Special shelter hours, site closings

With a winter storm expected Thursday, our Casa Corazón program will be running 24/7 starting Thursday, Dec. 22. Our overnight youth shelters will be open round-the-clock, from Thursday evening to Tuesday morning (Dec. 22 - 27). Chicago Department of Family and Support Services requested overnight homeless shelters remain open due to severe weather.

Single youth ages 18 through 24 can stay at La Casa Norte's two shelters, 1940 N. California Ave. (5 beds) and 1736 W. 47th St. (15 beds). Our youth shelters open at 9 p.m.

Also, for young mothers with children, ages 18 through 24, can stay 24/7 at our pregnant and parenting shelter, 1942 N. California Ave. (5 parent beds, plus cribs). Doors open at 7 p.m.

At our two weekday youth drop-in centers, the 3533 W. North Ave. drop-in will be closed Friday, Dec. 23 and Monday, Dec. 26, reopening Tuesday, Dec. 27 through Thursday, Dec. 29 (9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.) The 1736 W. 47th drop-in will stay open regular weekday hours, Monday, Dec. 26 through Thursday, Dec. 29. Both drop-in centers will be closed on Friday, Dec. 30 and Monday, Jan. 2.

And next week, also at 3533 W. North, El Mercadito food pantry managed by Nourishing Hope will be open only on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Howard Brown Health clinic will be open next Tuesday, Dec. 27 through Thursday, Dec. 29.

La Casa Norte's Humboldt Park community center, 3533 W. North Ave., and our office at 2523 W. 47th St., will be closed for the holidays on Friday, Dec. 23, Monday, Dec. 26, Friday, Dec. 30 and Monday, Jan. 2. Both will open next Tuesday, Dec. 27 through Thursday, Dec. 29, resuming a regular weekday schedule on Tuesday, Jan. 3.

Many thanks to Roy Higgs and his dedicated Casa Corazón team for staffing La Casa Norte shelters round-the-clock to meet the needs of our unaccompanied youth.

- By Anne Bowhay