Our Programs

West Suburban PADS provides a continuum of solutions that spans five service offerings, to address our guests' varied needs no matter their circumstances or level of self-sustainability.

Shelter

The Emergency Shelter program provides immediate crisis response for 42 to 75 homeless men, women and children every night from 7:30 p.m. to 7 a.m. at 12 rotating houses of worship - from September 17 through May 14.

The program creates a foundation for the basic well-being of our guests who are homeless by satisfying their urgent need for food, shelter and safety while providing necessary resources for transitioning from homelessness to self-sufficiency.

Supportive Services

Our expanded Support Center, located in Maywood, is a day-time, year-round resource center where our guests can address their basic self-care (showers, laundry, clothing), income, health and housing needs -- with the goal of reducing the length of their homelessness.

Case managers work with guests to address whatever obstacles are keeping them from a permanent housing situation. Project WIN (Wellness Iniative Network) professionals work with the special needs population, to improve their access to health services by offering a comprehensive approach to medical, mental health and addiction issues.

Supportive Housing

Transitional Housing is designed for working homeless individuals and families, giving them the time, structure and support to maintain housing stability, increase their earning potential, reduce outstanding debt and strengthen basic life skills.

Our Permanent Housing program serves individuals who are homeless and have a mental health diagnosis.

Rapid Re-Housing provides short-term financial assistance and services to quickly house and stabilize those who are experiencing homelessness.

Employment Readiness

Career Passport is an intensive Employment Readiness program that identifies and resolves long-term barriers to retained employment and career advancement. “Career Passport” was developed by Chicago-based Career Advancement Network and customized for PADS to serve the homeless population.

Participants are selected from among the homeless individuals using West Suburban PADS services, on the basis of their willingness to address individual barriers to employment and commit to the goals of their program.

Homeless Prevention

The Homeless Prevention program provides one-time rental, mortgage and/or utility assistance to individuals and families who are at imminent risk of eviction or foreclosure, and a security deposit and/or first month’s rent for individuals and families leaving homelessness.