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Renaissance is accredited by CARF International. CARF International accreditation demonstrates a program’s quality, transparency, and commitment to the satisfaction of the persons served. CARF International is an independent, nonprofit accreditor of health and human services.1
Office: 773-645-8900 Need housing? Call 311
What We Do
At Renaissance, our aim is to prevent homelessness among those who are at risk and help build stronger communities by fostering residential stability. We find safe and secure housing, linked with supportive services, to help our participants build self-sufficiency and lead healthier lives.
Homeless Prevention
Renaissance prevents homelessness in Chicago by providing short term, emergency funds to people at risk of losing their homes. We provide payment vouchers for urgent financial hardships, such as car repairs or unexpected medical bills, which could result in missed rent payments and end in homelessness.
On-Site Services for Affordable Housing Developers
Renaissance has almost 25 years of experience in the provision of on-site case management and supportive services to residents in affordable housing developments. Renaissance has
• Expertise in serving the housing needs of homeless individuals and families
• Expertise in delivering Housing First, Harm Reduction, and Low Barrier housing
• Expertise in behavioral health and stabilization services
• Expertise in providing services to IDHA funded developments
• Expertise in serving Re-Entry populations
Renaissance works with multiple developers across Chicago delivering these support services to assure tenant stability and community integration for underserved populations living in affordable housing developments. If you would like to learn more about how Renaissance can partner with you to help you get your development funded and to serve your housed residents, please contact Michael Banghart, Executive Director, at mbanghart@rssionline.org.
Permanent Supportive Housing
Renaissance Social Services partners with landlords across Chicago to provide safe and affordable housing for its participants. Along with housing, participants receive a range of supportive services to help them stabilize and move towards the greatest degree of autonomy possible.
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Health Services
To help participants move towards the greatest degree of stability possible, Renaissance provides critical behavioral health services. Through Community Support Services, including (CST) and (CSI) services, the agency's clinical case managers work with participants to help them understand and address behavioral health issues that are impediments in their lives. This includes Harm Reduction, Trauma Informed Care, and Recovery Support Services.
Primary healthcare needs are addressed through partnerships with Rush Medical systems and other community partners to provide home visiting nursing services. These services provide health assessments, health education, wounds care, vaccinations, and other preventative health services.
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Street Outreach
As a partner in the City of Chicago's Flexible Housing Pool (FHP), Renaissance conducts Street Outreach to engage with chronically homeless individuals and families targeted for housing by the FHP. Street Outreach staff build trust with those on the street and in shelters and assist them in getting enrolled in the FHP and into housing.
The Living Room
Renaissance's Living Room Program provides mental health crisis respite in a safe, inviting, home-like atmosphere. Services are confidential, free and provided by trained recovery support specialists. Currently, because of COVID-19, these services are delivered in-person & virtually, 7days/week, 8am- midnight (phone, text, online at www.renaissancelivingroom.org).
Rapid Re-Housing
As a part of the city's Expedited Housing Initiative, Renaissance operates a Rapid Re-Housing program. This program focuses on helping individuals who have become homeless yet are capable of returning to housing independence with short-term housing and support services from Renaissance. The program provides short-term housing and intensive case management that focuses on building individuals' strengths so that they can quickly return to self-stability and housing independence.
Support Services for Participants
Renaissance maintains ongoing relationships with participants to ensure they are able to stay in their homes. This includes helping them to acquire mainstream benefits (SNAP, TANF, SSI, etc.), manage public transportation, find employment, learn how to maintain their homes (including paying rent, cooking, cleaning, and managing conflicts), create and manage budgets, get support for their children's education, etc.
Nursing Home Diversion Services
Renaissance has opened a new Nursing Home Diversion housing program for adults here in Chicago. Housing and support services are provided so that adults that have experienced a mental health crisis can remain in a community-based setting as they prepare to transition to longer-term, permanent community-based housing. While living in this housing, residents receive support services to address their health, recovery, and community engagement needs.
Housing Liaison Services
Renaissance Social Services is part of a new effort called the Expedited Housing Initiative. This initiative is Chicago's response to helping the homeless attain housing during the COVID-19 crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced Renaissance and all organizations serving the homeless to innovate. The goal of the Expedited Housing Initiative is to house at least 1,250 homeless people at risk for dying from COVID if they become infected in the next 9 - 12 months. This is a significant increase in effort at a time when everything was slowed down dramatically.
Renaissance provides Housing Liaison services to the Expedited Housing Initiative. Housing Liaisons hold Accelerated Moving Events across the city, with a focus on areas with a high concentration of homeless, to identify, qualify, and quickly house those at high risk. Renaissance will work collaboratively with other organizations that will be working with landlords to ensure people are moved into a new home and have the basic needs required to live autonomously.