Interfaith House

Restoring health, rebuilding lives, returning home.

Pictures from the Welcome Home Gala and 2009 Hunger Walk
Two big events took center stage in June at Interfaith House. One was Welcome Home our gala fundraising event, held this year at The Metropolitan Club; the other was our annual participation in the Hunger Walk along Chicago’s lakefront.

Watch our new documentary video, created with the generous support of the Pierce Family Charitable Foundation, to see footage from inside Interfaith House and hear interviews with current and former Interfaith House residents, staff, and volunteers.

Stay up-to-date on everything that’s going on at Interfaith House, including special events, volunteer opportunities and more.

Overview

Since opening our doors in 1994, Interfaith House has served over 6,000 homeless men and women in our 64-bed facility. As the organization has grown, we have become a model of recuperative residential care and wraparound services. We fill the crucial gap in care between a hospital stay and complete recovery for the homeless population. Interfaith House is the only agency of its kind in Illinois, and one of only a handful nationwide.

Our Impact

In FY08 (July1, 2007-June 30, 2008) Interfaith House served 298 homeless adults. Throughout the year, we were able to provide these men and women with medical, psychosocial, spiritual, housing, and other vital services. Staff and volunteers were able to offer over 550 educational and therapeutic group sessions on hosing and life skills, substance abuse, and health-related issues. We are proud to report the following service outcomes for our program participants:

Our Residents

Their Challenges

Many of our residents face multiple medical, economic, and psychosocial challenges. Here is a short list of the common issues in 2008:

65% suffered from a chronic illness, physical or developmental disability

19% suffer from mental illness

25% are living with HIV/AIDS

61% have no income at intake

16% are veterans

50% suffer from addiction

100% are at or below the level of poverty

Demographics:

Gender

76% Male
24% Female

Ethnicity

74% African American
17% Caucasian
7% Hispanic
2% Unknown