THE SERVICES WE OFFER

SJOM is an interim housing and supportive services program created for adult males, ages 18 and older, who are homeless. The program operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week and can accommodate a maximum of 34 participants at any given time. Participants may be residents for up to 120 days.

The primary goal of the program is to assist and support participants as they seek to stabilize their lives andprepare to move to permanent housing.

SJOM’s services are offered on a non-discriminatory basis to men of all races, religions, sexual orientation, and national origins. However, because the agency is in a predominantly Latino community, an important focus is to meet the cultural and language needs of Spanish-speaking persons.

 

Participants are paired with one of SJOM’s supportive services staff members within 24 hours of entering the program.  Together they develop an individualized plan
incorporating career training, psycho-educational and skill-building groups, and social, referral, follow-up, and after-care services.  Both the participant and the case manager commit to following the plan and achieving the goals set for and by each man as he works towards permanent housing and greater self-sufficiency.  Mandatory weekly meetings are held thereafter, at which progress toward fulfilling the goals is measured and any concerns or needs of the participant are discussed.

Career Orientation
            Participants receive one-on-one job placement assistance and help with job searches during their weekly sessions with their case managers.  Other job-related skills are covered in two Life Skills Training sessions.  During these times, participants work with the supportive services staff to build and/or create resumes, learn how to fill out a job application, receive tips on conducting employment searches, and discuss interviewing skills, how to dress for an interview, and appropriate language to use when conversing with prospective employers.

            Job postings are also updated regularly and displayed in a central area for participants’ viewing. 

Housing/Retention

            Participants also work closely with their supportive services worker to secure and transition to dignified permanent housing that meets whatever needs they may have.  Each candidate completes an assessment within 10 days of enrolling in the program to determine their permanent housing needs.  A plan for transitioning into stable, affordable housing is created, specific to each client.  Once this is determined, supportive service staff make referrals to the placement inthe most suitable, least restrictive setting possible.  For all those who exit the program into permanent housing, follow-up support is offered to help the men maintain stability

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Learn more about homelessness among Chicago Latinos (PDF).

La Raza newspaper reported about Chicago homelessness in October 2007: read the article en Español, or in English (PDFs).

For information about enrolling in SJOM’s Interim Housing program, contact us.
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