Non-Congregate Shelter Project @ 1140 W Wilson – Cornerstone Community Outreach

Update March 1, 2024:
We are grateful for all the support Cornerstone has received from everyone in pursuing a location alongside the Department of Housing and Department of Family & Support Services to create non-congregate shelter for individuals experiencing homelessness in Chicago.

Part of that work was to go before the Department of Planning and Development Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), to request Special Use Zoning to convert 1140 W Wilson building to shelter. During the meeting there were some commercial businesses and neighborhood residents that opposed having a shelter in the area, and some opposed to the request being made on that day, asking for more time to work out their objections.

Due to the time constrictions on the project, the hearing moved forward, and after over four hours of cross-examination and discussion, the ZBA was split on their vote to grant the Special use, and the request did not pass. Due to that, Cornerstone is not pursuing 1140 W Wilson as a possible site, and is working on other sites for that program.

What each of us can do is to continue to support Cornererstone’s ongoing operations, and stay tuned! Cornerstone is still working toward the same objective, and as new opportunities arise, we will continue to keep you updated.

Cornerstone Community Outreach is a grantee partner of the City of Chicago’s Non-Congregate Shelter Acquisition Program, and is proposing to acquire the property 1140 W. Wilson Ave in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago, complete targeted updates and renovations, and transition their existing shelter program operations to the site upon completion.