Ward Service Office
1447 W. Morse Ave
Chicago, IL 60626
North Side Housing & Supportive Services Proposal
North Side Housing & Supportive Services Receives Approval for Special Use Permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals
On Friday, February 17, 2023, the Zoning Board of Appeals approved the Special Use Permit for North Side Housing & Supportive Services to operate a men's shelter located at 7464 N. Clark. The approval was based on overwhelming support from the community and at the recommendations of the Department of Housing and the Department of Family Support Services.
The special use permit will help North Side Housing advance in the next phases of the shelter, which includes finalizing the funding to acquire the building and securing building permits.
In the fall of 2022, the 49th Ward office conducted an extensive community engagement process to solicit feedback on North Side Housing's request for a Special Use Permit. A part of the community engagement process included circulating a survey. The survey resulted in the highest number of respondents to any survey we have circulated, previously or since, with 72.6% of 49th Ward residents supporting the request.
Homelessness is a crisis in our city, and one big part of the solution is safe, dignified transitional housing with wraparound services for people to remove the barriers they have to permanent housing. This shelter is going to change the lives of so many and is a part of the solution that we all want to see: housing for everyone and an end to homelessness.
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Decision on North Side Housing & Supportive Services' Request for a Special Use Permit
Alderwoman Hadden is supporting North Side Housing's request for a special use permit to relocate its men's shelter to 7464 N. Clark.
The decision comes after the 49th Ward office conducted robust community engagement, including hosting three community meetings and circulating a survey that received the highest response rate of any proposal that has come through the ward office to date. 49th Ward residents overwhelmingly support the proposal, with 72.6% of 49th Ward respondents saying outright that they support North Side Housing's request for a special use permit at this location.
The original proposal included plans for a drop-in center at the location as well. While I know that many constituents expressed support for these services, I am committed to an incremental approach to welcoming North Side Housing into the ward. I would like to see North Side Housing operate in the ward before revisiting the proposal for the drop-in services. This approach allows us to ensure that operations run smoothly at the shelter before making a decision on the drop-in center.
In December 2021, North Side Housing was faced with a tough reality: they had to relocate the men living in the shelter at the Preston Bradley Center to a new location because of grave building violations that their landlord failed to bring into compliance. Since then, they have been housing 50 men out of the Super 8 Hotel located at 7300 N. Sheridan without incident.
After closing its shelter at the Preston Bradley Center, North Side Housing embarked on a search for a permanent location across the northside, with Aldermen Vasquez, Tunney, Cappleman, Martin, and Osterman all giving their support to relocate the shelter to their respective wards. After searching across several wards and working closely with a realtor, they were able to enter into an agreement to use the former (and long-vacant) medical care center at 7464 N. Clark.
Unlike other emergency shelters in the city, North Side Housing will be open for its clients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This means that men will not be forced to leave the shelter in the morning and can receive 3 meals a day, access to a shower, and other resources and services through the shelter.
With over 40 years of experience, North Side Housing knows the formula to run a successful program. North Side Housing reports that only 3% of its clients return to the shelter after being connected to permanent supportive housing. The average stay of a typical client in the shelter is approximately 80 days.
North Side Housing manages over 200 permanent supportive housing units across the city, and they work closely with their shelter clients to transition them from the shelter to these units. Once in the units, the clients continue to receive the wraparound services they need to remain housed.
To learn more about the proposal, review the survey results, and review the FAQ, visit 49thward.org/northsidehousing. The third community meeting is available to view on Facebook by clicking here.
View the Survey Results for North Side Housing & Supportive Services, Attend an Upcoming Community Meeting
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On June 22, 2022, our office hosted a community meeting to discuss North Side Housing's proposal for a special use permit to open an emergency men's shelter at 7464 N. Clark. The site is currently zoned as B3-3, which allows for emergency shelters with a special use permit.
