What kind of help and support you will likely need will vary greatly based on your level of education, familiarity with job hunting, severity of mental illness, if you have an unrelated disability, and other factors.
If you’re looking for work there are many agencies that will offer basic help with job goals, cover letters, resumes, and job applications. For some agencies, you may need to already be a client in order to get job hunting-related services, some agencies will bill DRS and use your Ticket to Work, and others will ask that you pay-out-of-pocket. Different agencies will also have different eligibility requirements based on categories like age, gender, disability-status and type, and annual income.
If you attended college, you might want to contact the career services and alumni departments of the school you took classes at. If that school is outside of Chicago, you might want to contact local colleges to see if they will offer you assistance through their reciprocity program.
This list is NOT comprehensive. If you know of any additional resources or have experience with any of the organizations I’ve listed, please let me know.
Anixter
2001 North Clybourn Avenue, Suite 302 (by Armitage El stop)
Chicago, IL 60614
http://www.anixter.org/employserv.htm
(773) 248-6500
M-F 8am-4pm
From website:
“Delivers a broad choice of vocational and employment services to assist people with disabilities to find and keep jobs in the community. Programming includes educational classes that discuss assimilation into workplace culture, job performance and development of coworker relationships. Also offers opportunities for individuals who have a degree, advanced training or technical skills on a professional level.”
Care Chicago (downtown) 773-265-3300
Catholic Charities 312-655-7506
Chicago Commons 773-826-0729
Chicago Workforce 773-334-4747
Goodwill Chicago
819 South Wabash Avenue, 4th Floor (by Harrison El – Red)
Chicago, IL 60605-2153
http://www.goodwillchicago.com
(312) 212-1290
Heartland Health Outreach
1207 W. Leland Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
http://www.heartlandalliance.org
773-751-4125
Location served: Uptown, Edgewater, Rogers Park
Target Populations Served: people with mental illness, homeless
Jobs For Youth
50 E. Washington, 4th Fl.
Chicago, IL 60602
http://www.jfychicago.org
312-499-4778
Serves Chicago and near suburbs
Free for low income youth, ages 17-24
Jewish Vocational Services
http://www.jvschicago.org
(773) 761 9000
Multiple locations in Chicago and some suburbs
You don’t need to be Jewish in order to receive services.
Neumann Association
http://www.neumannfamilyservices.org
(773) 506-3229
Helps people with mental and developmental disabilities
Sinai Community Institute
2653 W. Ogden
Chicago, IL 60608
http://www.sinai.org
773-257-5633
Thresholds
http://www.thresholds.org
(773) 572-5500
Multiple locations around Chicago
They have a supported employment program, but you will need to be a client of Thresholds before you can get on the waiting list to receive employment services.
CLOSED
Jane Addams Hull House
(updated from 2/5/10)
Enlightening the Darkness 