Chicago Area Project Resource & Job Board

10/31/2025

10/31/2025

We’re proud to kick off Home for the Holidays: A South Side Celebration with our amazing partners: , &

The season of giving starts right here, in our neighborhoods, with our people. 🎁✨�
Let’s spread warmth, joy, and love across Chicago this holiday season.

🎄 Join us for the Home for the Holidays: A South Side Celebration�📅 Saturday, Dec. 13 | ⏰ 1–4 PM�📍 Fuller Park Fieldhouse – 331 W. 45th St.
🎁 Family resources and toys and coats for children of all ages (while supplies last)�🎅🏾 Meet Santa & sip cocoa in our holiday lounge
📌 First come, first served — children must be present to receive items.
🧡 Want to give back?�👉 RSVP or donate: https://www.givesignup.org/TicketEvent/ChiDCToyDrive2025
�📲 Text GIVECHIDC to 44-321 to support families this season.

10/31/2025

Families are encouraged to visit cps.edu/schools to check their School Profile Page and find the date, time, and location of this year’s State of the School address. This is an opportunity for families to join school leadership in reflecting on the past year and to hear about where their school is going next. These annual meetings are meant to be robust community discussions on each school’s progress and priorities, as well as a conversation on how future goals align with Success 2029: Together We Rise, the District’s five-year strategic plan. https://bit.ly/3XnyKy0

10/31/2025

Dear Chicago and beyond,

With the ongoing government shutdown and the loss of SNAP benefits beginning this weekend, families across the country might sadly be forced to make heartbreaking decisions between their own meals and filling their pets’ food bowls.

No one should ever have to make that choice.

Although SNAP benefits can’t be used to purchase pet food, they often help families stretch their limited income to cover other essentials. When that support disappears, many are faced with impossible decisions... feeding themselves or feeding their animals. And when families struggle, so do their pets.

Shelters like ours are preparing for a potential rise in pet surrenders as families face growing economic hardships. The pet food donated through our Amazon Wishlist is used specifically for diversion, helping families who are surrendering a pet simply because they can’t afford food at the moment. Having that food available can make all the difference, allowing a pet to stay in their home instead of entering the shelter system.

Please consider donating pet food, litter, or supplies TO ANY PET PANTRY OR ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANIZATION IN YOUR COMMUNITY. Every bag, every can, and every donation will help keep families together.

If you would like to support our efforts directly, here’s our Amazon Wishlist below, these food items for diversion are beyond the scope of our budget but are critical to helping people keep their pets when they can.

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/32A5NOFYJAVHE?ref_=wl_share

Most needed items:
🐶 Dry dog food
🐱 Dry cat food
🐾 Wet and dry kitten food

When families lose their SNAP benefits, the impact extends far beyond the dinner table, it can threaten the bond between people and their pets. Whether you’re in Chicago OR ANYWHERE ELSE, your support matters now more than ever.

10/23/2025

🌟 Join Us for a Powerful Conversation! 🌟

Chicago Area Project Wellness Pathways invites youth ages 14–24 to our virtual workshop:

💥 “Breaking the Cycle: Building Peaceful Connections”
🗓️ Wednesday, October 29th
🕓 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
💻 Via Zoom
🎤 Facilitated by Neopolitan Lighthouse Organization, Chicago

In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Anti-Bullying Month, this interactive workshop will empower young people to:
💜 Recognize red flags in relationships and friendships
💬 Learn how to seek help and find trusted support
🤝 Discover ways to support friends in crisis
🕊️ Practice peaceful conflict resolution and build healthy relationships
🎶 Explore how violence in music, news, and movies impacts our society

Together, we can break the cycle of violence and build stronger, safer communities. 💪🏽💖

10/17/2025

🏠 Cook County Shelters and Housing Support
1. Pacific Garden Mission (Chicago)
• 📍 1458 S. Canal St., Chicago, IL 60607
• ☎️ (312) 492-9410
• ⏰ 24-hour emergency shelter, meals, and spiritual care for men, women, and families.
• 🌐 www.pgm.org

