Re-Entry Resources
On this page, you will find contact information/links for some resources, organizations, and guides to aid in the re-entry of formerly incarcerated folks (specific to Chicagoland). The listings were vetted and researched to the best of our ability, but we cannot personally vouch for every organization or resource.
Here is a guide by the EDUCATION JUSTICE PROJECT on successful re-entry in Illinois; and here is a guide for individuals that face deportation to Mexico or Central America (in Spanish).
DROP-IN/OUTREACH
MATTHEW HOUSE (3722 S Indiana Ave) – Support Services in the following areas: on- and off-site case management, housing resources, medical, domestic violence, substance use, and crisis counseling intervention. Soup Kitchen open Monday through Saturday; 773-536-6628.
NORTHSIDE HOUSING AND SUPPORT SERVICES (4410 N Ravenswood Ave) – Day Support Services Center offers case management and support for people who are experiencing homelessness. To schedule an intake with a case manager, call 773-244-6401, ext. 108 or ext. 121.
FEATHERFIST (2255 E 75th St) – Provides services in core areas: Outreach and Engagement, Case Management, Housing Resources, and Veterans’ Services. Call 773-721-7088 and leave your information, and an outreach worker will be in touch.
AIDS FOUNDATION CHICAGO (200 W Monroe St Suite 1150) – Anyone living with HIV and AIDS can be connected to support services through the AIDS Foundation of Chicago; call 312-690-8860 for housing navigation; they can also help with connection to healthcare.
CATHOLIC CHARITIES (721 N LaSalle St) – Food, clothing, some emergency funds; 312-655-7700.
THE SALVATION ARMY (825 N Christiana Ave) – Variety of homeless services including funds for rental assistance, furniture, utility bills, etc. Food Pantry open Monday through Friday; meals for Thanksgiving – families and individuals eligible. Coat Voucher for winter season. Medical Assistance for substance use treatment in partnership with Lawndale Christian Health Center; 312-667-2200.
CHICAGO RECOVERY ALLIANCE (3110 W Taylor St) – Safer drug use supplies and info about harm reduction/safer use; 312-953-3797 or anypositivechange.org to find daily supplies, van locations.
COORDINATED ENTRY: Call 312-361-1707 for intake and your 90-day homeless updates! You MUST update every 90 days to remain active on the homeless housing waitlist!
EMERGENCY SHELTERS: Homeless shelters do not check backgrounds. You have to call 311 to be connected to a shelter; or go to 10 S Kedzie Ave for the GARFIELD COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTER. If you are on the registry, you will still have to register as homeless.
EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES
CARA PROGRAM (237 S Desplaines St) – Supports with professional training and job placement; 312-798-3309 (leave a message and they will call back).
GREATER WEST TOWN DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (500 N Sacramento Blvd) – Community-based organization that offers educational resources and economic opportunities; fill out the link and they will call to schedule an in-person appt; They require ID, social security #, BC, and proof of income; 312-432-1300.
INSPIRATION KITCHENS (3504 W Lake St) – Free 8-week job training program for work in kitchens or the food service industry; 773-801-1110.
VETERANS NEW BEGINNINGS (8140 S Racine Ave) – They used to work with folks whether or not you are a vet – you can call to see if this is still the case; 872-244-8071.
NORTH LAWNDALE EMPLOYMENT NETWORK (1111 S Homan Ave) – Various employment placement and readiness programs, including several targeted at formerly incarcerated individuals; 773-638-1825.
WESTSIDE HEALTH AUTHORITY (5417 W Division St) – Call for an appointment or to see if they are currently doing walk-ins, social security and ID required; they have a special department for reentry resources as well; 773-786-0226.
PHALANX FAMILY SERVICES (837 W 119th St) – Variety of job training and employment programs, as well as other social services; 773-291-1086.
JANE ADDAMS RESOURCE CORPORATION (4432 N Ravenswood Ave) – Free job training for welding, mechanical assembly, manufacturing, CNC operators; 773-728-9769.
A SAFE HAVEN (2750 West Roosevelt Rd) – Free job training for culinary, custodial engineering, security, welding; 773-435-8300.
CHICAGO URBAN LEAGUE (4510 S Michigan Ave) – Workforce development in many areas, including young adults; email awells@chiul.org or call 773-285-5800 and ask for Andrew/workforce development.
TEAMWORK ENGLEWOOD (815 W 63rd St 2nd floor) – Employment support for formerly incarcerated individuals, walk-ins welcome; 773-488-6600.
IMAN: GREEN REENTRY (2744 W 63rd St) – Stipended training program in carpentry, HVAC, and electrical targeted to formerly incarcerated people; 773-434-4626.
CHICAGOLAND PRISON OUTREACH MINISTRIES (900 E 162nd St) – Free vocational program for either welding or carpentry for formerly incarcerated individuals, with no background restrictions; case management, trauma counseling, and job placement included; 708-331-3301.
SAFER FOUNDATION (571 W Jackson Blvd) – workforce development, education, and financial coaching; 312-922-2200.
