News

Mac’s Deli was recently featured on Good Day Chicago, highlighting the organization’s workforce training program and its impact on participants. During the segment, Dr. Lustig discussed the program’s mission of helping individuals develop valuable job skills and prepare for employment. He was joined by Greg, a recent Mac’s Deli graduate, who shared his personal experience and reflected on how the program has positively influenced his life.

Our President & CEO, Dr. Dan Lustig, was recently featured on CBS News to discuss the encouraging decline in opioid overdoses in Cook County.

Dr. Lustig emphasized that sustained progress requires continued investment in comprehensive, evidence-based behavioral health and public health programs. Government grant funding plays a vital role in supporting these initiatives by strengthening organizational capacity, expanding access to care, and fostering cross-sector collaboration. As funding landscapes evolve, maintaining predictable and sustainable support is critical to preserving these advances and meeting the ongoing needs of our communities.

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The committee and our Development Chair, Tanya Davis, brought a visionary artist, Portia Williams join us this year to lead the project. This year clients were asked to envision themselves, using a silhouette and other forms of media to share how they feel, what inspires them and how experiencing treatment has given them vision of who they can become. Every canvas was different, filled with color, words, textures and images that give you a window into their vision of themselves now and into recovery. The canvas on your table is the expression of those things, along with their personal written interpretation.

“I was at my lowest point. When my son chose to stay with his grandma, I realized you can fool everyone else, but the only ones you can’t fool are your kids. I knew something had to change.” – Melissa, former client

Founded in 1975 by the late Monsignor Ignatius McDermott and Dr. James West, Haymarket Center is the largest not-for-profit in Chicago providing treatment for substance use disorders, mental health, and primary care.  Our mission is clear: to aid people with substance use disorders in their recovery by providing comprehensive behavioral health solutions.

“The staff here genuinely care. They treat you like a person, not just an addict. They help you succeed, and they won’t let you give up on yourself,” Melissa reflects on her time at Haymarket Center.

Haymarket’s comprehensive, holistic approach to recovery, focusing on healing the whole person, not just addiction, gave Melissa the tools she needed to rebuild her life. From therapy and emotional support to practical help like navigating insurance and obtaining her birth certificate, Haymarket gave Melissa the foundation she needed to move forward with confidence.

Melissa shares, “Haymarket saved my life and gave me the tools I needed: recovery support, mental health care, and job training. They helped me find employment. That kind of support transforms your whole life. If you want to succeed, they’ll make sure you reach your goals.”

As Haymarket marks its 50th anniversary of integrated support, we honor both our journey and the road ahead. While we celebrate this milestone, we know that Melissa is just one of many countless individuals who still need the support we provide. Today, the need for our services has never been greater. With your help, we can continue to transform lives and write new stories of hope and healing.

Haymarket focuses on the whole person, offering comprehensive support for recovery. Our comprehensive treatment programs are accessible to everyone 24/7/365, including the most underserved communities of the Chicago area. Please help us to continue the care for all individuals, regardless of ability to pay for treatment.

Together, we can continue to be a source of transformation, providing hope and second chances for all those who need us. Now more than ever, your contribution is vital to the ongoing success of Haymarket Center and the work we do to address the pressing health challenges facing our city.

Melissa’s experience reflects that of countless others seeking help at Haymarket Center.  “I’ve been sober for over a year and I’m looking forward to my future. I’ve rebuilt my life. I have so much support and so much love in my life. Coming to Haymarket was the best decision of my life.”

Thank you for being a part of our 50-year journey, and for supporting the vital work of Haymarket Center.

For the second consecutive year, Haymarket Center has been awarded a grant from the Hanover Township Mental Health Board to support substance use disorder treatment for Township residents. This funding helps bridge the gap between Medicaid reimbursements and the cost of providing care.

This grant strengthens Haymarket’s withdrawal programs, which treat approximately 2,000 patients annually and prepare them for residential treatment. It also supports residential units that serve approximately 2,800 patients each year, including those with co-occurring mental health disorders, mothers with young children, and those in medication-assisted recovery.

By stabilizing patients and equipping them with skills for lasting recovery, funding from the Hanover Township Mental Health Board ensures these critical services remain accessible. Community support allows Haymarket Center to bridge funding gaps and provide comprehensive care for those who need it most. For more information and how you can support Haymarket Center, click the link below.

To learn more about Hanover Township, follow Hanover Township Mental Health Board on Facebook @Hanover Township or visit their website at hanover-township.org.

As Haymarket Center celebrates 50 years, Faces of Haymarket highlights the people who shape the organization and continue to inspire its future. This edition features David Walker, a building engineer with nearly three decades of employment at Haymarket Center. David continues to uphold a family legacy of service and dedication.

Celebrating 50 years of impact and hope, we had the pleasure of interviewing Kelly McKay, President of our Associate Board since 2022. Under Kelly’s leadership, the Associate Board has made a meaningful impact at Haymarket Center—organizing events and initiatives such as the West Loop Bavarian Block Party, a community book drive, Mother’s Day baskets, and much more.

In our conversation, Kelly reflects on her personal connection to Haymarket Center and highlights the services that continue to make a lasting difference in the community.

Haymarket CEO, Dr. Dan Lustig was recently named to Crain’s Notable Leaders in Philanthropy 2025 list. 

Dr. Lustig is recognized as a leader providing behavioral health and substance use treatment to underserved populations. He is a 20-year member of the Illinois Advisory Council on substance use disorders and was appointed by Gov. JB Pritzker to the Illinois Department of Healthcare & Family Services’ Medicaid Advisory Council. Congratulations, Dr. Lustig on this very well-deserved recognition.  Learn more here.

In May, the Associate Board organized a spring drive to support mothers and caregivers in recovery, collecting baby essentials, books, and art supplies. Volunteer Tonja Pastorelle, Haymarket’s 2024 Volunteer of the Year, donated 95 baskets to women in the Pregnant and Postpartum Women’s program. She organized the basket supply drive with other women from the Elmhurst community. These donations provided critical supplies and a morale boost to women balancing recovery with the challenges of new motherhood.

For Father’s Day, Haymarket Center hosted a special event for fathers living in the Men’s Recovery Homes. Fathers in recovery engaged in staff-led conversations on parenting. Dr. Kenyata Fletcher shared how a father’s presence can shape a child’s life. Creating traditions through everyday actions like helping with homework, sharing meals, or showing up for sports and school events helps build a sense of continuity and belonging for children. The day’s conversations prompted heartfelt reflections from those in attendance. These stories underscore the real and lasting impact of consistently showing up for your children with care and reflect the power of recovery to restore family bonds.

The Fatherhood and PPW programs are part of Haymarket’s broader commitment to helping patients rebuild trust and reclaim their family roles after substance use. This commitment has deep roots; Haymarket was founded in 1975 as Chicago’s first 24-hour walk-in detoxification center and recovery home for homeless men struggling with substance use challenges. Today, the men’s recovery home serves approximately 132 individuals each year.

In celebration of 50 years of impact, we’re honored to share a moving interview with Melinda McMichael—a Certified Recovery Specialist, full-spectrum doula for the PPW Program, and peer supervisor for the Supportive Services Program at Haymarket Center.