Chicago House

The mission of Chicago House and Social Service Agency is to provide housing and supportive services to HIV-affected families and individuals, who may also be impacted by poverty, homelessness, substance abuse, and mental illness. All Chicago House services are provided without discrimination and are designed to guide people towards wholeness and self-sufficiency.

Chicago House was established in 1985 as the first AIDS housing provider in the Midwest. The initial residential building supported eight individuals. Since then, Chicago House has expanded our programs to serve over 1,300 men, women and children each year. Chicago House is focused on providing housing and comprehensive support services that enable the HIV population to achieve a higher level of independence and self-sufficiency. Our housing programs span a continuum that includes support for those in need of a 24-hour staffed living facility to independent, scattered-site housing for those returning to work. In combination with our innovative community-based programs, the residential clients are able to access an array of services that allow them to achieve a higher level of self-sufficiency.

The Increase Individual Income and Independence (iFour) Employment Program, Chicago House’s newest community initiative, is designed to provide employment services that are responsive to the unique needs of people living with HIV. The goal of the program is to help unemployed adults with HIV secure and retain productive employment to ensure that they do not need to rely solely on subsidized medical care, housing, and supportive services. A four-week training workshop, career counseling, mentorship and internship opportunities are the services provided to help clients achieve greater self-sufficiency and productivity, ultimately leading to successful employment. The program also offers volunteer internships to gain valuable job experience. For those with an interest in the food service industry, there is a six week intensive training followed by a six-month paid internship at Sweet Miss Giving’s Bakery, a social enterprise of Chicago House.