Emergency Assistance Department

Provides a full array of services for clients in need of urgent basic human needs. Coordinates the Catholic Charities Earnfare and Food Stamp Employment Training Program. Provides intake for emergency shelter, emergency financial assistance, referral, advocacy, food pantry, clothing, short-term case management and benefits screening at the following locations:

721 N. LaSalle, Chicago
1120 W. 79th Street, Chicago

Also provides food pantry services at six regional
locations:

North/Northwest Regional Office
1717 Rand Road
Des Plaines, IL
(847) 376-2100

West Regional Office
1400 S. Austin
Cicero, IL 60804
(708) 222-1491

South Regional Office
16100 Seton Drive
South Holland, IL 60473
(708) 333-8379

Southwest Regional Services
7000 W. 111th Street, Suite 101
Worth, IL 60482
(708) 430-0428

St. Blase
7438 W. 61st Street
Summit, IL 60501
(708) 563-2407

Casa Catalina Basic Human Needs Center
4537 S. Ashland Ave
Chicago, IL 60609-3250
(773) 376-9425

Marillac Social Center, sponsored by the Daughters of Charity, operates a food pantry at 2859 W. Jackson, Chicago, IL. Catholic Charities provides a worker from our Emergency Assistance Department to provide assessments, advocacy, information and referral services to the Westwide community.

Department of Central Information and Referral

Provides a central telephone entry point for persons seeking assistance from Catholic Charities. Trained information counselors respond to clients’ needs and recommend possible assistance within the Catholic Charities service system or through outside community agencies. As part of this process, counselors may link callers with various services such as homeless prevention funds and other emergency assistance funds, benefits screenings, community casework and counseling, addiction counseling and family shelter and housing programs. Information workers are available at the above downtown location and at the following locations:

North/Northwest Regional Office
1717 Rand Road
Des Plaines, IL
(847) 376-2100

West Regional Office
1400 S. Austin
Cicero, IL 60804
(708) 222-1491

South Regional Office
16100 Seton Drive
South Holland, IL 60473
(708) 333-8379

Southwest Regional Services
7000 W. 111th Street, Suite 101
Worth, IL 60482
(708) 430-0428

Family and Parish Support Services

Lake County Emergency Assistance

Provides emergency shelter, emergency financial assistance, referral, advocacy, food pantry, assessment and case management services. Emergency food is available at this site.

Help For North Shore Gas Customers Experiencing Hardship

The Heartship Program, administered by Catholic Charities Lake County Services, has funds available to help people whose North Shore Gas has been disconnected.  This only applies to North Shore Gas customers and not NICOR customers.  Applicants must meet income requirements and hardship criteria to qualify for assistance. Applicants can call 847-782-4100 (Monday through Friday) to determine if they qualify and to schedule an appointment. 

Family and Parish Support Services

Evening Supper at St. Vincent Center

Dinner is served every Monday through Friday evening at 5:00 p.m. to 130 persons who are hungry and/or homeless. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Admittance is on a first-come, first-served basis, with no reservations. Sandwiches are provided to guests unable to be seated in the dining room because it has reached its capacity. Catholic Charities hosts and sponsors the dinner on Tuesday evenings. Dinners on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are hosted by Catholic Charities and sponsored by the Fourth Presbyterian Church, Help Ease Local Poverty (HELP), a program of Jane Addams Hull House Association, and Holy Name Cathedral.

Program Development

Monday Evening Supper at St. Anne

Dinner is served every Monday at 6 p.m. to persons who are hungry and/or homeless. Doors open at 5:45 p.m. Admittance is on a first-come, first-served basis, with no reservations. Capacity is 100 guests.

Program Development

Tuesday and Thursday Evening Supper in Des Plaines

Dinner is served every Tuesday and Thursday to persons who are hungry and/or homeless. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Admittance is on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservations. Capacity is 100 guests.

Program Development

Tuesday Evening Supper at St. Christopher

Dinner is served every Tuesday at 6 p.m. to persons who are hungry and/or homeless. Doors open at 5:45 p.m. Admittance is on a first-come, first-served basis, with no reservations. Capacity is 100 guests.

Program Development

Wednesday Evening Supper at St. Blase

Dinner is served every Wednesday to persons who are hungry and/or homeless. Doors open at 5:45 p.m. Admittance is on a first-come, first-served basis, with no reservations. Capacity is 130 guests.

Program Development