Chicago Family Shelter 2026–27: How to Get Placed Through 311 and Shield of Hope
If your family needs a place to stay tonight in Chicago, the first step is simple: call 311 and ask for shelter. The city's Shelter Transport and Response (STAR) Program runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It tracks open shelter beds, matches families to them, and provides transportation.
Families also have a walk-in option: the Salvation Army Shield of Hope (also called the Emergency Homeless Assessment and Response Center, or EHARC) on the West Side.
This guide explains how the process works, what to expect, and how to avoid losing your place in line.
Last checked October 2026. Shelter capacity changes daily. Call 311 for current information.
Step 1: Call 311
Call 311, or (312) 744-5000 from outside Chicago or if 311 doesn't connect. Tell the operator your family is unsheltered and you need shelter.
The Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness says to be ready to share:
Names of everyone in your household
Contact information, a phone number you will answer
Your current location
Your household size
Write down your Service Request Number (SRN). You'll get one with each request. Use it whenever you call back.
Step 2: What STAR Does Next
The Chicago Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) explains the process. Since January 2026, DFSS has run STAR with the nonprofit A Safe Haven.
311 sends your request to the STAR team.
STAR may send a team to do a well-being or crisis check if needed and start coordinating a placement.
Once a bed is found, STAR gives you pick-up and drop-off transportation to the shelter.
STAR manages the city's real-time shelter-bed inventory and coordinates placements for all populations. DFSS says it funds over 3,000 shelter beds at 50 facilities.
Step 3: Stay Reachable While You Wait
This is where many families lose their spot. The Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness advises:
Answer when they call back. After three unsuccessful attempts to reach you, your SRN expires, and you have to start over.
Stay at the address you gave 311 if possible, so the team can find you.
Know when beds open up. Shelters usually count available beds around 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. every day.
Expect a wait. Capacity is limited, and waits can be days or weeks.
Follow up. If you haven't heard back within a few days, call 311 with your SRN to check your status or update your location.
Keep your phone charged. If you can, ask a friend or relative to be a backup contact.
Walk-In Option: Salvation Army Shield of Hope (EHARC)
924 N. Christiana Ave., Chicago, IL 60651
DFSS says families who need a safe place to wait for shelter can go to Shield of Hope to receive:
Shelter placement
Diversion (help finding a safe alternative to shelter)
Other specialized support
The Coalition notes that walk-ins for families are permitted. Shield of Hope offers temporary accommodations until a family is referred to the program that best meets its needs.
Who counts as a family? The Coalition defines a family as a unit with at least one child under 18.
Single adults go elsewhere. The Shelter Placement and Resource Center (SPARC) at 2241 S. Halsted St. serves single adults only. DFSS directs families with children to 311 instead.
Other Ways to Ask for Help
Hospitals, fire stations, and police stations: The Coalition says you can tell staff there that you're homeless and need shelter.
Warming and cooling centers: STAR also connects people to warming and cooling centers. Ask 311.
Domestic Violence, Youth, and Suburbs
Fleeing domestic violence: Call the 24/7 hotline run by The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence, at (877) 863-6338 (877-TO-END-DV).
Young adults 18 to 24: The Coalition recommends the Streetlight app or website for shelter and resources.
Under 18 and alone: Under Illinois law, shelters for families, young adults, and adults can't serve unaccompanied minors. Contact a Comprehensive Community Based Youth Service (CCBYS) agency, available 24/7 at 1-877-870-2663.
Outside the city:
Suburban Cook County: South Suburban PADS, 877-426-6515, 950 W. 175th St., Homewood
DuPage County: Centralized intake at (630) 407-6500 or (800) 942-9412, weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
What to Bring
No official city list was available, but bring what you can:
Photo ID for adults and birth certificates or other records for children
Medications, prescriptions, and any medical equipment
School records and any benefit letters (SNAP, Medicaid, SSI)
Phone and charger
A few changes of clothes per person, diapers and formula if needed
If you're missing documents, don't wait to call. Shelter staff can often help you replace them.
Questions to Ask Once You're Placed
Rules and services differ from shelter to shelter. Asking early helps you plan.
What are the curfew and check-in rules? Missing them can affect your bed.
Is there a case manager, and when can we meet? Case managers can connect you to housing programs, benefits, and job help.
How long can we stay, and what's expected of us during that time?
Where can we store belongings, and what aren't we allowed to bring?
Are meals provided, and what about food for babies or special diets?
How do we get kids to school from here?
What happens if our situation changes, such as a new job or a housing offer?
Write down the shelter's address, phone number, and your case manager's name, and keep them with your SRN.
Keeping Kids in School
Moving into shelter doesn't have to mean changing schools. Chicago Public Schools runs a Students in Temporary Living Situations (STLS) program. Ask your child's school office or the CPS main line at 773-553-1000 about support for students without stable housing.
Before You Lose Your Home
If you're facing eviction but haven't lost housing yet, act early. Shield of Hope offers diversion. You can also contact a local nonprofit for rent help before a crisis becomes homelessness. See our Chicago guides below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 311 really the way to get family shelter in Chicago?
Yes. DFSS says residents should call 311 to request shelter and STAR services, which are available 24/7, including holidays.
Can we just show up at a family shelter?
Families can walk in at Shield of Hope, 924 N. Christiana Ave. Other shelter placements are coordinated through 311 and STAR.
How long will we wait?
There's no guaranteed time. The Coalition warns waits may be days or weeks. Stay reachable and call back with your SRN.
What if I miss the callback?
After three missed attempts, your SRN expires and you need to call 311 again.
Does SPARC take families?
No. SPARC is for single adults. Families should call 311 or go to Shield of Hope.
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