Reducing Length of Stay

Your Support Helps End the Trauma of Homelessness

Clients participate in workshops at DuPagePads Client Service Center.

Many families who are homeless have experienced significant trauma in their lives. These experiences include childhood abuse, family separation, violent relationships and even the act of becoming homeless. Studies have shown that homelessness adversely affects a child’s health, development and education.

Consequently, DuPagePads has become a “trauma-responsive” agency. DuPagePads employees at all levels attended training workshops and now have an understanding of trauma to improve services and interactions with clients.

Additionally, case managers work swiftly to assist households out of the traumatic experience of being homeless. Once children become housed, their health improves and they can better focus in school and excel in their studies.

Over the past two years, DuPagePads has reduced the average length of stay of clients at the interim overnight sites from 57 days to 45 days, a 21% reduction.

To achieve this outcome, DuPagePads case managers work one on one with clients to address their individual barriers to housing and obtain all eligible benefits. Working with over 50 other health and social service agencies, case managers assist clients to obtain all necessary resources through referrals, application assistance and more.

Another innovative way DuPagePads is ending homelessness is through implementing responsive programs based on feedback from clients. These programs have been successful at engaging participants, addressing a critical need and producing tangible outcomes:

• Housing Now
  • This program rapidly rehouses households with income by providing rent assistance and a year of case management services.
  • Last year 79 people were served in 43 households; 95% of those households maintained housing.
• Medical Respite
  • This program provides short-term housing for those who are homeless and in need of bed rest.
  • Last year this program served 55 individuals in 50 households; 60% of the households served are now in stable housing or have a housing plan.
• Family Outreach
  • This program provides comprehensive case management services to families not consistently using the overnight sites.
  • Last year this program served 130 people, including 81 children in 40 households; 68% of households are now in stable housing.

“We are proud of the progress we are making to assist people in moving from a pad on the floor to a key in the door at a faster rate.

We recognize more is to be done, but we are encouraged by this improvement, which is made possible by our community of supporters,” Carol Simler, DuPagePads President & CEO.