Current Expanded Mental Health Services Programs (EMHSPs)
NEAR SOUTHWEST SIDE (Little village, pilsen, mckinley park, bridgeport, armour square) (est. 2024)
The effort to create the Near Southwest Side EMHSP began in the summer of 2023 with a positive community response to the program due to a high need for accessible mental health services. Residents of the Near Southwest Side were eager to organize and get a head start on gathering signatures so that the community would have the opportunity to vote to establish an EMHSP in their neighborhoods. With the culmination of two summers work, residents and interns collected over 6,400 signatures to place two binding referendum questions on the ballot for the elections of 2024. The community worked tirelessly for months leading up to the election and on November 5th, voted to approve a Near Southwest Side EMHSP with 79% of the vote!
Englewood-Greater Chatham (west englewood, englewood, auburn gresham, chatham, greater grand crossing, avalon park) (est. 2024)
Residents of Englewood-Greater Chatham have been hard at work since 2023 to reconstruct the lack of mental health resources in the community. As the community learned about this initiative , they begin organizing and gathering signatures in order to establish an expanded mental health services program to begin addressing the mental health needs of their community. They were ecstatic when they broke the record for signatures ever collected by one of our programs when they submitted over 10,980 signatures to the Chicago Board of Election in August 2024! The excitement continued into their Fall Campaign which came to an end with 91% of votes in favor of creating their own EMHSP.
Southeast EMHSP (Kenwood, hyde park, woodlawn, south shore) (est.2022)
As Chicago began to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic in the summer 0f 2021, it became clear to residents of the Southeast area that a lack of mental health resources was a pressing issue for the community. As the community opened up, residents were ready to begin organizing and gathering signatures in order to establish an expanded mental health services program to begin addressing the mental health needs of Southeast Chicago.
The Southeast community was able to approve their EMHSP program in November of 2022 with a 93% vote! The highest percentage approval one of our programs has ever been approved with!
West Town-Humboldt Park EMHSP (est.2022)
The effort to create West Town and Humboldt Park began in the summer of 2021. The importance of mental health resources was highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and as vaccine distribution rolled out, residents of West Town and Humboldt Park were eager to organize and get a head start on gathering signatures so that the community has the opportunity to vote to establish an expanded mental health services program to meet its needs!
The WTHP approved their program in 2022 with 85% of the vote! They have now begun the process of looking for a provider and hope to sign with one in early 2025.
Bronzeville EMHSP (Near South Side, Douglas, Oakland, Grand Boulevard, Fuller Park) (Est. 2020)
The Bronzeville EMHSP was created in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Residents from across Bronzeville recognized the pressing need for expanded mental health services and began engaging with local residents to create the program. Over the course of the summer of 2020, residents and the Coalition’s Community Advocate Team gathered signatures while wearing PPE and remaining socially distanced. In November 2020, residents from across Bronzeville voted nearly 89% in favor of creating the program!
Logan Square, Avondale, and Hermosa EMHSP (Est. 2018)
In 2018, residents of the Logan Square, Avondale, and Hermosa (LSAH) communities voted to create Chicago’s third EMHSP. This program, approved by over 86% of voters, successfully gathered over 8,000 signatures from local residents and received the support of over 50 local community institutions.
In September 2020, the community successfully completed their LSAH Community Mental Health Needs Assessment. This document provides information on the mental health needs of the community.
LSAH communities had their Grand Opening in April of 2024 thanks to the hard work of dedicated community members. The LoSAH Center of Hope/LoSAH Centro de Esperanza has now begun giving services to the communities.
West side EMHSP (North Lawndale, East and West Garfield Park, Near West Side) (Est. 2016)
The West Side EMHSP effort was launched in 2015 with the program being approved by over 86% of voters in November 2016. Residents and leaders gathered over 10,000 (!) signatures and received the support of over 50 local institutions.
On October 15, 2019, the West Side’s new community mental health center, The Encompassing Center, first opened its doors and began providing services to residents!
If you live on the West Side and would like to learn more about your community’s center, click the button below!
North River EMHSP (Albany Park, Irving Park, North Park, Sauganash) (Est. 2012)
The North River EMHSP is the pioneering EMHSP. The program was passed in November 2012 with the support of 74% of voters in the community. The passage of this referendum marked a 10-year long effort by local residents that included three successful referendum campaigns, years of community outreach, and a dedication to fighting for expanded mental health services in these communities and across Chicago.
On October 30, 2014, The Kedzie Center opened its doors and began providing the first new public mental health services to residents of the North River community(not to be confused with River North). Since that time, thousands of residents have received services at the center and in community sessions throughout the neighborhood.
If you live in the North River Community and would like to learn more about your community’s center, click the button below!
