Social Workers and the Homeless in Illinois

As with the Hispanic and Latino/a/x population, data for unaccompanied minors who are homeless is often underrepresented because many end up staying temporarily with others. Unaccompanied minors include LGBTQ+ youth who may not feel comfortable in traditional foster care environments, which may not respect their sexual orientation and/ or self-identified gender.

The report recommends that affordable housing opportunities be expanded in combination with services that support the community, ensuring that citizens remain housed. This requires the aid of community leaders and qualified social workers. Finding housing and retaining housing are two key ways that social workers can help their clients.

What Other Job Titles do Social Workers hold in Illinois?

Depending on their role, Illinois social workers fulfill a variety of other job titles in conjunction with the Homeless, including:

• Homeless Outreach Worker
• Street Outreach Worker
• Homeless Youth Advocate
• Housing Specialist
• Homeless Health Care Coordinator
• Shelter Case Manager
• Housing Navigator
• Homeless Services Coordinator
• Transitional Housing Case Manager
• Homeless Education Liaison
• Rapid Rehousing Specialist
• Homeless Prevention Specialist
• Homeless Services Manager
• Veterans Support Coordinator
• Homeless Policy Analyst
• Housing First Case Manager
• Homeless Services Advocate

These positions serve as vital conduits for marginalized individuals across Illinois, advocating for systemic change, facilitating access to essential resources, and fostering pathways toward stable living situations.

How Can Social Workers Help Their Clients Retain Housing?

Financial Assistance – Social workers provide resources to keep people in stable living situations, including Emergency Solutions (ESG), Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP), rental assistance programs, utility assistance programs, Salvation Army Emergency Assistance, Catholic Charities, the Illinois Rental Payment Program (ILRPP), and the Chicago Rental Assistance Program (CRP).

Tenants’ Rights Education – Social workers organize and facilitate workshops and training sessions to cover tenants’ rights, disseminate informational materials relevant to housing laws, provide one-on-one legal aid counseling, collaborate with law schools to set up legal aid clinics, establish or support tenant rights hotlines, and collaborate with housing agencies, tenant associations, and community development organizations.

Case Management – Qualified providers can give comprehensive case management services to individuals at risk of losing their housing, develop individualized support plans, and coordinate efforts to address underlying issues that may threaten housing stability.

Crisis Intervention – Social workers provide resources to families and individuals facing imminent eviction. They also offer emotional support and advocacy, including suicide prevention and mental health crisis intervention, domestic violence intervention, substance abuse aid, and help develop natural disaster relief responses with government agencies.

Transportation Support – Some nonprofit agency social workers provide transportation for clients. Other agencies provide transportation assistance in other ways, like bus passes. A large factor in retaining housing is obtaining a job and then being able to show up to that job consistently. Unreliable transportation can lead to the loss of a job and then the loss of a stable housing situation. Social workers help clients access reliable transportation as part of a stable housing plan of action.

Job Stability – Job stability contributes to stable living situations. Social workers help clients access vocational training through referrals to apprenticeships, community colleges, and technical schools. For immigrants, social workers can facilitate work visas and applications for citizenship.

Health Care Access – Health care contributes significantly to housing. People can find themselves unable to pay rent or mortgages due to the high cost of medical care, especially from emergencies. Also, people can neglect their health due to costs, leading to chronic diseases like Diabetes and cardiovascular problems. Qualified social workers can provide resources for low-cost or free clinics, financial assistance, and resources for prenatal care.

Childcare – Many marginalized individuals lack access to safe, reliable, and affordable childcare necessary for them to go to their jobs. Social workers can provide childcare resources, referrals to preschool and after-school programs, and financial assistance, such as the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) and other subsidies or grants to low-income families.

What Qualities do Social Workers Caring for the Homeless Have?

Social workers who interact with and serve the Homeless need to have certain attributes that make them adept at their jobs and helpful to their clients. Here are some qualities that successful social workers must have: