Matthew House is a nonprofit community based organization that provides food, shelter, housing, and supportive services to needy men, women and children who are homeless. We are a 17 year old organization located in the Bronzeville/Douglas community of Chicago at 3722-28 South Indiana Avenue. 

Our records continue to demonstrate that proximately 70% or more of the population served by Matthew House are chronically homeless, and at least 50% have been homeless for 5 to 10 years.  As a result of observing our population trends, our Executive Director was able to initiate a study completed by the Mayor’s office which confirmed our observation that the face of homelessness in Chicago has changed. (Click here for more info.)

Matthew House offers daytime supportive services to a non gender specific population as we are currently the only safe haven for homeless individuals on the South side of Chicago.  Matthew House fulfills its mission by first addressing emergency needs such as food, daytime shelter, clothing, showers, and assisting clients in finding overnight shelter.  Once emergency need have been met, our case management staff works with clients to address the long-term needs such as housing, employment, health and social support needs.  For example, our core program services includes:

1. 20 units of site housing for the chronically homeless
2. Emergency homeless services
3. Case Management and Supportive Services
4. Job Readiness and Placement
5. 18 bed Interim Housing Units. 

Our emergency service program includes two meals a day, access to shower and grooming, change of clothes, access to a mailing address and other basic homeless services. 

Our intensive Case Management services addresses our client’s social service needs such as replacing state ID, assistance in completing various Department of Human Services applications, and Social Security services for clients  who are unable to manage their financial affairs.  Matthew House has a computer Learning Center which supports our job readiness and job placement programs. The Learning Center consists of daily testing and skills assessment, tutoring, and computer literacy classes.  Matthew House has aligned itself with linkage partners for specialty services such as mental health, substance abuse, and domestic violence matters. 

Additionally, Matthew House has a chronic homeless housing program that provides 20 scattered site units which are fully occupied and recently acquired a 6,000 sq ft facility slated to provide 20 additional housing units.