services throughout their journey. She helps clients learn how to budget and plan to pay their bills on time, among other things.
Housing gives BEDS client a fresh start
Congratulations to Michael! Michael was recently housed after previously living out of his car and staying in shelters. He had struggled with drug use in the past but worked with his case workers to get into counseling. Michael has been sober for two years now and is grateful to those […]
CBS News reports on BEDS, Berwyn community partnership
CBS News reports on how BEDS Plus works in partnership with our local communities to respond to homelessness and help ease the burden on police officers. Watch the report here.
Community Partnership: BEDS and the city of Berwyn
Community partnerships are important in the effort to treat and prevent homelessness. Berwyn Police Department Community Relations Officer Juan Macias talks about how the city’s partnership with BEDS helps Berwyn respond to those experiencing homelessness and keeps police patrol out on the streets in service. The Street Outreach team at […]
For Women’s History Month, Remember Women Experiencing Homelessness
March marks Women’s History Month. The National Women’s History Alliance set this year’s theme of “Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope,” which pays “tribute to the ceaseless work of caregivers and frontline workers during this ongoing pandemic and also [recognizes] the thousands of ways that women of all cultures have provided […]
Diversion as an approach to homelessness
Hi everyone. I’m Joann Boblick, Manager of Stabilization Services. That encompasses a lot, but I basically help people who are struggling to remain in their homes stay in them. I want to talk about one of the new ways we do this: a strategy known as Diversion. Cook County has […]
