Alexian Brothers Bonaventure House
Cause Area
- Health & Medicine
- Homeless & Housing
- LGBTQ+
Location
825 West Wellington AvenueChicago, IL 60657 United StatesOrganization Information
Mission Statement
The mission of Bonaventure House is to provide supportive housing and comprehensive services to people living with HIV/AIDS who recently were either homeless or in danger of becoming homeless. Our work is guided by the Alexian Brothers values of providing care, compassion and dignity for those who have been living at the margins of society.
Description
Bonaventure House, founded in 1989 to combat the twin tragedies of AIDS and homelessness, is a residence located on the North Side of Chicago which serves men and women living with HIV/AIDS. Between Bonaventure House and The Harbor, our second site in Waukegan, IL, we have served approximately 1500 residents in a span of just over twenty-five years. In the early days of the epidemic, Bonaventure House provided a place where people could come to die with some measure of dignity and love. As the disease evolved and treatments improved, it became a place where people come not to die, but to live.
Today, Bonaventure House is a two-year transitional living program that focuses on residents becoming independent and self-sufficient. In addition to having the HIV or AIDS diagnosis, the people we serve are homeless and struggle with a host of challenges including substance abuse and other mental health issues. We serve our residents through a variety of innovative programs including case management, recovery services, occupational therapy, spiritual care and after care. Seventy percent of our residents graduate to independent living within a 24 month stay at the house.