The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is deeply committed to addressing the needs of unsheltered individuals who use our trains and stations as temporary refuge. In partnership with the City’s Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS), the CTA has expanded its outreach efforts to provide compassionate, effective support services to unhoused passengers. This partnership includes vital referrals for temporary and permanent housing, mental health services, and substance-abuse treatment.
Through this collaborative effort, the CTA invests up to $2 million annually to enhance homeless outreach initiatives, particularly on the Red and Blue Lines. Trained outreach teams from DFSS-funded agencies, Haymarket and Thresholds, engage with unsheltered individuals on CTA property, helping to build trust and connect them with much-needed resources. These agencies work directly with clients to provide transportation to shelters and assessments and leverage their networks with housing and healthcare service providers to ensure appropriate care.
2023-2024 Outreach Impact
Last year alone, outreach teams engaged in 7,800 interactions with unhoused riders. Between January 2023 and July 2024, these CTA-funded efforts connected 88 people to housing and facilitated 220 shelter placements from the Red and Blue Lines. Furthermore, Accelerated Moving Events (AMEs) held in July 2023 and April 2024 helped house 37 people from CTA-specific outreach initiatives. AMEs streamline the housing process by allowing clients to view available units and submit applications in one event. Additionally, 51 more individuals supported by the CTA outreach teams successfully exited homelessness to secure stable or permanent housing through other programs outside of the AME process.
A Compassionate Approach to Addressing a Complex Issue
CTA recognizes that the presence of unsheltered individuals on our system can impact the overall customer experience. This is part of a larger social challenge that extends beyond public transit, and while our top priority remains delivering a safe and pleasant ride for all customers, we are also committed to treating these vulnerable individuals with compassion and dignity.
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Like many transit agencies, CTA has seen how the COVID-19 pandemic and Chicago’s extreme weather have exacerbated homelessness. To address this, we’ve partnered with social service providers, including the Night Ministry, to extend outreach, provide medical care, and offer additional support services to those in need. Our goal is to build stronger connections with community-based organizations and to secure local, state, and federal resources to expand these critical outreach and engagement efforts.
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