Our Story: From Humble Beginnings to Transformative Impact
In 1983, a group of Lakeview residents and neighborhood churches came together with a shared purpose: to provide refuge for men experiencing homelessness. This collaboration birthed Lakeview Shelter, which operated out of a church basement for over 25 years. From these humble beginnings, North Side Housing and Supportive Services (NSHSS) emerged, committed to finding lasting solutions to homelessness. During this time, we introduced Permanent Supportive Housing, creating a critical pathway for men to secure long-term, affordable housing and access the services they needed to thrive.
In 2010, we faced a major challenge when our Lakeview Shelter location closed, prompting us to relocate to Uptown. There, we expanded our programs, launching a Daytime Support Services Center for both men and women and establishing our Housing Navigator Program to help individuals overcome the barriers to securing housing in their communities.
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The shelter continued to operate in temporary locations in Uptown until the COVID-19 pandemic forced its closure. To ensure the safety of our clients, we transitioned them to a hotel where they could maintain physical distance and stay protected from the virus.This period of adaptation taught us an important lesson: the need for a permanent shelter that could fully address the diverse needs of those we serve. In 2022, with support from the city, we purchased a vacant medical building to transform it into a trauma-informed shelter. This state-of-the-art facility, opening in December 2024, will provide emergency housing and comprehensive services to 70 men, helping them rebuild their lives and transition to stable housing.
Our journey reflects resilience, growth, and an unwavering commitment to helping individuals leave homelessness behind for good.
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