In 1979, when a man freezes to death on the streets of Uptown, a group of neighborhood residents respond with a commitment to provide emergency overnight shelter for homeless men and women. Their commitment to prevent any further tragedies was the beginning of REST.
Today, REST provides shelter, permanent housing and social service programs to hundreds of homeless men and women each day. Since its inception, REST has sheltered tens of thousands of individuals and placed thousands of people into housing.
Mission
REST works collaboratively to provide safe, quality, permanent and emergency housing options and supportive social services to adult men and women who are homeless in Chicago. REST assists these individuals to develop their employment and life skills to achieve the transition to independent living.
REST is committed to:
An individual’s right to housing.
The dignity of individuals and their right to freedom of choice when fully informed of options.
The diversity of individuals, including the need for a diverse staff, board, volunteer base and community with resulting talents and resources from which REST can benefit.
The sharing of knowledge and experience and working cooperatively with service providers and others to more effectively address the problems of homelessness.
The participation in and cooperation with local communities and organizations to inform others about the causes of homelessness and to advocate for solutions.
History
Since 1979, REST has grown steadily to become one of the more comprehensive social service agencies for homeless men and women in Chicago. A brief history is as follows:
1979
When a bitter winter evening during the famous “Blizzard of 79” claims the life of a Chicago homeless man, residents of the Uptown neighborhood take action and form “Residents for Emergency Shelter” (REST). Created and run by volunteers, REST provides a safe place for 60 homeless men and women to sleep during the winter months.
1981
REST is officially incorporated as a not-for-profit, tax-exempt organization.
1982
REST opens a second shelter with 40 beds for women, while the first shelter is converted to an all-men’s shelter. This brings REST’s total beds to 100.
1984
Services expand to include on-site counseling and housing assistance.
1992
Health Professionals establish the RESTCARE Clinic to provide weekly medical services.
1993
REST begins its housing program by renting 75 apartments on the North Side. This housing program is for disabled persons, who are REST’s most vulnerable clients.
1994
REST becomes open 365 days a year.
1995
REST opens a third shelter for men. The new shelter, called the “Warming Center”, is open to 65 men per night.
1997
REST changes its name to “Residents for Effective Shelter Transitions.”
2000
REST opens an early-evening drop-in facility, called the “Support Center,” that offers 160 men and women a safe place to go from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.
2003
REST expands its operations to become a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week operation, thus ensuring that its clients have a safe place to be all of the time. This is a major step in the transformation of REST’s shelters into Interim Housing. To reflect this change, REST shortens its name to become known as simply, “REST.”
2004
REST expands its Permanent Supportive Housing Program to 100 apartments. REST also adds two new case managers in the continuing evolution towards Interim Housing.
2005
REST celebrates its 25 anniversary of offering service to Chicago’s homeless adults.
