Programs & Services
Bridge Communities Transitional Housing Program
Bridge Communities provides a holistic program of services that provide the necessary elements to create permanent change in the lives of homeless families in DuPage County.
The strength of the Bridge Communities Program is in the positive relationship that develops between the client families and their volunteer mentors.
Serving DuPage County - one page service and program overview
Are you eligible to become a Bridge Communities client?
All Bridge Communities applicants must meet ALL the following criteria to be eligible to apply for the program:
Housing Eligibility Criteria
• Be homeless or at-risk
• Have a connection to DuPage County
• Be an adult(s) over the age of 21 with one or more child(ren) under the age of 18
• Have a valid driver’s license by time of program entry
• Pass criminal background check
• Secure income by time of program entry
Program Suitability Criteria
• Demontrate an ability, desire and commitment to work full-time on a consistent basis
• Have no active substance abuse issues
• Maintain stabilization of symptoms of any mental illness(es)
• Demonstrate the ability and desire to work openly and cooperatively with volunteers and staff
• Exhibit motivation and commitment to improve behaviors related to finances
* If you do not meet all of the above criteria, please call the DuPage County Department of Community Services Information and Referral at 630-407-6500 for additional resources.
To apply for the Bridge Communities Transitional Housing Program
Please call (630) 545-0610 ext. 1 or email intake@bridgecommunities.org
Application Process
To be considered for Bridge’s Transitional Housing Program, a homeless parent must complete:
• Telephone application
• Several in-person interviews/assessments with staff
• Telephone assessments
• In-person interview with sponsoring faith/community group, who will make the final decision of acceptance
In Bridge Communities, clients agree to:
• Drug testing
• Criminal background check
• Being open about finances
• Weekly meetings with mentors
• Goal setting and striving
• Individual or family counseling
• Quarterly group meetings
• Cooperation with children’s services staff on issues involving children
• Cooperation with employment services staff
The following are some key elements of the Bridge Communities' Transitional Housing Program:
Housing: Client families reside in Bridge Communities owned apartment buildings that are spread throughout DuPage County. They are located in the communities of: Glen Ellyn, Addison, Glendale Heights, Naperville, Westmont, and Woodridge. The apartments are primarily two-bedroom units, although there are a few three-bedroom units in inventory. Families are in the Transitional Housing Program for an average of two years.
Mentoring: Volunteer mentors from Program Partners sponsor and assist the client families as they work to develop the life-skills necessary for self-sufficiency. Mentors help families with: budget development and savings plan, debt reduction, financial literacy, self-esteem, emotional support, parental skills, and healthy decision-making.
Case Management: Bridge Communities' professional case managers are available to assist mentors and client families in accessing resources that are important for families to achieve their individual goals. Case managers lead client families and volunteer mentors through the development of short-term and long-term Program goals that the case managers closely monitor.
Employment Counseling: Bridge Communities' employment director assists client families in securing and maintaining employment that will sustain their economic self-sufficiency upon graduation from the Transitional Housing Program. Job readiness training, resume writing, and mock interviewing are some of the counseling services offered. The employment director also helps client families gain acceptance into local universities, colleges, and training centers. Once meaningful employment is secured, client families and the employment director focus on job retention and further employment training to continue to increase income.
Tutoring and Children's Services: Professional staff assesses each child upon entry into the program to determine educational, emotional, developmental, and social needs. Since homelessness disrupts the continuity of school attendance, Bridge Communities provides professional certified teachers to tutor all school-age children. Tutors work in conjunction with the child's school to ensure Illinois education standards are being met. Bridge Communities is especially interested in helping homeless children succeed so as to break the generational cycle of poverty. Post-secondary counseling and resources are given to all high-school-aged children along with academic scholarships to accredited colleges or universities.
Counseling Resources: At times, client families need additional resources to help cope with life stressors or ongoing emotional issues. To help, Bridge partners with community-based psychological services for short or long term counseling. These services are available for both parents and children.
Car Donations: Families facing homelessness often come into our Transitional Housing Program in need of reliable transportation to help them get to their jobs and take their children to child care or school. Bridge Communities solicits auto donations from persons in our communities; all cars are checked for safety before being given to client families.
Nutrition Services: Goals of the nutrition program are to educate each family on the basics of healthy eating, provide the tools and skills necessary to plan, shop for, and cook healthy and delicious meals on a budget, and inspire a path to well-being for every family member.