Story/Mission
During the infamous “Chicago Blizzard of 1979”, a man froze to death after climbing into a dumpster in Uptown to escape the storm. A group of dismayed neighbors responded with an all-volunteer commitment to provide emergency overnight shelter for homeless men and women. Their pledge to prevent fatal tragedies by offering the basic dignity of a hot shower, a warm meal and a warm bed was the beginning of REST.
Over the past thirty years as REST’s services have grown, we have never lost sight of our role as a life saving, life changing organization that is a safe place for our homeless clients to begin again. Since its inception, REST has sheltered tens of thousands of individuals and placed thousands of people into housing. Today, REST provides Emergency Shelter for 15 men and women, Interim Housing with Social Services for 100 men and women, and Permanent Housing with Social Services for one hundred men and women.
REST has evolved into one of the most compressive homeless services agencies on the north side of Chicago with a professional staff of thirty-three and over 500 volunteers in a wide variety of roles. Our Social Services include individual Case Management, referrals and Basic Life Skills groups. We also provide basic human necessities including food, mail service, clothing, toiletries and basic medical care.
REST Mission
REST works collaboratively to provide safe, quality, permanent and emergency housing options and supportive social services to adult men and women who are homeless in Chicago.
REST assists these individuals to develop their employment and life skills to achieve the transition to independent living.
