Hours of operation
SJOM opened its doors 27 years ago on March 19, 1981 when founder Fr. David Staszak responded to the growing need of homeless people coming to the church rectory asking for a place to sleep.
He began SJOM as an emergency shelter in the heart of Chicago’s Pilsen community with the belief that all individuals should have a suitable place to live and the opportunity to make a better life for themselves.
After a devastating fire destroyed the first program site, Fr. David was able to raise $300,000 to reopen the mission.
It is with the tenacity and vision first displayed by its founder that SJOM continues to grow and progress its services and mission to support the changing needs of the homeless population.
In the fall of 1999 SJOM converted its emergency shelter to a more service-intensive residential program. It transitioned again in 2003 and continues today as an interim housing program, following the Chicago Alliance to End Homelessness’ Strategic Plan, Getting Housed, Staying Housed.
This means that today, SJOM works within the City’s plan to end homelessness in Chicagoland by offering 34 participants at any given time 24-hour living accommodations and an individualized program of case management, career coaching, life skills training, referral and follow-up services within a community.
SJOM’s services are offered on a non-discriminatory basis to men of all races, religions, sexual orientation, and national origins. However, because the agency is in a predominantly Latino community, an important focus is to meet the cultural and language needs of Spanish-speaking persons.
Our services
All services offered by SJOM are within a safe, community setting. Our clean, attractive facilities were recently renovated and freshly painted in the spring of 2008. Continue…
Participants feel welcomed and supported while staying at SJOM, and because of the residential services offered, find hope as they are able to focus their efforts on reaching greater self-sufficiency. Continue…
Medical providers from Rush Hospital visit SJOM’s facilities twice a month to offer their expert services. Continue…
Whether their current homelessness is accompanied by other challenges and struggles, or not, the anxieties that come from being without housing can be overwhelming for anyone. Continue…
Interested in working with us? Have an idea for a program or activity? Want to use your resources, connections, and skills to serve others? Share your talents and time alongside SJOM staff while you get to know SJOM participants as a volunteer! Continue…
41.8562125
-87.6612789
San Jose Obrero Mission
1856 S. Loomis
Chicago, IL 60608
Posted in Community organizations
