The Chicago Transit Authority has extended funding to support unsheltered riders through 2028, providing Haymarket Center’s Outreach Team with resources to continue critical outreach and intervention for high-need individuals on the CTA Blue Line.
On August 12, the Chicago Transit Board approved changes to the funding structures for homeless outreach on CTA trains as part of an overall expansion of supports for people on public transit who are in crisis. For the past three years, Haymarket outreach workers have made nearly 40,000 contacts with people experiencing homelessness. During these contacts, teams provide food, clothing, and hygiene supplies, while also connecting individuals to case management, mental health services, and substance use treatment. They also provide lifesaving resources, including Narcan and fentanyl test strips. Through these outreach efforts, 200 individuals have been successfully placed into stable or permanent housing.