St. Leo Residence

Located at 7750 South Emerald Avenue in the Auburn Gresham community of Chicago, the St. Leo Residence consists of 141 furnished studio apartments. In order to create a comfortable, supportive atmosphere, the Residence offers expansive common recreational space, a fitness room, and multipurpose meeting rooms. These rooms can be used for a variety of community meetings such as veteran-specific issues, Alcoholics Anonymous, and Narcotics Anonymous. An on-site library and computer lab with internet access provide residents with invaluable resources for employment, health care, and housing. The building is equipped with an elevator, laundry facilities and the front desk is monitored 24 hours a day. St. Leo Residence is sponsored by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago and operated by the Catholic Charities Housing Development Corporation.

While at the Residence, veterans receive case management assistance to help coordinate the array of services that are located within the Residence, nearby at the Clinic and Resource Center, and throughout the community. A housing resource specialist also is available to develop private market housing relationships, provide follow-up, and ease community integration. Residents are encouraged to access the adjacent outpatient medical and employment programs operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Clinic also houses employment services from the U.S. Department of Labor, as well as counseling from the Veterans Resource Center.

With a continuum of health care, supportive social services and employment resources, residents receive comprehensive services that enable them to maintain their dignity and improve their quality of life. Agency case managers act as the bridge between services and housing to ensure a continuity of care. The innovative integration of services helps to stabilize and improve the lives of formerly homeless veterans. They leave the long-term transitional housing facility with restored self-sufficiency and a renewed sense of pride.

By helping veterans transition from homelessness to permanent housing and long-term employment, Catholic Charities provides a model partnership program aimed at eradicating homelessness for veterans. By utilizing best practices and involving the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Veterans Resource Center, and a faith-based community, all needed elements for self-sufficiency are geographically connected.

St. Leo is designed for people who meet the following requirements:

1. Must be 18 years of age or older
2. Resident must be able to care for him/herself with or without services
3. The maximum household size is one person in a studio (single) unit
4. Preference is given to applicants who verify that they are homeless veterans
5. Applicants are required to provide information regarding income, assets, and expenses
6. Applicants are required to sign releases for 3rd party verifications
7. Applicants agree to maintain sobriety while living at St. Leo Residence
8. Rents are $310 and $325. Limited site based subsidy is available through CHAC, the Chicago Housing Choice Voucher Program, for those who are eligible
9. After initial occupancy, annual recertification of income, assets, and medical deductions will take place

For more information on the application process for Catholic Charities' St. Leo Residence, call (773) 651-9950.