Chicago Recovery Alliance

Hello, I'm a psychologist and for the past four years I've been coordinating a free counseling program for Chicago Recovery Alliance focused primarily on people experiencing homelessness. We provide most of our counseling services at homeless shelters (group and individual counseling, along with overdose prevention training and harm reduction). We've continued to provide in-person services throughout the pandemic, with only a few disruptions in service. What we've seen and experienced has left us concerned at the lack of support from federal, state, and local government throughout the pandemic. But then last week something really shocking happened.

Despite the shelters only having a few Covid cases at a time throughout the pandemic, 55 of 140 guests at the main shelter where we provide services tested positive for Coronavirus all at once. It seems the city only took any action once there was media attention. This shelter is built in an old warehouse, where people live and sleep in three big, open communal spaces. There is one men's bathroom and one women's bathroom. There is no good way to quarantine people who are positive on site, yet the city and state have not meaningfully responded with emergency housing, as they had done earlier in the pandemic by placing individuals in hotels to quarantine. You can read more about this recent outbreak here: https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-covid-19-chicago-homeless-franciscan-outreach-20201126-3roqxksrrvcurdanurn6k4do7y-story.html

Over the years, our team has built relationships with many people who live in these shelters. The population is mostly Black, skews older, and has high rates of disability and chronic illness. They are among the most neglected and mistreated members of society, and many have multiple risk factors. We are raising funds to help the people with the most health risk factors to get housing and avoid Covid. Our goal is to get as many people out as possible. We are raising money for security deposits and first month's rent, and we have a housing specialist in our group who will pursue other grants for the second month and beyond. We have identified a number of housing units, in SRO's (single resident occupancy units) and apartments. We have reduced our goal to $6000, which will allow us to help 4-5 people on a pathway to permanent housing. 

The situation is urgent. We need to get people out ASAP before they get sick, and it's on us because our local leaders are dragging their feet. I hope you will consider donating whatever you can. Chicago Recovery Alliance is a 501c3 and your donation is tax deductible.