Sarah’s Circle’s primary goal is to end homelessness for women in Chicago. We provide services to individuals who identify as female and are 18 years of age or older. Our programs utilize the Housing First model, have no barriers to entry, and use a trauma-informed approach. Across programs, Sarah’s Circle staff use best practices and provide case management and supportive services to help women achieve their goals. The programs have three overarching goals:
- Welcome all women with safety, respect, and community
- Support women’s growth in all aspects of wellness: physical, emotional, life skills, economic, and the realization of their unique potential.
- Help each woman find her home.
Daytime Support Center
Open to any woman in need, the Daytime Support Center provides a safe space, services to meet basic needs, educational and general-interest programming, and case management to help women find permanent housing and increase self-sufficiency.
“We get the help we need: a shower, a locker, we can do laundry and be fed.”
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Open five days a week from 9:30am to 4:30pm and located on the ground floor of 4838 N Sheridan Rd, women can access basic needs such as shower facilities, laundry, two nutritious meals prepared daily, coats during the winter, phone services, and hygiene supplies. We also have a computer lab and supplies for activities such as arts and crafts, which many women find therapeutic. If desired, women can be assigned a case manager and meet with them as needed.
The Daytime Support Center also serves as a mailing address for many women, which allows them to receive important documents and can act as a consistent address for job opportunities. Through community volunteers we also provide general interest classes. This can range from classes about legal services, proper hygiene practices, financial literacy, nutrition classes, and even more informal classes such as dance and music. The community that DSC has created helps women address the causes of their homelessness and meet their goals that help them find stable housing.
Interim Housing Program
For women who are currently homeless, the Interim Housing Program is an overnight facility that provides 24-hour access to supportive services. It is designed to transition women into permanent housing as quickly as possible.
Across Chicago there is an urgent need for additional beds as Interim Housing Programs and Emergency Shelters have had to reduce numbers to accommodate social distancing. To address this critical shortage of beds, Sarah’s Circle will be operating an additional Interim Housing Program starting in 2021 while the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
“It’s like having 49 mums making sure I have my homework done. My case manager will save my meals for me when I come back late from campus. People will check in on me to make sure I have what I need. I got three A’s last quarter—which is a reflection of how Sarah’s Circle has supported me.”
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Permanent Supportive Housing
Sarah’s Circle provides 73 units of Permanent Supportive Housing, offering women safe, private homes and ongoing supportive services to ensure housing retention. This housing model improves outcomes for the most difficult to serve individuals and helps reduce public costs associated with emergency room and shelter use.
“Privacy is important for someone with mental illness. I am constantly checking in with myself, making alterations to my environment… to make sure everything is okay. When I go to my unit, I can have my quiet time… not like at a shelter.”
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New Initiative: Rapid Rehousing
In response to COVID-19, Sarah’s Circle is running a temporary Rapid Rehousing Program. The program is designed to help women within 30 days of their homelessness. They are given temporary housing and assigned a case manager. The case manager works with them to address the cause of their homelessness. The program lasts 12-14 months; and at the end, the women are expected to have found permanent, independent housing.
