• • Lazarus House serves men, women and children. It is the only shelter available in the Tri-Cities area and western rural Kane County.
  • Lazarus House provides a variety of services through its three main programs:
    1. The Emergency Shelter (with a Women and Children’s Day Center)
    2. The Center for Transitional Living
    3. The Outreach/Homeless Prevention Program

These programs, and the support of more than 50 social service agencies, help provide the specific services needed by each person and family. At Lazarus House professional staff assist homeless persons and those at risk of homelessness in assessing their needs and developing goals to retain or regain their independence.

• The unique cornerstone of Lazarus House is our focus on case management. Our shelter does not close its doors and ask guests to leave each morning. Rather, for those who do not leave for employment or school, our guests remain with us allowing our professional Case Managers to partner and work with them to address each person’s unique needs, assess for appropriate services and coordinate with our network of over 50 other service providers in meeting those needs.
• A national effort is in place to create community-based Continuums of Care. A Continuum of Care is a community plan to deliver housing and services to meet the specific needs of people who are homeless as they move to stable housing and maximum self-sufficiency.
• In addition, the State of Illinois Comprehensive Housing Plan identifies priorities for the development of affordable housing and related supportive services for those most in need. The plan identifies very low-income households, low-income senior citizens, low-income persons with disabilities, and the homeless as its four top priority areas. Lazarus House serves these four groups. Having emergency shelter, transitional housing and homeless prevention provides a unique and cost effective continuum of solutions to the varied problems of homelessness.

• Administrative expenses in fiscal year 2023 were 5.5%. However, if volunteer time and food donations were taken into account on our financial statements the overhead would be less.
• Administrative expenses in fiscal year 2022 were 4.7%. However, if volunteer time and food donations were taken into account on our financial statements the overhead would be less.
• Administrative expenses cover: planning and managing the growth and variety of programs offered; obtaining added funding from foundations, government agencies, businesses, and individuals; complying with the increased financial complexity of grant making institutions.

Please see our About page to learn more about our organization.

Lazarus House is a gift from God, people of all faiths or no faith are welcome. Faith group is offered but not required.

• Lazarus House receives funding from several different sources at the Federal, State and local levels.
• Federal Government Grants include U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
• The Illinois Department of Human Services provides us with funding at the State level for Rental Assistance, Homeless Youth and general operating purposes. Other State level funding comes from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the Illinois Housing Development Authority.
• Local community funding comes through several sources including the St. Charles, Geneva and Batavia Community Chest/United Ways, 708 Mental Health Boards, several Foundation Grants, and numerous churches and individual contributions.

Donations may be dropped off at the main entrance between the hours of 8 am and 8 pm any day.

• We estimate that about 1,900 volunteers assist the program each year with over 18,000 hours of labor. They prepare and serve meals, or assist our staff with operational and administrative support, and on a variety of special projects.
• The food provided at Lazarus House, over 4,650 meals each month, is donated by churches, individuals and local businesses.
• More than 40 churches or community groups provide volunteers in any given month.
• Lazarus House has received the Illinois Governor’s Hometown Award, recognizing the impact of volunteerism on the community.

The average number of persons served per night (on a calendar year basis) increased from 28 in fiscal year 1999 to 63 in fiscal year 2009, an all-time high. In fiscal year 2023, the average number of guests was 27. 

Every new guest is asked to read a guest handbook, sign a guest agreement and encouraged to set goals and work with their case manager. As long as they are keeping the agreement, making progress on their goals and working with their case manager; it is expected by the end of six months, guests have either moved to independent housing, have moved to the Center for Transitional Housing or have become enrolled in one of of the Homeless Prevention programs.

• To qualify to stay at in the CTL, the person must be a guest in the Emergency Shelter, have income, and be participating in case management
• Qualifying guests will have a semi-private sleeping room for which they pay modest rent (10% of their income, which helps cover the cost of housing and utilities).
• Guests can stay in the CTL for up to two years, provided they consistently follow their occupancy agreement. During this period they are provided strong case management to help them address their barriers to independent housing and to support them in returning to successful independent living in permanent housing.

• Assess the reason for homelessness.
• Coach guests to develop and successfully implement a plan to address their barriers.
• Link guests to needed services in the community and to federal and state programs, including access to mental health and substance abuse services if indicated.
• Help secure transportation and transport guests to appointments as needed.
• Provide budget and credit advice.
• Provide guidance, caring, and encouragement.

• The goal of Homeless Prevention Services is to offer assistance, such as rental/utility assistance, and referrals to those in need in our community in order to prevent homelessness and support the well being of individuals and their families.
• Lazarus House staff have always tried to assist people who call for help. In 2006, Lazarus House expanded and formalized its outreach by hiring dedicated staff to handle the increased demand for these services. Grants have financed a portion of increased staff costs and all of the rental subsidy payments. Other staff continue to assist with this program as needed.
• With expanded resources, Lazarus House works with at-risk households to identify their needs. The Homeless Prevention staff offer case management, financial counseling, and referral services. Households that meet grant criteria can apply for and obtain one-time or ongoing rental assistance. To date this program has been an important help to enable qualifying low-income persons to obtain or retain housing in the community.
• In 2008, we opened the Community Resource Center at 308 Walnut Street, which provides more convenient street-level access for our Homeless Prevention Services.
• In 2019, Homeless Prevention Services moved into office space in the 214 Walnut Street building, with its own designated entrance.

Results from fiscal year 2023 include the following results for those homeless persons with specific needs:

• 92% have actively engaged in weekly, in-depth case management
• 84% have engaged in meaningful, necessary support for wellness needs
• 80% have learned to navigate local & government resources
• 77% have increased income
• 75% have obtained basic needs and support for life skills development

Case management focused especially on enhancing income, employment, skill development, budgeting and in-house training, including basic technology training and internet access, and the skills needed to one day live independently in permanent housing.

The Women and Children’s Day Center provides a homelike space for homeless women and children to use from morning until bedtime. Its goal is to provide an appropriate setting for women and children to focus on and achieve their goals. The center includes a living room area, dining room, kitchen area, children’s play area, washroom facilities that include 2 showers and a bath, laundry facilities and a fenced outdoor play area. Case managers meet and follow up with women to assess their needs and create an action plan to address those needs. Life skills and classes geared toward women and children’s needs are held regularly- using Lazarus House staff and external experts.

• Education staff plans and delivers a learning curriculum in conjunction with volunteers from agencies and businesses in the community to address the diverse needs of our guests.
• Classes are available for guests of both the CTL and Emergency Shelter as well as those at risk of homelessness in our community.