No day is the same, including where it starts, for Harrison Morris, a Counselor and Case Manager with the HOME Program (Housing Outreach and Meaningful Engagement) at Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI).
The new outreach program began in January 2024 to support people experiencing housing instability and homelessness on Chicago’s northwest side. State funding for the program was championed by State Rep. Lindsey LaPointe and State Sen. Robert Martwick.
Using a whole-person, multi-pronged outreach approach, the HOME program helps stabilize individuals through referrals to counseling, healthcare, substance use services, employment, public assistance, and providing linkages to housing options. LSSI offers many of these services, and all clients are linked with community services based on their individual needs, goals, and preferences through a person-centered approach.
Morris receives referrals from a variety of sources, including mobile crisis programs, religious organizations, concerned citizens, law enforcement, and government offices. He uses a progressive engagement approach, which starts small, helping individuals with immediate needs and adjusts over time as a person’s housing needs evolve. This approach builds trust and does not assume the person wants help.
“I always have a gift card to break the ice, and I ask if the person knows someone who needs help and build from there,” he said. After a year in his job, he has opened the door. People he has encountered now approach him as he makes his rounds.
Since January 2024, the HOME Program has received and reached out to 145 referrals, housed 13 people, and secured housing for five clients.
Secured housing means LSSI either assisted people with paying back rent to avoid eviction and/or utilized case manager skills to expedite their waiting list housing approval; 79% of the assisted clients are households with two or more children.
The ultimate goal of HOME is to place individuals in secure and stable housing that will improve their health and enable individuals to live a self-directed, purposeful life.
Click here to learn more about HOME, including the geographical boundaries for the program.