LEGAL RESOURCES
LEGAL COUNCIL FOR HEALTH JUSTICE (17 N State St #900) – Supporting homeless people with SSI benefits (specifically for mental health disabilities), and people impacted by HIV/AIDS with both SSI benefits and employment discrimination issues; 312-427-8990.
WESTSIDE JUSTICE CENTER (601 S California Ave) – Legal advice and coaching; 773-940-2213.
UPTOWN PEOPLE’S LAW CENTER (4413 N Sheridan Rd) – Can support formerly incarcerated people who are living with a disability with social security claims. Call for an intake; 773-769-1411.
CABRINI GREEN LEGAL AID (6 S Clark St) – Variety of legal services including criminal records research, legal consultation, petition filing, and full representation through criminal records relief services, civil legal services, and criminal defense programs. Services are offered through our three Help Desks at the Daley Center, Markham Courthouse, and the Juvenile Courthouse in Chicago; 312-738-2452.
LAWYER’S COMMITTEE FOR BETTER HOUSING (33 N LaSalle St) – Free legal aid for tenant issues; 312-347-7600.
FOOD PANTRIES
(You can find pantries and soup kitchens by address/zip code at www.chicagosfoodbank.org)
CARE FOR REAL (North) – 5339 N Sheridan Rd, Mon, Wed, Fri 9am-12pm, Sat 9am-1pm; 1545 W Morse, Tues 12-2pm (ALSO OFFER CLOTHES).
WE DO CARE (Southwest) – 1538 W 69th St, Thurs 1-3pm.
PARKWAY GARDEN CHRISTIAN CHURCH (Woodlawn) – 6600 S Martin Luther King Dr, Fri 10:30am-12:30pm.
LAKEVIEW PANTRY (North) – 3945 N Sheridan Rd, Mon+Fri 11-4, Tues+Thurs 4-7, Wed 11am-2pm, Sat 10:30am-3pm.
LA CASA NORTE (Humboldt Park) – 3533 W North Ave, Mon, Tues, Wed 11am-2pm.
FRATERNITE NOTRE DAME (Austin) – 502 N Central Ave, Wed 3-5pm, Soup Kitchen Mon 11am-1pm.
LIGHTS OF ZION CHURCH (Far South) – 11636 S Halsted St, Thurs 2-4pm.
HEALTH/MENTAL HEALTH/SUPPORT
ABOVE AND BEYOND FAMILY RECOVERY (2942 W Lake St) – Substance use counseling and life skills, using 12-step, SMART recovery, and harm reduction approaches, with many different support groups; 772-940-2960.
CHICAGO TORTURE JUSTICE CENTER (6337 S Woodlawn Ave) – Provides individual counseling, case management, and support groups for anyone who has survived the torture of incarceration and/or the violence of the criminal justice system; 773-962-0395 or email info@chicagotorturejustice.org.
EX-CONS FOR COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL CHANGE (610 West Root St) – Re-entry programs, mentoring, behavioral health, community engagement; 708- 512-4140.
HEARTLAND ALLIANCE – ENGLEWOOD (5501 S Halsted St) – Primary care, behavioral health, dental; 773-275-2586.
HEARTLAND ALLIANCE – UPTOWN (1015 W. Lawrence Ave, 2nd Floor) – Primary care, behavioral health, dental; 773-275-3689
HEARTLAND ALLIANCE – WEST LOOP (932 W Washington Blvd) – Primary care, behavioral health, dental; 312-660-1775.
THRESHOLDS MOBILE OUTREACH (4101 N. Ravenswood Ave) – Street-based case management services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness and in need of mental health support; 773-537-3849 (leave a message).
OTHER RESOURCES
PRECIOUS BLOOD MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION (PBMR) (5114 S Elizabeth St) – PBMR serves youth, families, and community members that reside in Chicago’s Back of the Yards/New City and Englewood neighborhoods who are impacted by violence and the criminal justice system. We also work directly with people who are currently incarcerated; 773-952-6643.
INNER VOICE / PIONEER HOUSE (567 W Lake St, Suite 1150) – The only all-male residential facility on Chicago’s Westside, Pioneer House provides a supportive environment, case management and services to assist residents achieve self-reliance and well-being. Residents live at Pioneer House for an average of 12 to 18 months, and receive an array of services, including substance abuse and mental illness counseling, job placement and re-entry services; 773-921-5290.
NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR EMPOWERMENT OF THE FORMERLY INCARCERATED (NAEFI) – The National Alliance for the Empowerment of the Formerly Incarcerated provides formerly incarcerated individuals with trained mentors, counseling, and workshops; 773-593-2540.
GIVING OTHERS DREAMS (G.O.D.) (8920 S Commercial Ave) – A non-profit organization that provides re-entry services and holistic support programming to newly released justice-impacted women. It is a safe and supportive space that promotes healing and the empowerment of women, which involves developing a goal-oriented, self-decision reintegration plan. We provide direct referrals to career services and other much needed resources, which adds to our mission of reducing gender-based violence and the recidivism rate for women; (773) 437-4157.
*Here are guidelines to help anyone obtain their essential documents (birth certificate, state ID).