www.lpcsonline.org

The mission of the Lincoln Park Community Shelter (LPCS) is to bring communities together to empower homeless men and women to make and sustain life changes. The organization’s core efforts are the Interim Housing Community and the On Track Program, through which LPCS operates a 24-hour, year-round facility serving 35 homeless men and women. Working in tandem, the Interim Housing Community and the On Track Program help guests discover ways to meet the expectations of today’s housing and job markets while building a personal foundation that will help sustain independence for the future. Each year, over 50 percent of those seeking employment find jobs, and over 70 percent of participants return to permanent housing.

LPCS also provides ancillary services to those still living on the streets or in emergency shelters, or tenuously housed through the Community Engagement Program. Emergency services such as hot meals, showers, laundry, food, and clothing are offered, as are referrals to case management for those who are ready to take steps to change their lives for the better. Each year, over 40 percent of the shelter’s clients improve their housing status through engagement with LPCS staff and volunteers in this low-barrier program.

The Graduate Community continues to provide service to LPCS guests who have secured permanent housing. It provides meals, rental assistance, donated items, case management, and referrals to agencies that can help them. The LPCS community of staff, volunteers, and guests provide ongoing guidance and support, resulting in nearly 80 percent of those served remaining in stable housing two years after their exit from the interim housing program.

The newest endeavor, the Independent Community Living Program (ICLP), began in the summer of 2013. This is a scattered-site permanent supportive housing program, currently designed to serve 15 disabled men and women. LPCS works with landlords to provide safe, clean apartments and offer comprehensive case management and other services to residents in their homes and communities.