New Website Helps Individuals Find Available Housing Assistance in Metro Chicago

CHICAGO—The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) has launched a free online tool (direct2housing.org) that helps connect low-income residents with supportive housing services in metropolitan Chicago. The website is designed to assist people with HIV/AIDS and other at-risk populations—including teen parents, domestic violence survivors, and people with developmental disabilities—who face a critical need for housing assistance.

“Chicago is currently suffering from a severe shortage of affordable housing for low-income residents, including but not limited to people living with HIV,” said Mark Ishaug, AFC’s president and CEO. “Given the high demand for a scarce supply of supportive housing, the new online database helps eligible clients and their social service providers quickly identify available housing services to speed the application and placement process.”

The only database of its kind nationwide, Direct2Housing includes entries about housing programs that are generated and maintained directly by program administrators. This feature allows programs to keep their entries up-to-date and accurate.

“The site is designed to help a wide variety of case managers, housing advocates, social workers, and those in need of housing services to quickly identify programs meeting their individual client’s needs,” said Ric Martel, AFC housing assistance coordinator. “Gone are the days of needing to call dozens of programs to find an appropriate housing program accepting new clients. This website helps speed the process.”

At the website’s main page, users enter their preferences for housing, ranging from the type of services needed to the preferred service location. Then, the database provides listings on available housing programs matching the users’ identified needs. Concurrently, participating agencies are able to update their information in real time, helping browsers identify which program can currently accept new applicants and which cannot.

AFC encourages organizations serving at-risk populations, such as hospitals and corrections facilities, to use Direct2Housing in their discharge plans, rather than risk releasing people into homelessness.

Over 200 different housing programs have already joined the Direct2Housing database, and more are joining every day.

To learn more, visit Direct2Housing.org.

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