2. The Salvation Army Freedom Center
• 📍 825 N. Christiana Ave., Chicago, IL 60651
• ☎️ (773) 395-7100
• Provides emergency shelter, addiction recovery, and transitional housing.
• 🌐 www.salvationarmyusa.org

3. Cornerstone Community Outreach
• 📍 4628 N. Clifton Ave., Chicago, IL 60640
• ☎️ (773) 271-8163
• Offers shelter for individuals, mothers with children, and families.
• 🌐 www.ccolife.org

4. Franciscan Outreach
• 📍 2715 W. Harrison St., Chicago, IL 60612
• ☎️ (773) 265-6683
• Emergency overnight shelter, meals, and case management services.
• 🌐 www.franoutreach.org

5. The Night Ministry
• 📍 1735 N. Ashland Ave., Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60622
• ☎️ (773) 784-9000
• Mobile outreach and youth shelter programs.
• 🌐 www.thenightministry.org

6. Sarah’s Circle (for women only)
• 📍 4838 N. Sheridan Rd., Chicago, IL 60640
• ☎️ (773) 728-1014
• Supportive housing and daytime drop-in center for women in crisis.
• 🌐 www.sarahs-circle.org

7. Connections for the Homeless
• 📍 2121 Dewey Ave., Evanston, IL 60201
• ☎️ (847) 475-7070
• Serves North Cook County with shelter, prevention, and housing programs.
• 🌐 www.connect2home.org

8. Respond Now (South Suburbs)
• 📍 1439 Emerald Ave., Chicago Heights, IL 60411
• ☎️ (708) 755-4357
• Emergency assistance with shelter, food, and rent support.
• 🌐 www.respondnow.org

9. South Suburban PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter)
• 📍 4411 W. Gatling Blvd., Country Club Hills, IL 60478
• ☎️ (708) 332-7700
• Provides overnight emergency shelter and supportive housing.
• 🌐 www.sspads.org

10. Housing Forward (serving western Cook County)
• 📍 1851 S. 9th Ave., Maywood, IL 60153
• ☎️ (708) 338-1724
• Offers shelter, employment, and permanent housing support.
• 🌐 www.housingforward.org

⸻

📞 24-Hour Crisis & Referral Lines
• Chicago Homeless Hotline: 311 (in Chicago) or 312-746-6000 (outside Chicago)
• Cook County Crisis Line: 1-833-626-4244
• Catholic Charities Homelessness Prevention: (877) 426-6515
• Salvation Army Homeless Assistance: (773) 205-3520

Changing Lives Together

09/20/2025

I want to share this book, authored by my long time(60yrs!) friend and colleague Tom Butero.

Tom and I started our human services careers together in high school, working for Chicago Area Project at the Near Northwest Civic Committee and Camp Pompeii. He built a great reputation over the years for his work in su***de prevention, starting at George Williams College and finishing on the East Coast.

I think many of us who are practitioners in social services, or are peripherally involved through our churches, schools, volunteering, etc. can find some solid resources in his book.
Trust me, it’s not a technical read, it will keep you interested and make you think.

It is available on Amazon or you can search for Tom on Facebook and maybe he’ll sell you an autographed copy!

Congratulations old friend on being a published author!

09/16/2025

CEDA is holding a Virtual Career Informational Event where job seekers can connect to aligned career opportunities! At this virtual event, attendees will meet CEDA Recruiters, explore available roles, and learn the community impact of CEDA.

Register for the September 23rd event by scanning the QR code or visiting: https://bit.ly/4oUoKJC.

09/14/2025

A local app by the Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness for young adults to find drop-in centers, shelters, jobs, food, education , and healthcare resources.

If you work with young adults or have young adults in your life, please share this resource with them.

https://qrcodes.pro/bRmDeilgonu