Physical Health Care

North Side Housing & Supportive Services provides on-site access to a nurse practitioner who addresses the physical health needs of consumers by providing them with routine physicals, treating minor health problems, monitoring chronic health problems (i.e. diabetes), prescribing and dispensing some medication and facilitating health care, prevention and wellness workshops. The program serves North Side tenants and other community agencies. Our nurse practitioner also serves as faculty for Rush University College of Nursing, teaching courses in the clinical practicum in Community Health Nursing and integrates the students into her clinical practice. Each year North Side has an opportunity to hosts the nursing students who work on doing patient assessments, planning programming and conducts outreach in the community. Other activities have included developing a comprehensive community resource manual and analyzing health survey data.

Access to Wellness

In partnership with AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) North Side is a partner in AFC’s Access to Wellness, a collaboration of supportive housing providers, behaviorial health clinicians and treatment providers, primary care support providers, and public and private agencies (Community Consortium) designed to deliver an integrated, recovery-oriented model of care for chronically homeless persons with behavioral disorders and comorbid disabilities/chronic medical illnesses.

The Access to Wellness project is funded by a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) to AFC. Services are limited to AFC Samaritan Housing participants and participants in North Side’s Veteran Housing Initiative.

Mental Health Care

North Side offers mental health care services provided by an LCSW who works with participants in one-on-one and/or group therapy. Additionally, the LCSW provides life skills training and workshops for participants and staff on a wide variety of topics. Please contact Amanda Russell on more information: (773) 661-6721.