Center on Halsted

Programs

1. HIV Services: The Testing & Prevention Services department provided 2,977 units of service to 1,229 clients in FY '25. Units of service include HIV/HCV testing, PrEP Navigation and Care Coordination, which in FY '25 included: distribution of Aldi, VISA, and Jewel gift cards, transportation assistance, Behavioral Health referrals, re-engagement into care, appointment setting assistance/appointment reminders, emergency shelter referrals, hygiene/personal wellness referral, benefits application assistance, HIV+ support group referrals, AVP referral, medication adherence counseling, Emergency Financial Assistance application completion, employment services referrals, legal referrals, ADAP application assistance, immigration assistance referrals, housing assistance and help with PrEP billing issues in addition to linkage to medical care and/or case management just to name a few. Services were also provided in Spanish. HIV/STI services were implemented at Center on Cottage Grove and Steamworks.

   $1,640,100 spent
   28% of program spending

2. Youth Services: The Youth Department provides youth ages 13-24 two main program opportunities: the general Youth Program and the Youth Housing Program Initiative, described in greater detail below. Within both of these programs, youth are provided a variety of support and developmental resources including: case management; personalized individual intervention support; Anti-Violence support via the Youth Anti-Violence Advocate through a joint partnership with the Anti-Violence Program at Center on Halsted; Youth-specific Behavioral Health Support; special programming for leadership development; teen specific opportunities; and social and cultural programming.

   $1,129,941 spent$234,108 earned by the program
   19% of program spending

3. Behavioral Health Services: Behavioral Health Services offers individual, relationship, and family psychotherapy, therapy groups, and letters of support to access gender affirming surgeries. Behavioral Health staff assess and treat all mood and anxiety symptoms, substance use, provide critical support during traumatic periods, addresses issues pertaining to building healthy relationships, and supports healthy identities around sexual identities and gender identity/expression, and living with HIV/AIDS. In response to COVID-19 services were provided primarily through virtual sessions and groups.

   $876,492 spent$1,061,160 earned by the program
   15% of program spending

4. Youth Services:The Youth & Family Services Department provided service to individuals. Individuals who have registered with our program are youth who participated in our on-going youth groups (To Be Human, Trans Youth Group, & Lavender Living) our LGBTQ+ affirming Drop-In (After-School Hang), our Youth Advisory Board (Q+ Council), our Youth Horizons mentoring program, and drag education program (Dare 2 Drag).

   $870,725 spent
   15% of program spending

5. Senior Services:Senior Services began hosting providing a special quarterly lunch that is not provided by the City of Chicago in the prior year. These included a Labor Day grill out, a Valentine's Day special meal, a Memorial Day grill out and a pizza party. Senior Services continues to expand these special lunches in FY2025.The Intergenerational Dialog Project, in partnership with the School of the Art Institute, Town Hall Apartments.

   $716,559 spent
   12% of program spending

6. Culinary Arts Services: Center on Halsted has a strong history of job training, particularly since the opening of our current facility in 2007. Center on Halsted launched the Silver Fork Culinary Job Training Program in November 2010. This is the first professional culinary arts training at Center on Halsted designed specifically for underserved and at-risk adults. Silver Fork addresses short and long-term vocational needs, and ensures the successful outcomes of our community members while focusing on shortages within the Chicago employment market. Graduates of our Silver Fork program are trained and prepared to enter this growing workforce. In addition to cooking, the students take a Food Service Safety Management Certification course and those who pass have management level certification for Illinois and the City of Chicago. We also take the BASSET certification for serving alcohol in Illinois. We spend time writing resumes, role playing how to handle stressful situations, and offer job assistance. Additionally, we offer a mock interview workshop with industry professionals.

   $371,162 spent
   6% of program spending

7. Youth Housing Initiative:Youth Housing Program boasts a wonderful group of participants, and staff who have been working with the program for quite some time. Youth and staff have an overall great rapport.

   $326,911 spent
   6% of program spending

8. Volunteer Program:200 volunteers supported Center on Halsted this year at over 1,000 volunteer shifts, ranging from weekly programming to annual events- adding up to over 2,000 volunteer hours.Center on Halsted launched a new Volunteer Ambassador Committee, consisting of 17 volunteer leaders. The Volunteer Ambassador Committee will support Center on Halsted by giving tours, tabling events, coordinating volunteer events and outreach, and working closely with the Volunteer Manager to best meet the volunteer needs of the Center.Volunteers completed 140 hours of service, just during June 2025 alone.We welcomed 132 new volunteers in FY25.

The 8 programs described on its FY2024 Form 990, listed largest first by expense. Program spending in total: $5,931,890.