Individuals seeking assistance are evaluated to see which housing program is most appropriate for them. Following comprehensive intake sessions and review, an action plan is designed for getting that individual out of homelessness.

This team of specially trained Hesed House staff works one–on–one with homeless individuals to:

• Identify the barriers preventing them from regaining housing;
• Develop a plan to overcome those barriers;
• Execute the plan to leave Hesed House

The PADS® Overnight Emergency Shelter is the second largest shelter in the State of Illinois. Each night 155 to 207 men, women and children line up outside the doors of Hesed House seeking a place to sleep, shower, do laundry, eat a meal, find medical and legal assistance and other life–sustaining services. The PADS program at Hesed House serves as a model for other similar agencies in the Western Suburbs and across the nation. The PADS Overnight Emergency Shelter operates from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., every night of the year. Over 70 faith–based communities with teams of volunteers provide food and serve meals, and oversee the shelter dining room, store, laundry facilities, lockers and four sleeping areas. Volunteers also make sack lunches and breakfasts to serve guests as they depart for work or other destinations in the morning. The men's sleeping area accommodates 88 sleeping mats. After 9:30 pm, 25 more mats are placed in our double–duty dining room. Two other sleeping areas provide mats and volunteer oversight for women with children and women without children. A small overflow room provides space for families with special needs. The PADS Overnight Emergency Shelter will typically house 5 to 20 children per night.

While in the PADS shelter, guests may sign up for Case Management services, assistance in finding housing, identification, employment training, medical and legal assistance as well as obtaining veterans' benefits.

PADS Overnight Emergency Shelter does not turn anyone away (other than people listed as sex offenders involved with children) for a night. Longer stays are generally limited to those with ties to our service area.

Our basic rules are simple: while a guest is in PADS, he/she may not possess drugs, alcohol, and weapons. Fighting and 'fighting words' are not tolerated.

Sister program to the overnight PADS emergency shelter, the daytime drop–in center provides shelter, food and access to critical ancillary services for self–sufficiency five days a week. 500 men, women and children are served through this program weekly.

This newly–acquired program is focused on preventing a person from becoming homeless which costs less financially and emotionally than helping people to get re–housed. The threats to becoming homeless are identified and a plan is developed to prevent eviction.

TLC is a temporary dormitory–style home to 52 individuals and families who are between homelessness and returning to an independent life and aggressively working toward self–improvement and independence. Their action plan includes developing skills to manage a household and maintain employment, learning sound money management and savings practices, honing parenting skills and much more

Despite the comprehensive services available through Hesed House, there is a segment of its served population that will never be able to live independently without continuing assistance at a variety of levels. Founded through private donations and matching government funds, LIGHT–House offers long–term permanent housing to individuals and families at multiple locations within the community.

Education and employment skills are the path to getting out of Hesed House and remaining in stable housing. On–site services are offered to facilitate individuals improving their skills to obtain employment (resume writing, interview techniques, effective communication, etc.). Waubonsee Community College provides a full–time, on–site job skills specialist in our new Comprehensive Resource Center to assist guests and residents in the process of searching for employment.

Most homeless individuals are uninsured or underinsured. An on–site medical clinic staffed with medical professionals helps individuals and families to regain health and well–being.

Breaking Free has a full–time substance abuse counselor on-site.

The Association for Individual Development has a full–time counselor on site at Hesed House and Samaritan Interfaith also provides counseling.

A team of attorneys volunteers two nights a month to meet with SEEDS Case managers to address legal issues facing the poor and homeless at Hesed House, such as reinstatement of a driver's license, divorce, housing discrimination, tax matters, access to healthcare, education for homeless children and child visitation rights.

Hesed House's philosophy is to meet today's needs of the underprivileged and underserved and to work toward systemic solutions that prevent future problems from occurring.

In 1995, Hesed House led the nation in the movement to petition its legislative leaders to make it mandatory for schools to education homeless children and provide bus transportation to and from their schools. Now national law, Hesed House is proud to note that it all began here.

The FOOD PANTRY, located at Hesed House, distributes groceries to the Fox Valley needy three times a week, serving approximately 1,600 families per month. http://www.aurorafoodpantry.org/

The SOUP KITCHEN, a Hesed House ministry, prepares hot meals in the PADS kitchen and serves a total of 180 lunches to the poor and homeless twice a week.

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