Save the Date for our Annual Supportive Housing Summit!

Registration Coming Soon

Interested in Sponsoring our Summit?

Please fill out the link below to sponsor!

Government Affairs

LAST CHANCE:

Sign up by Friday, September 8th to join SHPA at the National Alliance to End Homelessness' (NAEH) Virtual Capitol Hill Day! 



NAEH's Virtual Capitol Hill Day is your chance to speak directly with Members of Congress about the need for continue support and increased funding for Supportive Housing and our CoC programs.

Peer Leadership Development Program

Our Peer Leadership Development Workshop facilitators voted to bring in new facilitators for the FY 2026 Workshops, starting in October. Having developed the program in year one, and facilitating for the last two years, the group voted to bring on new Peer facilitators every two years. The criteria is that you must have completed a Peer Leadership Development Workshop and possess the skills needed to teach other Peers the course work in the workshop.

We thank our original program development/facilitators, Chris O’Hara, Kristal Thompson, Kayla Wallace, Marketta Sims. Mike Lee (not pictured), Ricky Reese, Susan Smith, and Charles Lewandowski. Our sincere thanks to Farhley Jones and Empress Garrett, who joined as facilitators in the second year and out new facilitators for FY 26, Kat Southard, Otha Gaston, Veronica Janoski and Shane Reeves. We are proud to have our first facilitator from the Southern region of the state!

Please watch your email for details of the Peer Leadership Development Workshops. They will be held as follows:

October 2025- Central Region

January 2026- Chicago Region

March 2026- Southern Region

May 2026- Chicago Region



Please contact Susan Day with any questions s.day@shpa-il.org

Training & Technical Assistance Center

Upcoming Trainings:

We're excited to announce two impactful training sessions this September: 

• September 11 (Virtual): Introduction to Micro-Aggressions and Productive Bystander Interventions 

• September 24 (In-Person at Deborah's Place): Cook County Fair Housing Training for Providers- Registration Required 

Fall Summit Sneak Peek:  

Planning is underway for the SHPA Fall Summit, and we're thrilled about the lineup: 

- Peer Leadership Lab A & B 

- ACES: Fostering Resilience in Adulthood 

- Employee Wellness: MCO Executive Wellness 

- High Rise Stories: Voices from Chicago Public Housing-Micro Theatrical Performance

Next Standards & Best Practices Committee Meeting: 

September 22nd at 11:30 AM. Mark your calendars and stay engaged!  

FY26 Launch of the Illinois Homeless and Education Technical Assistance Center

We are excited to share that the Illinois Homeless and Education Technical Assistance Center has officially launched its FY26 portfolio. This year includes 23 projects addressing homelessness in its many forms, each aligned with the objectives and goals of the Home Illinois Plan. These projects reflect a strong commitment to practical solutions that support stability, education, and pathways out of homelessness.

Among the ongoing support available again this year is specialized training for shelter operators and staff, offered through HomelessTraining.com, owned and operated by Ryan Dowd. This training equips frontline teams with real-world skills in shelter management, de-escalation, and trauma-informed care. If your organization is not currently enrolled and would like access, please complete this survey or connect with Betsy or Melissa for more details on how to join.

We also want to spotlight the LEAP4Ward Project, which enters FY26 as a pilot initiative designed to elevate the leadership and career growth of people with lived experience (PLE) across Illinois. LEAP4Ward will launch two six-month Community of Practice cohorts: one focused on the lived experience of homelessness and one focused on the lived experience of re-entry (post-incarceration).

Each Community of Practice is built around six key areas of progressive development:

• Leadership
• Leading with authenticity
• Building Management Skills 
• Supporting self and others
• Systems of Care 
• Thriving organizations

Participants will benefit from learning with subject matter experts, celebrating group and individual milestones, and engaging in a two-day pre-cohort commencement training with their managers to set a foundation of shared understanding. 

Please be on the lookout for the application that will be released in the coming weeks or connect with Betsy or Melissa for more details.

Illinois statewide SOAR Coordinator

SOAR (SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery) is an evidence-based practice for assisting individuals who are experiencing homelessness, at risk of becoming homeless and those are unable to work due to severe disabilities, apply for Social Security Disability Benefits (SSI/SSDI). The Statewide SOAR (SSI/SSDI Coordinator will be a key part of the Illinois SOAR State Lead team and will be responsible for developing and implementing a statewide plan to advance SOAR and support SOAR-trained case workers to implement the initiative. 

Download the PDF below to view further details on this open position.

Please submit your resume to the SHPA Executive Director, Eileen McNamee at e.mcnamee@shpa-il.org

Illinois Department of Human Services Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (IDHS-DBHR) and Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) Permanent Supportive Housing Development Funding Available

DBHR Alert - Illinois Opioid Remediation Funds Permanent Supportive Housing Development Funding Available

URGENT - TODAY & TOMORROW

Chicago Homeless Response System Info Session on National Guard / ICE Response

TODAY, Wednesday, September 3 from 4:30-5:30pm and TOMORROW, Thursday, September 4 from 1:30-2:30pm, there will be Chicago Homeless Response System Info Sessions regarding National Guard and ICE Response. Each session will cover the same information. You do not need to attend both sessions.

These info sessions are for homeless response system service providers, advocates and CoC members to hear about the State, City and CoC’s efforts to coordinate a response to the potential presence of National Guard and ICE in Chicago. Registration is required in order to join. Please use the registration links below. You may forward this message to other people within your organization.

TODAY, Wednesday, September 3 from 4:30-5:30pm

Wednesday Registration Link

TOMORROW, Thursday, September 4 from 1:30-2:30pm

Thursday Registration Link