More than 3.5 million people experience a state of homelessness each year in the United States. With 35% of this population being families with children, and 23% U.S. military veterans, help must be given. This week we explore an organization and the relief they are bringing to the homeless.

This week we meet a husband and wife team that found a personal connection to helping the homeless population. They walk us through what started an organization that is now helping thousands across Chicagoland.

Here's a little history on their organization- A Safe Haven is a nationally recognized social business enterprise model that partners with non-for profit and for profit entities to provide a community-based, integrated, continuum of care and housing for individuals and families in financial crisis, homeless and drug/alcohol impacted populations. Founded in 1995, A Safe Haven provides services to over 5,000 individuals annually and over 70,000 people to date. This organization provides supportive housing, treatment, job training, job placement, access to healthcare, independent living and affordable housing throughout the Chicagoland area. Today, ASH has expanded into the development of affordable housing to meet the needs of those completing programs particularly women with children and Veterans. The “A Safe Haven Model” is proven to be a reliable leader in the fields of addiction, recovery management, homeless services, job training and placement and has earned high marks for attention to providing quality programs, stable delivery systems and coordinated community based outreach and programming. The A Safe Haven Model focuses on changing chronic homeless, incarceration and/or addictive lifestyle behavior and establishing self-sufficiency and independence for ASH residents in a sustainable manner.

Be sure to tune in Monday, November 14th at 6:30 on Lakeshore Public Television to see how this organization is helping Chicago, one person at time.

Homelessness In Our Cities