What is the Chicago Family Case Management Demonstration Project?

The Chicago Family Case Management Demonstration Project highlights what Heartland Human Care Services (HHCS) does best—provide comprehensive, innovative resources to the most vulnerable in our society in a way that garners meaningful results. Working with families in the Dearborn Homes and Madden/Wells Developments in Chicago public housing, the demonstration project shows that the right mix of services and the ability to develop lasting relationships gives families often thought too difficult to help a real path to self-sufficiency.

How was the project started?

In 2007, a partnership between the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA), HHCS, Housing Choice Partners, and the Urban Institute launched the three year demonstration project with funding support from the CHA, the John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

What makes the project unique?

Building a Real Relationship

Case managers work with fewer participants and work with them consistently. Rather than one case manager for every 55 participants, it is one for 25. Moreover, regardless of when and where a participant moves, they have the same case manager, allowing for continuity and stability.

Working with the Whole Family

Heartland understands that barriers for one family member are barriers for the entire family. All members of the household receive assistance in their areas of need, ensuring that the whole family is put on path to real success.

Different Needs, Different Approaches

Your life history, your age, your family composition—all of these factors help determine what type of supports you need to be successful. Heartland recognizes these differences and groups services and types of support to match the particular needs of the household.

One-Stop, Comprehensive Assistance

Access to work, treatment, financial education, and moving assistance are all part of the comprehensive set of supports available to the families Heartland works with. Providing this full compliment of services in-house ensures continuity in service delivery, integration of services, and, most importantly, that the family and its members are treated holistically and with dignity.

What are the results?

The demonstration project has met and exceeded expectations. The staff have increased engagement rates for participants by over 40% since it started in 2007, going up to over 90%. The final evaluation is still in process, but initial information on the vulneralbility of the families involved can be found in the the recent Urban Institute paper.

What's next?

The promising initial results from the demonstration project have brought national interest on how to replicate this work and apply its lessons. Heartland Alliance is advocating for unique approach to be integrated into new and exisitng programs that serve hard to house families in both the public housing setting and other federally-subsidized housing programs.

To learn more about the project and our advocacy efforts, contact Heartland Alliance's Policy and Advocacy team.

Downloads

• Chicago Case Management Demonstration Project Fact Sheet (pdf)
• Recommendations to Housing & Urban Development for the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative (pdf)
• Report: Developing a New Model for Serving "Hard to House" Public Housing Families (pdf)
• Report: Inclusive Public Housing: Services for the Hard to House
• Audio from the Panel Discussion on the Chicago Family Case Management Demonstration Project