By: Ashmar Mandou
The City of Chicago alongside the Chicago Department of Public Health and Department of Housing introduced an ordinance to continue forward with the purchase of the former Diplomat Motel in Lincoln Square, in an effort to launch the Stabilization Housing Pilot Program, in hopes to provide behavioral health and housing for people experiencing homelessness.
“This will be the first long-term City of Chicago program solely focused on stabilizing people experiencing homelessness who also have major untreated health needs, especially related to mental health and substance use,” said CDPH Commissioner Allison Arwady. “It’s about breaking the cycle of homelessness by first providing transitional housing while focusing on addressing these acute health needs, with a longer-term goal of eventually moving individuals into both permanent housing and ongoing health care.”
The Stabilization Housing program is designed to deeply address the individual’s needs, address chronic homelessness and behavioral conditions in Chicago. The pilot program will also address the mental health challenges people experiencing homelessness endure as well as address substance use. “We learned a lot during COVID about the benefits of private space and services for people experiencing homelessness with behavioral health needs,” said Department of Housing Commissioner Marisa Novara. “Simply put, people got better faster. Now Chicago Department of Housing is working with CDPH to acquire a space (currently a hotel) for City ownership and CDPH’s own ongoing ability to triage people with highest needs.”
In 2020, Chicago implemented a hotel-based protective housing intervention to provide health care to people experiencing homelessness. This program, called Hotel 166, provided on-site health care workers to monitor SARS CoV-2 symptoms and provide medical care for chronic health and behavioral health conditions. A study of the program found that participants reported that their mental health improved or stabilized during their stay and 51 percent successfully transitioned into some type of housing after leaving Hotel 166. The Diplomat Motel was selected based on program needs, location accessibility, and aldermanic support from Andre Vasquez. The motel provides a non-congregate setting which supports higher participant engagement, limits the spread of infectious disease, and decreases the utilization of crisis services due to individual rooms for each participant.
“This Stabilization Housing Pilot, the first of its kind, when successful, will transform the way our city addresses the challenge of homelessness,” said Alderperson Andre Vasquez. “It centers those experiencing it and lets them know that we are on the journey with them, providing the support and dignity that they deserve, while building community and safety for all, together.”