Following a community meeting on June 21, the 49th Ward solicited feedback on the proposal from neighbors via an online survey. Constituents also provided feedback over the phone, by email, and during the meeting. The feedback survey was open from June 24 through July 8.
After sifting through the data, we have compiled the information into a series of infographics, breaking down the data by aggregate responses, respondents within the ward, respondents farther than 4 blocks (but still within the ward), respondents within 4 blocks, respondents within 2 blocks, respondents within 1 block, and respondents outside of the ward.
In August, we will host two additional community meetings on the proposal. Join Alderwoman Hadden for an in-person meeting on Monday, August 1, at Pottawattomie Park, 7340 N. Rogers, at 6 pm. Out of an abundance of caution due to the covid risk factors, this meeting will take place outdoors. We will have a limited number of chairs for folks who need seating. Spanish interpretation will be available.
On Wednesday, August 3, we will host a virtual community meeting at 6 pm. To register to attend the meeting, visit bit.ly/NSHMeeting.
To learn more about the proposal, review the survey results, and review the FAQ, visit 49thward.org/northsidehousing.
Update on North Side Housing & Supportive Services
Thank you to everyone who took the time to share feedback on North Shore Housing and Supportive Service's request for a special use permit to open an emergency homeless shelter in the vacant space located at 7464 N. Clark. The feedback survey received over 1,000 responses over the past 2.5 weeks. The ward staff is compiling the information to share back with the community as we continue the community engagement process on this proposal.
Please keep an eye on this space in the coming weeks for survey results and more information on how to participate in upcoming meetings. Our office is still in the early stages of the decision-making process for this proposal. There will be additional community meetings and ample opportunities for input before any final decision is made.
More information on the proposal and North Side Housing's presentation are available on the 49th Ward website at 49thward.org/northsidehousing. You can watch the community meeting on Facebook by clicking here.
Share Your Feedback on North Side Housing's Emergency Men's Shelter Special Use Permit Request
On June 22, 2022, our office hosted a community meeting to discuss North Side Housing's proposal for a special use permit to open an emergency men's shelter at 7464 N. Clark. The site is currently zoned as B3-3, which allows for emergency shelters with a special use permit. More information on the proposal and North Side Housing's presentation are available below.
We would like to hear residents' feedback on the proposal. Please take a moment to complete the online feedback form at bit.ly/NSHFeedback. Feedback will be accepted through Tuesday, July 5.
Our office is still in the early stages of the decision-making process for this proposal. There will be additional community meetings and ample opportunities for input before any final decision is made.
Join the 49th Ward North Side Housing & Supportive Services for a Community Meeting on June 21
Join North Side Housing and Supportive Services and the 49th Ward for a community meeting on a proposal to relocate its emergency shelter to 7464 N. Clark Street. The site is currently zoned as B3-3, which allows for emergency shelters with a special use permit.
North Side Housing agency has been assisting individuals find permanent housing solutions in Lakeview, Uptown, and Ravenswood since 1983. They currently operate four programs to help their clients: one shelter in Rogers Park, permanent supportive housing for 200 clients, a Housing Navigation program to help clients find affordable and permanent housing, and a Drop-In Center in Ravenswood to help people experiencing homelessness receive immediate support.
North Side Housing and Supportive Services currently operates a 50-bed shelter for men in the Super 8 Hotel at 7300 N. Sheridan Road in Rogers Park. They embarked on a search across the north side to find a new location after the owner their previous shelter in Uptown failed to bring building code violations into compliance to keep the residents safe.
After looking at properties across several wards and working closely with a realtor, they were able to enter into an agreement to use the former medical care center at 7464 N. Clark. The plans include creating an emergency shelter for men with a total of 72 beds. The site would also host a Drop-In Center to help homeless people in the neighborhood get a meal and clean clothes, take a shower, and other immediate support services.
Join the 49th Ward for a community meeting on Tuesday, June 21, at 6 pm to learn more. To register for the meeting, visit bit.ly/NorthSideHousing.