Emergency Services, Shelter Hours Expanded In Cook County

CHICAGO HEIGHTS, IL — Emergency shelters and warming centers are opening early, expanding hours and extending other services across southern Cook County for people need help keeping warm as the polar vortex parks itself over the region Tuesday night.

South Suburban PADS, a nonprofit that serves the needs of homeless people, is working with two churches, Infant Jesus of Prague in Flossmoor and Church of the Holy Family in Park Forest to offer overnight accommodations that are not usually available during the week.

Several other warming stations also will be available, and some additional shuttle services will be available to and from the South Suburban PADS Lincoln Highway office, the St. Lawrence O'Toole warning center and some area shelters.

In 2018, more then 870 people in suburban Cook County were homeless, 15 percent of whom were considered chronically homeless, statistics from the Alliance to End Homelessness showed. On any given night in Cook County, at least 100 people are looking for a safe place to sleep, said Doug Kenshol, executive director of South Suburban PADS.

"I am expecting that tonight it will be so cold, people will be seeking shelter somewhere," he said.

He and shelter operators across the county were expecting an influx of people tonight. Warming centers likely will be overcrowded, although staff was working to manage that.

Bethel Community Facility in Chicago Heights opened early Tuesday and by noon, 25 people already were warming up inside its buildings.

"We don't have a lot of funding, but at least we can do this," said Lee Golden, the center's supervisor in charge.

The region is short on homeless services, and people who need shelters also need to find a way to get to them. Those who register for services through South Suburban PADS are linked to a shuttle system that helps get them back to where they sleep.

Kenshol said that his biggest concern was the danger the cold posed by spending even short amounts of time waiting for public transportation or walking to a facility. That's why his group worked to try to expand its regular shuttle services.

"People can die on any night. I am always worried about people who are homeless," Kenshol added. "The danger is when it's a little bit warmer because they take chances and sleep outside."

Here's a list of South Suburban PADS additional hours and services.

South Suburban PADS Transportation

• South Suburban PADS provides limited shuttle bus service from the Chicago Heights Police Station to the overnight emergency shelters. People seeking shelter can be picked up on the west side of the police station at about 5:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday to be taken to shelter.
• South Suburban PADS will also be providing limited daytime shuttle service between the 414 Lincoln Highway office and St. Lawrence O’Toole during the daytime.
• South Suburban PADS will also be providing transportation from the St. Lawrence O’Toole daytime warming site to the overnight shelters.

South Suburban PADS Emergency Shelters (7 p.m. to 7 a.m.)

Tuesday night

• Infant Jesus of Prague, Leavitt & Flossmoor Road, Flossmoor, (men only)
• Church of the Holy Family, Sauk Trail & Orchard, Park Forest (Women & Children)

Wednesday Night

• St. Andrews Methodist Church. 18850 S. Riegel Road, Homewood (women and children)
• St. Lawrence O’Toole, 4101 St. Lawrence Avenue, Matteson (men)

Thursday Night

• ·St. Irenaeus, Orchard & Indianwood, Park Forest (co-ed)
• New Faith, 25 S. Central, Matteson (co-ed)

South Suburban PADS Warming Centers

Tuesday

• South Suburban PADS, 414 W. Lincoln Highway, Chicago Heights (open from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. with limited capacity)

Wednesday

• South Suburban PADS, 414 W. Lincoln Highway, Chicago Heights (open from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. with limited capacity)
• St. Lawrence O’Toole shelter, 4101 St. Lawrence Avenue, Matteson (open from 7 a.m.-6 p.m.)

Thursday

• South Suburban PADS, 414 W. Lincoln Highway, Chicago Heights (open from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. with limited capacity)
• St. Lawrence O’Toole shelter, 4101 St. Lawrence Avenue, Matteson (open from 7 a.m.-6 p.m.)

Photo via Lauren Ramsby/Patch