The Illinois Shelter Alliance (ISA), formed in 2022, is a coalition of nearly 70 emergency shelter and transitional housing agencies, as well as their allies, who are dedicated to saving lives in every corner of the state. We believe housing and shelter are human rights. According to the State of Illinois Department of Health and Human Services (IDHS) Office to Prevent and End Homelessness, there is a need of over 5,000 shelter beds. There should be sufficient public resources to make sure our society meets this basic human need for everyone.

We advocate for the creation of a more dignified, supportive and effective crisis housing system that guarantees shelter for everyone in need. This includes women fleeing domestic violence, families with young children, unaccompanied youth, veterans, and people who are medically vulnerable. Their lives are at constant risk and many are hospitalized due to frostbite, flu, and other preventable illnesses.

ISA is advocating for increased government funding to address the current shortage of over 5,379 emergency shelter beds throughout the state (Illinois Interagency Task Force on Homelessness, Office to Prevent and End Homelessness, October 2024). ISA successfully advocated for $5 million FY23 and $40 million FY24 increases in the state budget for the IDHS Emergency and Transitional Housing Program.

Illinois Shelter Alliance and Housing Action Illinois recently presented the Governor’s Office and IDHS with an advocacy letter requesting a $100M increase in funding for emergency shelters, affordable housing, and other homeless service initiatives.

For more information, please contact: Doug Kenshol, Co-Founder of the Illinois Shelter Alliance and Executive Director of South Suburban PADS, by email or phone at 708-704-0143.

Illinois Shelter Alliance News

2024 HOME Illinois State Budget Sign On Letter

Illinois Shelter Alliance Members

(Last Updated March 2025)

• 360 Youth Services, Naperville
• A Safe Place, Zion
• Alliance to End Homelessness in Suburban Cook County, Hillside
• Anew: Building Beyond Violence and Abuse, Homewood
• BEDS Plus Care, LaGrange
• Bethel Family Resource Center, Chicago Heights
• The Boulevard, Chicago
• Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet
• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago
• CDBG Operations Corporation, East St. Louis
• Center of Concern, Des Plaines
• Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, Chicago
• Connections for the Homeless, Evanston
• Contact Ministries, Springfield
• Cornerstone Community Outreach, Chicago
• Covenant House Illinois, Chicago
• Crisis Center for South Suburbia, Tinley Park
• C-U at Home, Champaign
• Deborah’s Place, Chicago
• DeLaCerda House, Inc., Rock Island
• DuPage County Continuum of Care, Wheaton
• DuPage PADS, Wheaton
• Empowerment Opportunity Center, Decatur
• Featherfist, Chicago
• Fifth Street Renaissance, Springfield
• Fortitude Community Outreach, Kankakee
• Franciscan Outreach, Chicago

• Grundy Area PADS, Morris
• Heartland Alliance Health, Chicago
• Helping Hands of Springfield, Springfield
• Hesed House, Aurora
• Home of the Sparrow, Woodstock
• Home Sweet Home Ministries, Bloomington
• Housing Action Illinois, Chicago
• Housing Forward, Maywood
• The Inner Voice, Inc., Chicago
• Interfaith Action, Evanston
• Journeys the Road Home, Palatine
• Kendall County Health Department, Yorkville
• La Casa Norte, Chicago
• Lazarus House, St. Charles
• Mercy Communities, Springfield
• Mid Central Community Action, Bloomington
• Morningstar Mission, Joliet
• New Beginnings Recovery Homes Inc., Chicago
• Northside Housing and Supportive Services, Chicago
• One Collective Elgin, Elgin
• PADS Lake County, Waukegan
• PADS of Elgin, Elgin
• Pioneer Center for Human Service, McHenry
• Project Now, Rock Island
• Respond Now, Chicago Heights
• The Salvation Army, Bloomington
• The Salvation Army, Decatur
• The Salvation Army, Quincy and Hannibal
• The Salvation Army Lincoln 360 Life Center, Lincoln
• Sertoma Star Services, Matteson
• Social Services Organization, Naperville
• South Suburban PADS, Chicago Heights
• Stopping Woman Abuse Now, Inc., Olney
• Supportive Housing Providers Association, Springfield
• United Way of Will County, Joliet
• Waukegan Township Eddie Washington Center, Waukegan
• Waukegan Township Staben House, Waukegan
• Will-Grundy Medical Clinic, Joliet
• WINGS Program, Palatine