A Place To Call Home
The seeds of change are found in everyday experience. The stories of people who live in supportive housing can shed light on important issues, such as what it is like to experience homelessness or live with mental illness or a disability. Because of this, during 2019, the Supportive Housing Providers Association (SHPA) and Housing Action Illinois partnered to bring a series of five workshops to help residents of permanent supportive housing explore telling stories to make a difference. The stories in this publication grew out of the workshops, and we are grateful to everyone whose experiences are shared in these pages. Together, we can build a more understanding, compassionate world. Our thanks to the Illinois Charitable Trust Stabilization Fund for making this collaboration possible.
The seeds of change are found in everyday experience. The stories of people who live in supportive housing can shed light on important issues, such as what it is like to experience homelessness or live with mental illness or a disability. Because of this, during 2019, the Supportive Housing Providers Association (SHPA) and Housing Action Illinois partnered to bring a series of five workshops to help residents of permanent supportive housing explore telling stories to make a difference. The stories in this publication grew out of the workshops, and we are grateful to everyone whose experiences are shared in these pages. Together, we can build a more understanding, compassionate world.
Our thanks to the Illinois Charitable Trust Stabilization Fund for making this collaboration possible.
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psychologist. Our conversations were a reality check of what was going
inside my mind. After a year of participating in their program, the
organization helped me to figure out what benefits I qualify for and how
to apply for housing in Thresholds.
My first apartment was a studio, I didn’t feel trapped, I had a room, a
kitchen, a big TV where I could watch my movies and a bathroom for
myself. I had my own place to rest, a place of silence. I felt secure and
grateful for the twelve years I lived in the apartment.
Furthermore, I got the chance to work with them as a desk clerk for ten
years where I felt happy and became part of their family as we celebrated
special occasions together and
“Now, I have my own
apartment where I
can sleep peacefully,
refreshingly, knowing
who I am now.”
supported each other. The staff
cares about us, and we care about
them more like a family than staff.
The atmosphere was healthy and
full of spirit as we were too busy
having fun.
Now, I have my own apartment
where I can sleep peacefully,
refreshingly, knowing who I am
now. Thankful for my journey and prepare to give advice to people that
are in my same situation.
After my 70 years of experience, I know I still got a lot to give. But there
have to be right people that are willing to listen, open their heart to
changes, and understand that homelessness is not an individual failure.
However, if we do not give this a priority, we are going to fail as a society.
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Chicago workshop participants
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