Housing & Shelter
Whether you need a place to sleep tonight or you’re trying to stay in the home you have, you’re not alone. Here’s where to start.
Last updated: May 2026Need shelter tonight?
Families with children (Chicago): Go to the Salvation Army Shield of Hope at 924 N. Christiana Ave. Walk-ins welcome 24/7. Or call 872-281-7610.
Single adults (Chicago): Go to SPARC at 2241 S. Halsted. Open 24/7.
Suburban Cook County: Call Entry Point at 1-877-426-6515.
Domestic violence: Call the Illinois DV Hotline at 877-863-6338. Free, 24/7, confidential.
Or call 311 (Chicago) and request shelter. Ask for a Service Request number and write it down before you hang up.
Not sure what to do next?
Start here if you need help knowing what to do first, what to ask, and what documents to gather.
Show Me What To Do →Emergency shelter by area
Before you go anywhere
Call first if you can. Ask if they have beds, who they serve, what time intake closes, and if you need a referral from 311.
Say: “I need emergency shelter tonight. Do you have beds available, and what do I need to do before I come?”
West Side Chicago
Large overnight shelter for single adults with meals, showers, and on-site healthcare.
Address: 2715 W. Harrison St. · Phone: 773-278-6724
Get Directions · Visit Website
- Call or arrive early and ask if intake is still open.
- If no bed is available, ask where they are sending people tonight.
Shelter and support services for women needing a safe place, basic needs, and connection to longer-term help.
Address: 3330 W. Carroll Ave, Chicago, IL 60624 · Phone: 773-722-0179
Get Directions · Visit Website
- Call first and ask if intake is open today.
- If you need shelter tonight and cannot reach anyone, also call 311.
Affordable housing, housing development, waitlist information, and community-based housing support.
Address: 2550 W. North Ave, Chicago, IL 60647 · Phone: 773-278-5669
- This is not the first stop if you need a bed tonight.
- Use this for affordable housing, waitlist information, or housing counseling.
South Side Chicago
Transitional housing for women, children, families, and seniors. Counseling, parenting classes, health and wellness, and anti-violence programs.
Address: 7320 S. Yale Ave, Chicago, IL 60621 · Phone: 773-488-1119
Get Directions · Visit Website
- Call before going and ask if they currently have openings.
- If you need shelter tonight, also call 311.
Emergency shelter, veteran services, case management, and permanent housing support for people experiencing homelessness.
Address: 2255 E. 103rd St, Chicago, IL 60617 · Phone: 773-721-7088
Get Directions · Visit Website
- Call and ask if emergency beds are available.
- If you are a veteran, mention that immediately — additional services may apply.
North Side Chicago
Emergency shelter, drop-in centers, and supportive housing for youth and families. Services in English and Spanish.
Address: 3533 W. North Ave, Chicago, IL 60647 · Phone: 773-276-4900
- Call and explain whether you are a youth, parent, or family.
- Ask if Spanish-speaking staff are available if needed.
Housing, healthcare, outreach, and youth shelter services including The Crib for young adults ages 18–24.
Address: 1735 N. Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60622 · Phone: 773-784-9000
- Tell staff your age immediately so they route you correctly.
- Ask about The Crib if you are between 18–24 years old.
Suburban Cook County
Main housing crisis and shelter access line for suburban Cook County.
Phone: 1-877-426-6515 · Visit Website
- Call if you are in suburban Cook County — this is your starting point, not 311.
- Say your town first and explain that you need shelter or housing help.
Special situations
Domestic violence
Free, confidential, 24/7 hotline connecting people to emergency shelter, legal help, counseling, and safety planning across Illinois.
24-Hour Hotline: 877-863-6338 · Visit Website
- Call if someone is hurting, threatening, controlling, stalking, or trapping you.
- Do not announce plans to leave if doing so could put you in danger.
LGBTQ+ youth (12–24)
Free support services, drop-in help, housing connection, and community resources for LGBTQ+ and homeless youth ages 12–24.
Address: 3656 N. Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60613 · Phone: 773-472-6469
- Say your age first so staff route you correctly.
Shelter, transitional housing, and wraparound support for youth and young adults experiencing homelessness.
Address: 2934 W. Lake St, Chicago, IL 60612 · Phone: 312-759-7870
- Say your age and whether you need emergency or transitional support.
Help with rent or stopping an eviction
Important: A notice from your landlord is not the same as an eviction. Only the Sheriff can legally remove you from your home. Don’t leave on your own — get help first.
Free legal help for tenants facing eviction in Illinois.
Phone: 1-844-938-4280 · Visit Website
- Call as soon as you receive court papers or an eviction notice.
- Do not skip court while waiting for help.
Free legal assistance for eviction, foreclosure, debt, and housing court issues in Cook County.
Phone: 855-956-5763 · Visit Website
- Call if you are dealing with eviction, debt, foreclosure, or housing court.
- Keep copies of all court documents and deadlines.
Free online legal tool helping renters draft landlord letters, understand tenant rights, and connect with legal support.
Text: “hi” to 866-773-6837 · Visit Website
- Text “hi” and follow the prompts step-by-step.
- Have your lease, notices, or landlord messages ready.
Know your rights
Tenant rights hotline for questions about repairs, lockouts, leases, eviction notices, deposits, and housing rights in Chicago.
Phone: 312-742-7368 · Visit Website
- Call before moving out, withholding rent, or signing confusing paperwork.
- Write down the answers and the date you called.
Long-term affordable housing
Public housing and Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) programs for low-income individuals and families in Chicago.
Phone: 312-742-8500 · Visit Website
- This is long-term housing support, not emergency shelter for tonight.
- Ask whether waitlists are currently open.
HUD-certified housing counseling helping renters and homeowners with apartment search, eviction prevention, and budgeting.
Phone: 773-329-4111 · Visit Website
- Use this for counseling, apartment search help, eviction prevention, or budgeting support.
- If you need shelter tonight, contact 311 first.
Real Talk
Getting housing help isn’t always simple. Many programs have waitlists, paperwork, and strict requirements that aren’t always explained clearly.
- Call early in the day — many spots fill fast
- Ask if beds are available before you travel across town
- Ask whether you need 311, Entry Point, or another referral first
- Don’t rely on one place — call multiple programs
- Follow up — no response doesn’t mean no
We’re sharing this so you don’t waste time or get discouraged. Keep going.
You don’t have to navigate this alone.
If you’ve called a number on this list and gotten the runaround, or if something here is out of date, let us know.
Contact usThese resources were researched for our community. We’re working to personally verify each one. If something is outdated or you have a resource to add, please reach out.