Homelessness: The Facts
Homelessness in Evanston
On any given night, 136 Evanstonians are experiencing homelessness in an emergency shelter or outside, on the train, or other locations not meant for habitation (2022 Sheltered and Unsheltered Point in Time Count). This includes families with children, young adults, and households fleeing or attempting to flee domestic, dating or sexual violence, and/or stalking.
The current emergency shelter inventory is at full capacity within Evanston, and across the northern suburbs of Chicago. The Cook County Continuum of Care has identified a need for at least 185 emergency shelter beds available each night to serve individuals and families experiencing a housing crisis. Emergency shelter provides a bridge for individuals and families to receive the services they need to ultimately be connected to safe, stable, and long-term housing.
In addition to our neighbors in emergency shelter or staying outside, many Evanstonians are at-risk of becoming homeless. The City of Evanston estimates there are 4,040 low-income renter households in Evanston with one or more severe housing problems who are at-risk of losing their housing.
Homelessness in Illinois
On any given night in Illinois, an estimated 10,431 people are living in shelters and transitional housing programs, in parks and abandoned buildings, in cars and in barns. In addition to Illinois residents who are experiencing literal homelessness, tens of thousands of Illinois families live temporarily and unstably with family and friends. In the 2020 school year, over 41,514 children from Pre-Kindergarten to Seniors in high school lived unstably with family and friends. Other families live on at the brink of homelessness, a step away from an eviction notice with the loss of income or the tragic loss of a family member.
Home Illinois, Illinois’ Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness, sets the foundational vision to ending homelessness in the state. Through both established and new innovative strategies, Illinois residents, community agencies and state government will work together to prevent entries into shelter. When literal homelessness does occur, the experience will be brief and one-time.
Learn More
Illinois Office to End and Prevent Homelessness: Home Illinois: Illinois’ Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness
National Alliance to End Homelessness: State of Homelessness: 2022 Edition
National Low Income Housing Coalition: Housing Needs by State: Illinois