You can be a part of ending homelessness in your community.
Connections for the Homeless serves as a safety net for neighbors who need support to maintain safe, stable housing in Evanston and northern Cook County.
Make a gift that supports your community.
Your financial contributions and in-kind donations have an immediate impact on neighbors in need. Our effectiveness depends on support from people like you who want to make a difference.
Volunteer your time for good
More than 1,600 volunteers advance our mission each year by cooking meals, sorting donations, and building community with residents. Learn more about how positive and enduring change can start with a sandwich.
Use your voice to make a difference
Advocates and allies advance our mission by supporting policies that will expand housing opportunities for all. We take the idea of housing as a human right and advocate for it at the local, state, and federal levels.
Find a job you’re passionate about
Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to work at Connections for the Homeless? Join our growing team of caring and committed staff working with the community to end homelessness, one person at a time.
The Latest from Connections:
Evanston’s first overnight shelter enters a new era after more than 40 years
Connections for the Homeless is bringing overnight shelter back to Hilda’s Place, renewing a more than 40-year commitment to providing a safe place for people experiencing homelessness to rest and reset.
In late Spring 2027, Hilda’s Place will be re-opened as a brand new, 30-bed overnight shelter open year-round to people of all genders.
Following anti-camping debate, regional pilot program set for January 2027
Last year, the Village of Arlington Heights debated a proposed ban on public camping, prompting conversations about the need for more supportive services for people experiencing street homelessness.
Those conversations helped spark a regional partnership with Connections for the Homeless, set to launch in January 2027. Connections is preparing to work with as many as 10 townships and villages across the Northwest suburbs to help connect people living on the streets to case management and housing resources.
As part of the pilot, Connections is creating a new full-time case manager position dedicated to the Northwest suburbs. The case manager will respond to referrals from participating communities and connect people to the local Continuum of Care’s Coordinated Entry System—a process established under federal guidance to help assess housing needs and to help people and families find a path toward stability.
September Advocacy Highlights
Read the highlights of our advocacy work over the past month, including new affordable units in both Lake County and Evanston, along with additional youth shelter beds in Arlington Heights.
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