I've been hit by this, no doubt.  It would probably surprise most all of you what I have learned.  So many health care organizations, hospitals, clinics, have reduced rates and "charity care" for people who can not afford to pay.  Which is great!  But they don't tell you everything.  I've been turned down before because I don't have a residence. And--get this--Yeah, I'm homeless--I've been actually turned down for a special housing because "it would be too far to move".  Figure that one out!?!  I'm homeless!  Seriously--our health care systems need a lot of help!  My primary doctor is a great guy--I love him--his heart is in the right place.  He's learning that health care is more and different from what he thought it to be all along, that not everything is as it seems.

Do you by chance.. have a shelter there? Or a program called something like.. Fresh Start? Housing First? We have a program here.. that gets people into housing.. then work on the reasons why they got to be homeless.. I know most of America is one or two paychecks away from being there themselves.. I know in my job.. I deal with addicts but I see many more people at the shelter who aren't addicts.. who have just had some really f'd up things happen to them.. or a series of things happen.. People don;t always choose to be homeless I know that.. i didn't choose it either.. 

Also.. if they have a shelter.. that will give you an adress to use.. i was turned down here for the public health care for the same reason i didnt have an adress.. the woman apparently didnt understand what homeless meant...

Anyway.. just a suggestion...

 Not around here.  The one shelter agency only has the overnight shelters open from October 1st through April 30th--the rest of the year we are on our own.  Stupid, isn't it?  I won't likely even be back this next "season" as its called.  They aren't letting me back in as of right now because they lost the photocopy of my drivers license from last year, which is a hassle in progress for me to replace.  I haven't had a car for about 16 months now, but I can't get a plain State ID card either because I don't have my birth certificate or anything, because when my car get repo'd, the shelter office refused to give me transportation to the location where my car was towed to get my stuff, and...  I've had a really bad year.  There is a church working on helping me to get some of these documents now.  We just got a copy of my high school diploma but there is still a lot to do.

How far are you from Chicago? or. whats the closest big city to you?

Catholic Charities, Northwest
1801 W. Central Road
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
(847)253-5500

Those are some great people who do lots of work with the homelss population..

and you might check to see if your community has a 211 line... also give referrals and information.. Hopesome of this helped.. I will look more tomorrow when I get to work and have more info..

 I've tried Catholic Charities.  For some reason I can't figure out, they are telling me they can't help me.  According to their website and everything, they *should* be able to help in some way other than maybe a once a week meal they serve.  I've also tried Center of Concern, Fellowship Housing,Wings, Home of the Sparrow...and several others.

 There might be something like a 211 line in the City, but in the burbs.

Let me do some checking at work tomorrow.. Illinois is pretty far away.. but.. I am stubborn.. I mean tenacious.. if anything.. shoot.. hitch a ride to fort worth.. i can hook you UP then..lol

I have been homeless with my husband and 3 kids after we had a house fire and lost everything....so i know how frustrating it can be to start from nothing ....we literally were left with what we had on our backs.....but my husband and i have a 2 bedroom condo in new jersey now and our youngest is leaving for college this week ....so if you can make your way to new jersey ....you are welcome to stay with us....you will never be homeless here...!!!....believe me...as long as we have a home you are welcome...if i was able to drive i would come and get you ...unfortunately i can't drive....

 Whine check out student services at the local community college, some of these colleges really go the extra mile to help.

They have roommate listings, and if you apply for student aid and register for classes you can get student health insurance.

You said in a previous post you were in the pharmacy field, if you have experience I may be able to contact a friend and he can see if there's a job available at the VA hospital for pharmacy tech. 

Also.. the Salvation army.. they have emergency shelter and some hav transitional living...  call these numbers if you ca,, 773-275-9383, Speak to Teresa Certas, 773-271-6182 speak to jon price or 630-897-7265 (sorry didnt get the name)

You might also try the YWCA.. Some of them have transitional housing..567-208-4830 or email gla@midohio.twcbc.com That for the great lakes regional area.

Also. St. Marys PADS 847-298-2846

You said you tried Wings.. what was their reasoning for not wanting to help? Ill get after em!!!

West Suburban Pads 888-338-1744

Break through ministries 773-722-0179

and..

Lincoln Park Community Center 773-549-6111. I dont now if these are in your area.. to far for you to get to or whatever.. but try them and see what they say.. you dont have anything to lose right?

google Housing Firtst Chicago.. or go to this website..

http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/portalContentItemAction.do?contenTypeName=COC_EDITORIAL&contentOID=536917595&topChannelName=HomePage

lorelie:

Also.. the Salvation army.. they have emergency shelter and some hav transitional living...  call these numbers if you ca,, 773-275-9383, Speak to Teresa Certas, 773-271-6182 speak to jon price or 630-897-7265 (sorry didnt get the name)

 They denied being able to help for some reason I can't remember.

You might also try the YWCA.. Some of them have transitional housing..567-208-4830 or email gla@midohio.twcbc.com That for the great lakes regional area.

Refused shelter because I am not currently living in an abusive relationship at home.  A person must be escaping an abusive home.  Being homeless with other homeless people who have assaulted myself or others before--no, doesn't qualify.

Also. St. Marys PADS 847-298-2846

Pads is the name of the local shelter system and the overnight shelters are currently closed for the summer. They will reopen October 1st through April 30th.  This is the service I have been to.

You said you tried Wings.. what was their reasoning for not wanting to help? Ill get after em!!!

I have PTSD history.  They refused because of that.  Quite the contrary to what they advertise, huh?!

West Suburban Pads 888-338-1744

That's the Pads for a different county.

Break through ministries 773-722-0179

????   Somewhere in Chicago is all I know.  They won't likely accept me, one reason being that I am suburban homeless.

and..

Lincoln Park Community Center 773-549-6111. I dont now if these are in your area.. to far for you to get to or whatever.. but try them and see what they say.. you dont have anything to lose right?

Ditto what I said above for Break Through Ministries.  Chicago org's have said that "its too far for me to move" from the North/Northwest 'burbs.  (Huh?!?!)