The Margarita Inn
One of our most effective and innovative programs is at the Margarita Inn.
Connections started operating at the Margarita in March 2020 after Governor Pritzker issued a mandatory shelter-in-place order due to the pandemic. This arrangement was initiated at the behest of the City of Evanston and was a catalyst to Connections, eventually sheltering more than 300 individuals at three hotels throughout the city. Hotel-based shelter is a new, innovative model for providing shelter using Housing First principles.
In February of 2022, the City of Evanston requested that Connections clarify its operations at the Margarita, and in March of 2022, the City issued a zoning determination. In response to the City’s notice, we were directed to prepare and submit an application for a new Special Use Permit (SUP).
Connections started operating at the Margarita in March 2020 after Governor Pritzker issued a mandatory shelter-in-place order due to the pandemic. This arrangement was initiated at the behest of the City of Evanston and was a catalyst to Connections, eventually sheltering more than 300 individuals at three hotels throughout the city. Hotel-based shelter is a new, innovative model for providing shelter using Housing First principles.
In February of 2022, the City of Evanston requested that Connections clarify its operations at the Margarita, and in March of 2022, the City issued a zoning determination. In response to the City’s notice, we were directed to prepare and submit an application for a new Special Use Permit (SUP).
Where We Stand Now
Connections is now officially the owner of the Margarita Inn!
The successful purchase of the Margarita Inn by Connections marks a new era for our agency — and we couldn’t have done it without you.
Owning the Margarita gives our agency the necessary infrastructure to deliver services as a leader in a national movement to provide hotel-based interim housing, including onsite healthcare, case management, and employment services that move unhoused neighbors into long-term housing solutions. The numbers speak for themselves: 86% of people who left the Margarita Inn so far this year exited for a housing solution. This is roughly double the rate of a typical pre-pandemic shelter.
This achievement would never have been possible without the grassroots movement that brought together many voices under the banner of the “We Are All Inn” coalition, including residents, community organizers, elected officials, religious leaders, and other service providers, from across Evanston to stand on the side of lending a helping to our neighbors in need.
Connections is now officially the owner of the Margarita Inn!
The successful purchase of the Margarita Inn by Connections marks a new era for our agency — and we couldn’t have done it without you.
Owning the Margarita gives our agency the necessary infrastructure to deliver services as a leader in a national movement to provide hotel-based interim housing, including onsite healthcare, case management, and employment services that move unhoused neighbors into long-term housing solutions. The numbers speak for themselves: 86% of people who left the Margarita Inn so far this year exited for a housing solution. This is roughly double the rate of a typical pre-pandemic shelter.
This achievement would never have been possible without the grassroots movement that brought together many voices under the banner of the “We Are All Inn” coalition, including residents, community organizers, elected officials, religious leaders, and other service providers, from across Evanston to stand on the side of lending a helping to our neighbors in need.
Next Steps
Good Neighbor Advisory Council: To facilitate its monitoring and future adaptation, the signed Good Neighbor Agreement calls for a Good Neighbor Advisory Council (GNAC) to be formed. The GNAC will be made up of those who choose to engage in the process, with positions offered to neighbors who are homeowners (2), renters (2), landlords (2), and neighboring businesses (2). In addition to these neighbors, Margarita Inn residents (3), and staff from both the City of Evanston (2) and Connections from the Homeless (3), as well as Emergency Services personnel (2) will serve on the GNAC.
The GNAC meets at least quarterly to discuss community concerns and questions related to the Margarita Inn and remedies to related neighborhood issues. At each meeting, Connections provides the GNAC with reports detailing the number of people served at the Margarita Inn each quarter, programmatic successes and participant success stories, the number of incidents requiring emergency services, the number and nature of complaints received to the 24-hour hotline and the response to these complaints. The GNAC is also charged with conducting an annual review of the Good Neighbor Agreement.
Sign up to be on the GNAC here!
Good Neighbor Advisory Council: To facilitate its monitoring and future adaptation, the signed Good Neighbor Agreement calls for a Good Neighbor Advisory Council (GNAC) to be formed. The GNAC will be made up of those who choose to engage in the process, with positions offered to neighbors who are homeowners (2), renters (2), landlords (2), and neighboring businesses (2). In addition to these neighbors, Margarita Inn residents (3), and staff from both the City of Evanston (2) and Connections from the Homeless (3), as well as Emergency Services personnel (2) will serve on the GNAC.
The GNAC meets at least quarterly to discuss community concerns and questions related to the Margarita Inn and remedies to related neighborhood issues. At each meeting, Connections provides the GNAC with reports detailing the number of people served at the Margarita Inn each quarter, programmatic successes and participant success stories, the number of incidents requiring emergency services, the number and nature of complaints received to the 24-hour hotline and the response to these complaints. The GNAC is also charged with conducting an annual review of the Good Neighbor Agreement.
Sign up to be on the GNAC here!
additional resources
special use permit
in the news
- 03/22/22 From hotel to homeless shelter: A peek into the Margarita Inn in Evanston RoundTable
- 03/19/22 City: Hotel at Margarita not permitted in Evanston Now
- 03/18/22 Nonprofit to pursue permit needed in Evanston RoundTable
- 03/18/22 Connections for the Homeless Needs New Permit For Margarita Inn in Evanston Patch
- 03/17/22 Margarita Press Release
- 03/14/22 Emotional meeting about homeless housing at Margarita Inn draws hundreds in Evanston RoundTable
- 03/11/22 Connections for the Homeless Looks to Buy the Margarita Inn in The Patch
- 05/23/22 In Focus: As Connections for the Homeless looks to purchase the Margarita Inn, residents remain divided on the buildings future
- 09/12/22 Letter to the community: Support for the Margarita Inn in Evanston RoundTable
- 09/28/22 Connections for the Homeless files permit to continue operating Margarita Inn shelter in Evanston Roundtable
- 10/05/22 Margarita Pact with Neighbors in works in Evanston Now
- 11/30/22 What the Margarita Inn means to the residents who live there in Evanston RoundTable
- 12/01/22 LUC backs Margarita Inn special use in Evanston Now
- 12/01/22 Land Use Commission recommends Margarita Inn’s ‘special use’ status in Evanston RoundTable
- 2/9/23 Biss, homeless group leader sign Margarita Inn agreement in Evanston RoundTable
- 2/9/23 Living our Community Values from Mayor Daniel Biss
- 2/9/23 Letter to the editor: Why I support the Margarita Inn from Evanston RoundTable
- 4/26/23 Tie vote sends Margarita Inn shelter case to City Council without a recommendation from Evanston RoundTable
- 4/27/23 LUC splits 3-3 in Margarita re-vote from Evanston Now
- 5/9/23 Margarita Inn homeless shelter plan advances from Evanston RoundTable
- 5/18/23 Ahead of City Council vote, Margarita Inn celebrates three years as a shelter from Evanston RoundTable
- 5/18/23 Mayor: Evanston must be a ‘yes in my backyard’ city from Evanston Now
- 5/18/23 Three Years of Shelter Transformation in Cook County Press Release
- 5/22/23 City Council approves Connections for the Homeless rooming house permit, signs operating agreement from The Daily Northwestern
- 5/22/23 Council vote clears way for Margarita Inn homeless shelter from Evanston RoundTable
