BEDS Plus

08/30/2026

🎸 Sharing a Talent. Building a Connection.

Once a month, BEDS Plus Chaplain and Board Member Karl Sokol brings his guitar to Ogden Avenue Supportive Housing, along with his daughter, for music and guitar lessons with our residents.

It’s more than a music lesson. It’s a chance to learn something new, spend time together, share some laughs and build connections.

And it’s a great example of the many ways people can volunteer with BEDS Plus. Sometimes making a difference starts simply by sharing something you enjoy with others.

Have a talent, skill or a little time to share? There are lots of ways to get involved with BEDS Plus.

👉 Learn more about volunteering: https://beds-plus.org/volunteer/

08/28/2026

Welcome to the BEDS Plus Board, Craig Standaert!

Craig’s connection to BEDS Plus began as a client, when he experienced homelessness and turned to our overnight shelter program for support.

Today, he brings that firsthand perspective to the BEDS Plus Board of Directors as our Lived Experience Representative, helping ensure the voices of those we serve are part of the conversations that guide our work.

"My perspective comes from a ‘walk a mile in my shoes’ place and encompasses my journey from homelessness to housing security."

Craig knows that homelessness can happen to anyone and believes strongly in helping others when they need it.

We’re grateful to have his perspective, experience and commitment on our Board. Welcome, Craig!

08/28/2026

Help Us Get Ready for Colder Weather! 🧥

Our friends at Hop District Community Brewing Co. and Budget Box Resale are hosting a Coat Drive for BEDS Plus August 27–30! Bring in a coat donation and receive a $5 gift card from Hop District.

🧥 ADULT WINTER COATS ARE OUR GREATEST NEED!
Please donate clean, gently used winter coats that are warm and ready to wear. Casual, everyday winter coats are especially needed.

We could also use a few other essentials:

🩲 New men’s & women’s underwear
👙 New bras and sports bras

Help us stock up now so we’re ready when the colder weather arrives!

A big thank you to Hop District and Budget Box Resale for hosting this drive and helping make sure our neighbors have the essentials they need as colder weather approaches.

08/26/2026

Welcome to the BEDS Plus Board, Kathleen Downey!

We’re pleased to welcome Kathleen Downey, Chief Nursing Officer at UChicago Medicine AdventHealth La Grange, to the BEDS Plus Board of Directors.

With more than 30 years in nursing and healthcare leadership, Kathleen brings a strong commitment to service and health equity. After touring our Summit Service Center and serving on the BEDS Plus Program Committee, she saw firsthand the scope of our work.

"I have been amazed at the depth and breadth of all that BEDS Plus does to support those in need throughout our community."

We’re grateful to have Kathleen’s experience, leadership and dedication to serving others on our Board. Welcome, Kathleen!

08/26/2026

Building Better Connections for Our Neighbors

Thank you to Carol Williams, Tippi and the Oak Lawn Public Library for helping BEDS Plus bring our first Resource & Referral Forum to life!

A special thank you to our panelists and speakers, including Shannon Goold and Zac Catrambone from BEDS Plus, Officer Candice from the La Grange Police Department, and Officer O'Donnell from the Oak Lawn Fire Department, for sharing their experience, resources and practical advice.

And thank you to the local librarians and library staff from across our communities who attended in person and joined us live online. Your questions and participation made this a true community conversation about how we can better respond when someone comes through the door looking for help.

Libraries are often one of the first places people turn for information and resources. Bringing librarians, first responders, service providers and community partners together helps strengthen those connections and makes it easier to get our neighbors to the right resources.

Couldn't join us? Watch the recorded forum here:
https://youtube.com/live/CCeH3ZItVG4

Thank you to everyone who helped make our first forum a success. We look forward to continuing the conversation!

08/24/2026

Supportive Housing Works.

August 24–28 is Supportive Housing Week, a nationwide recognition of the impact supportive housing has on individuals, families and communities.

At BEDS Plus, we see that impact every day.

Supportive housing is more than an apartment. It combines affordable housing with the services and support people need to remain housed, particularly for individuals who have experienced long-term homelessness and face significant barriers to housing.

Across our communities, BEDS Plus provides supportive housing for individuals who once faced chronic homelessness, including older adults, veterans and people living with disabilities.

And it works. People have a place to call home, access to the support they need and the opportunity to remain part of the communities they know.

This Supportive Housing Week, we're proud to join organizations across the country in showing why supportive housing matters and why continued investment in it is so important.

Housing + Support = A Stronger Community

08/23/2026

Thank you to Dominic Kowal from Troop 24 in Riverside for choosing BEDS Plus for his Eagle Scout project.

Dominic, 16 and a sophomore at St. Ignatius, wanted his project to be something that helped others. With the support of his troop and community, he assembled 300 laundry kits and raised $1,500 so each kit could include $5 in quarters.🧺 That’s a lot of quarters and quite a donation!

Great work, Dominic! These kits will be put to good use by the people we serve.

08/22/2026

08/22/2026

Thank You, Robert E. Coulter Jr. American Legion Post 1941! 🇺🇸

It takes a community to keep the safety net strong, and we are grateful to have the Robert E. Coulter Jr. American Legion as part of ours.

Their longtime support helps BEDS Plus serve veterans experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity, from housing and supportive services to care at our Summit Medical Respite. Last year, BEDS Plus assisted 60 veterans.

We are proud to be in great company with the many other local organizations they support. That kind of commitment to community makes a difference and helps keep critical services available for our neighbors.

Thank you for continuing to support BEDS Plus and the veterans we serve!