REST

To provide safe, quality emergency shelter, permanent housing, and supportive social services to adult men and women who are homeless on Chicago’s north side. REST empowers these individuals to develop their employment and life skills to achieve the transition to independent living.

REST is committed to:

• An individual’s right to housing
• The dignity of individuals and their right to freedom of choice when fully informed of options
• The diversity of individuals, including the need for a diverse staff, board, volunteer base and community with resulting talents and resources from which REST can benefit
• The sharing of knowledge and experience and working cooperatively with service providers and others to more effectively address the problems of homelessness
• The participation in and cooperation with local communities and organizations to inform others about the causes of homelessness and to advocate for solutions.

Residents for Effective Shelter Transitions (REST) is a 30 year old nonprofit agency providing a full continuum of services to adults who are homeless on Chicago’s north side. REST was founded in 1979 by residents of Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood after two homeless men froze to death in a snowstorm. In an all-volunteer effort, these neighbors made a commitment to provide overnight emergency shelter during the winter months to men and women who were homeless in the area.

REST originally provided overnight shelter only, but today offers a wide array of services, intended to assist the person to make a successful transition from life on the streets to a life in permanent housing, with the ability to support him or herself. REST now provides Overnight Shelter, an evening drop-in Support Center, Social Services which include individual case management and Basic Life Skills Groups, and Permanent Housing for those participants with disabilities.

REST now has a staff of 22 full-time and 11 part-time employees. REST’s funding comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Chicago Dept. of Human Services, the United Way, foundations, churches, corporations, individuals and Fundraising Events. Without these donors, and the time and donated goods provided by thousands of dedicated volunteers, REST could not continue to fulfill its mission.

SleepWalk - a walk-a-thon held the first Saturday of May
A Night To Put Homelessness to REST - a fundraising dinner held in late September

REST can use volunteer help in holding local drives for supplies needed for homeless people such as socks, toiletries, gloves.  We also have opportunities for volunteers to work on the SleepWalk as team walkers, day-of-event volunteers and administrative tasks.