Disrupting Homelessness with Dignity
To Disrupt Homelessness with Dignity
02
How We
Do It
1. Dignified Living
We create space to live, eat, rest and grow in a community setting. We provide affordable housing, basic grocery, transit and professional needs; cultivating a proud place to call home until graduated.
2. Holistic Health
We know success comes from the health within. We set goals together to achieve better physical health. Partnered with mental and emotional counseling services, we focus on well-rounded well-being.
3. Professional Development
We help create marketable resumes, provide professional attire, build soft & hard skills, grow financial literacy and build measurable goals towards self-sustainability.
Jeff
"You can always come out above your situation. You are not what you think your situation might dictate."
​
Chris
“I wouldn’t say the Collective
is temporary housing. I’d say
it’s people that are taking you
in as their own; like family.
Even though you might not
have been in there for very
long, you feel like you’re a
part of something. You feel
like you’re family.”
​
George
“The Collective helped me
be independent. I had been depending on other people’s money and physically just using
my own body as collateral.
Now I’m able to love myself more. I’m able to hold dear the things that are precious to me and I’m able to value life more than I did before.” ​
​
04
The Big Picture
Since we opened our doors in November of 2018,
we have realized the need for an inspiring environment
to propel movement. We come alongside young men affected by poverty and build skills and the confidence
to get good jobs. In doing so, we help unlock something deeper; the ability to break out of the effects of poverty, namely hopelessness. We are not just about jobs or dignified housing – we are about restoring hope
through the power of community.
"If you want to go fast, go alone.
If you want to go far, go together."
21
AVERAGE DAYS TO GAIN EMPLOYMENT
$1,880
AVERAGE EARNED BY RESIDENT PER MONTH
31
GUYS HOUSED & EMPLOYED
SINCE 2019 *2 years closed for construction during COVID
CHECKS CAN BE MADE PAYABLE TO: Collective Chicago
PO Box 408665
Chicago IL, 60640
It Starts Where You Live
A job without stable housing makes job retention extremely difficult.
We provide housing, food, attire and transit accommodations until self-sufficient.
Sync Up With Social Services
We work alongside 50+ Chicago partners to make sure mental health support is available for all residents.
Goal Setting &
Personal Development
Residents and staff create measurable metrics to obtain objective-driven
goals each and every week. We also offer assessment tools to identify
strengths and growth opportunities.
Sweat the Details
Because mental health is connected to physical well being. Residents have
access to nearby gyms, trainers who actively coach classes that inspire
each resident to new levels of growth and fitness.
Ramp up
the Resume
Working with Collective staff to prep for interviews and get out at least 5 quality leads per day.
Job Development Programs
We refer residents to training programs available in Downtown and or Uptown Chicago to build job training skills if coming in with no job experience.
Get the Job
Collective Residents gain employment in an average of 21 days. Once employed residents begin to allocate funds between
"The Big Three."
The Big Three
1/3 Savings
1/3 Spending
1/3 Rent
Rent is capped at $400.
The rest split between savings & spending.
Build to Transition
Residents continue to show consistency, build savings and lock in healthy habits for 5-10 months until they're poised and financially ready to move out on their own.
9 Months
On average, residents transition into their own apartment and are able to hold down their own work and finances within 7 months.