By George Vlahos
A short walk from Wrigley Field sits a unique homeless shelter in the heart of Wrigleyville, Northside Housing and Supportive Services, located at 835 W. Addison St.
A not-for-profit organization, Northside was founded in 1983, serving men who are homeless or formerly homeless. For those who work there, respect and empathy are as important in rebuilding lives as food, shelter and supportive service, they say. The agency’s aim is to educate the community on homeless issues, and advocate for change to improve situations for people suffering what it calls the indignity of homelessness with the goal of eradicating the conditions of homelessness from society.
Among the volunteers at is Michelle Wittig, 34, who has served at the shelter for the last year. Wittig says Northside is the most unique homeless shelter in Chicago.
“The shelter is unique because we help men,” Wittig said. “I don’t know of many shelters in Chicago that cater to men only. Our goals are to provide meals and help for our guests to back on their feet.”
One of the men recently being served was Lloyd Rosen—a guest, as residents are called at the shelter for about four months this winter.
Rosen, 55, said he came to the shelter in December after he had to stop working because of layoffs.
“I got laid off in October of last year,” says Rosen, adding that he previously worked as a security officer. “After job-hunting non-stop for two months, I got behind on my rent. Next thing I know, I am out on the street.”
Before coming to Northside, Rosen said he stayed at another shelter on the Northwest Side. He contended that that shelter was poorly run.
“This shelter gives me everything I need,” Rosen said. “I have three meals a day, a bed to sleep in and help in getting me a job.”
Most importantly, Rosen says until he finds a permanent home, he does not have to worry about being in the freezing cold or not having a bed to sleep in.
“I just thank the Lord I have a roof over my head,” said Rosen.
Just how does Northside help guests like Rosen in getting their lives back together?
The shelter has three programs to assist residents, including a case management program, permanent supportive housing program and health care management program. The most important of these, according to case manager George Wilson, is the case management program.
“The case management program is the cornerstone for what we try to do here,” said Wilson. “Through this program, we try to help our guests with their substance abuse problems through counseling, education, employment and housing assistance, permanent housing and follow ups to make sure they’re on the right track.”
Darnell Taylor, who has lived at the shelter since October of last year, is currently a part of the case management program. Taylor says it has helped him greatly in overcoming his substance abuse problems. Once a custodian at a local school, he has been unemployed for about two years because of his substance abuse, he said.
Taylor says that he is now clean and sober and focusing on finding a good job and a decent place to live.
“I don’t know where I would be without this place,” Taylor said. “I thank God that he brought me here.”
Taylor hopes to be out of the shelter in about two months. He has applied for jobs and says has yet to hear back. It is not an unfamiliar story in these lean economic times.
“A lot of our guests have applied for jobs, but have received little to no response,” Wilson said. “We feel it’s because of the economy. But it will turn around.”
Program Director Neal Mueller also attributes the bad economy to a more populated shelter.
“We are always full,” Mueller said. “Unfortunately, we have to turn away a lot more people during this poor economic time. It’s just the way it is right now.”
A short walk from Wrigley Field sits a unique homeless shelter in the heart of Wrigleyville, Northside Housing and Supportive Services, located at 835 W. Addison St.
A not-for-profit organization, Northside was founded in 1983, serving men who are homeless or formerly homeless. For those who work there, respect and empathy are as important in rebuilding lives as food, shelter and supportive service, they say. The agency’s aim is to educate the community on homeless issues, and advocate for change to improve situations for people suffering what it calls the indignity of homelessness with the goal of eradicating the conditions of homelessness from society.
Among the volunteers at is Michelle Wittig, 34, who has served at the shelter for the last year. Wittig says Northside is the most unique homeless shelter in Chicago.
“The shelter is unique because we help men,” Wittig said. “I don’t know of many shelters in Chicago that cater to men only. Our goals are to provide meals and help for our guests to back on their feet.”
One of the men recently being served was Lloyd Rosen—a guest, as residents are called at the shelter for about four months this winter.
Rosen, 55, said he came to the shelter in December after he had to stop working because of layoffs.
“I got laid off in October of last year,” says Rosen, adding that he previously worked as a security officer. “After job-hunting non-stop for two months, I got behind on my rent. Next thing I know, I am out on the street.”
Before coming to Northside, Rosen said he stayed at another shelter on the Northwest Side. He contended that that shelter was poorly run.
“This shelter gives me everything I need,” Rosen said. “I have three meals a day, a bed to sleep in and help in getting me a job.”
Most importantly, Rosen says until he finds a permanent home, he does not have to worry about being in the freezing cold or not having a bed to sleep in.
“I just thank the Lord I have a roof over my head,” said Rosen.
Just how does Northside help guests like Rosen in getting their lives back together?
The shelter has three programs to assist residents, including a case management program, permanent supportive housing program and health care management program. The most important of these, according to case manager George Wilson, is the case management program.
“The case management program is the cornerstone for what we try to do here,” said Wilson. “Through this program, we try to help our guests with their substance abuse problems through counseling, education, employment and housing assistance, permanent housing and follow ups to make sure they’re on the right track.”
Darnell Taylor, who has lived at the shelter since October of last year, is currently a part of the case management program. Taylor says it has helped him greatly in overcoming his substance abuse problems. Once a custodian at a local school, he has been unemployed for about two years because of his substance abuse, he said.
Taylor says that he is now clean and sober and focusing on finding a good job and a decent place to live.
“I don’t know where I would be without this place,” Taylor said. “I thank God that he brought me here.”
Taylor hopes to be out of the shelter in about two months. He has applied for jobs and says has yet to hear back. It is not an unfamiliar story in these lean economic times.
“A lot of our guests have applied for jobs, but have received little to no response,” Wilson said. “We feel it’s because of the economy. But it will turn around.”
Program Director Neal Mueller also attributes the bad economy to a more populated shelter.
“We are always full,” Mueller said. “Unfortunately, we have to turn away a lot more people during this poor economic time. It’s just the way it is right now.”
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