Matthew House takes a holistic approach to ending homelessness by offering a complete range of program and supportive services, which includes on and off-site case management, housing options, medical, domestic violence, substance abuse, and crisis counseling intervention. We also provide referrals to other outside vital supportive services and organizations.

Our services are provided to individuals who are homeless or on the brink of becoming homeless. The services include, but are not limited to, daily grooming, 2 balanced meals, personal hygiene, clothing, laundry facility access, group sessions, and a warm safe environment.

We offer the following services:

WOW! HOME

Walking Our Way Home, sounds like a movie from the early 1900’s. Well it’s not. It is in fact a goal- centered program designed to assist homeless individuals in retaining housing.

The name for the program grew from acknowledgement of the guests served on a day to day basis. Some of the clients walk as far as 8 miles to receive services offered daily to the many guests of Matthew House, ranging from grooming to two balanced meals a day.

While some agencies only focus on providing meals, clothing, or a place to sleep overnight, Matthew House seeks to move clients beyond survival and into progress and does so by assisting individuals with personal advisement through case managers. Case managers link clients to services provided by Matthew House or one of its community partners who specialize in client needs such as substance or alcohol abuse, health care, job assistance, and housing.

Matthew House was chosen by the City of Chicago to assist Mayor Richard Daley in his 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness. Through this plan the Mayor seeks to house the over 6,000 (according to one night count of the City's homeless population in January 2007) Chicago citizens who are now homeless. With the plan in mind, Matthew House is opening its first housing project known as The Herman Jenkins Transitional Housing. This building is located in the Bronzeville Community just south of Downtown Chicago, and It is expected to open by the summer of 2010. The project will house at least 20 men who are considered "chronically homeless."

Emergency Services

Matthew House - Provides Emergency Services as the first step to addressing the trauma of homelessness. Emergency Services consist of the following:

Two Balanced Meals - Each person is given the opportunity to receive two meals a day. Clients are provided with breakfast, lunch and a snack.

Shower Facility - Many of the individuals have been on the streets for days before they hear of Matthew House. Upon arriving at Matthew House we offer clients the opportunity to shower and receive clean clothes in our gender-specific shower facility.

Health Exams - A group of medical professionals are on the premises at least once a week to address the health needs of our clients. This group offers testing from high blood pressure, diabetes to HIV.

Mailing Address - Although Matthew House is not a living facility, we do offer our guest the ability to use our  address as a mailing address to receive important documentation to aide their journey back to self-sufficiency.

A Warm Safe Environment - When clients/guests enter Matthew House they are assured not only a warm/cool environment against the weather, but also a safe and clean facility. Matthew House has posted "Daily Rules" regarding acceptable client behaviors and expectations of client-to-client interactions. These rules ensure our clients are not threatened during their time at Matthew House.
 

Program Services

After a brief interview, our Case Managers are able to direct the client to one of our many in-house programs, such as:

Earnfare - Matthew House is an agency linked with the Illinois Department of Human Services in their effort to gain employment through work benefits through the Food Stamp Program.

CEDA - For the individuals who are on the brink of homelessness, Matthew House also has prevention services. An energy and rental assistance services through LIHEAP.

Chronically Homeless Housing Program - Matthew House was chosen by the City of Chicago to assist the Mayor in his 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness. Through this plan the Mayor seeks to house over 6,000 Chicago citizens who are homeless. Matthew House currently has a housing contract which secures 20 units. We also assist individuals who are seeking permanent housing through a number of affiliated organizations.

Program Learning Center - Matthew House has a Computer Learning Center that concentrates on the basic literacy of computer usage and experience in exploring the internet. This Center is used to assist individuals who seek employment and want to use modern technology to do so. The Center offers a training schedule that allows individuals to remain abreast of the basic computer knowledge while at the same time gaining employment skills.

Self Sufficiency Program - This program seeks to motivate the clients by presenting various guest speakers to assist who have been in their situation but have made through. This program provides mental and spiritual encouragement. 
 

Case Management Services

Our Case Management team is trained to assess the needs of its clients guests. These services may include but are not limited to:

Client Assessment - Each client participates in an intake interview where their needs are assessed, prioritized and an action plan is developed.

Direct Casework and Case Planning - Through case planning and casework, services are provided to the client including reactivation of benefits, health care, securing identification, and referrals to shelters and/or housing.

Individual and Group Counseling - Clients will receive psycho-social counseling were appropriate and group counseling relating to developing improved life management skills.

Crisis Intervention - Matthew House maintains certified crisis intervention, substance abuse and domestic violence counselors. Matthew House has an extensive list of resources available in and out of the local community that are utilized to assist clients who are in crisis.

Domestic Violence Advocacy - Victims of Domestic Violence, (VDVs) most often present themselves to Matthew House immediately after leaving the batterer. They are in a state of extreme anxiety and often (like victims of other disasters) have only the clothing on their backs. Once identified, they are immediately separated from the other guests and greeted by a trained domestic violence counselor. Mathew House assists these individuals in reaching safe houses or other overnight shelters, and provides meals, showers, clothing and toiletries for most often women and their children. Matthew House has active relationships with providers of services to victims of domestic violence. These relationships are activated when a domestic violence case is identified and several agencies begin to develop services for that client.

Substance Abuse Counseling - Substance abusers receive case management services and referrals to treatment programs as they are available. In addition, the Southeast Alcohol and Drug Abuse Center (SEDAC) provides on-site drug abuse counseling at Matthew House. The staff and volunteers of Matthew House also lead goal setting, and motivational sessions to reinforce information shared through other programs. These sessions facilitate client's understanding of the consequences of their actions and suggest ways in which they can change their behaviors.

Job Placement Assistance/Referrals - Case Managers work with agencies who offer temporary to permanent positions. Often corporations are seeking individuals to do field work and contact Matthew House when hiring.

Housing/Referrals/Follow-Up - Case Managers work with a wide variety of agencies who offer housing or housing assistance. Although Matthew House itself does not have a permanent housing location, we network with agencies and landlords who are seeking to fill housing slots.

Family Reunification - The majority of the times when individuals are homeless, it is the result of a family dispute. The Case Managers are sometimes key components to the reconnection between family members. More than 50% of the time, Case Managers are able to locate family members who has been separated due to incarceration.