Current/Upcoming Expanded Mental Health Services Programs (EMHSPs)
Upcoming EMHSPs
Far Southwest Side (Mount Greenwood, Morgan Park, Beverly, Washington Heights, Roseland, and West Pullman)
The Far Southwest Side to kick off summer 2025 with a bang as they begin to advocate for more mental health resources in their community! This summer a group of interns will begin canvassing the communities of Mount Greenwood, Morgan Park, Beverly, Washington Heights, Roseland, and West Pullman. Community members will learn about creating an Expanded Mental Health Services Program which if created will bring new affordable mental health services to all the residents in these 6 communities. Community residents can support this initiative by signing the petition to place 2 referendum questions on the ballot for November 2026.
Mid-northside (Edgewater, Lincoln Square, Uptown)
Residents in Edgewater, Lincoln Square, and Uptown will have the opportunity to bring more mental health resources to their community! This summer a group of interns will begin canvassing in these communities to share with residents what it means to create an Expanded Mental Health Services Program (EMHSP) for their neighborhood. If created, this new EMHSP will bring new affordable mental health services to all the residents in these 3 communities. Community residents can support this initiative by signing the petition to place 2 referendum questions that would create this new center in their neighborhoods come November 2026.
Created EMHSPs
NEAR SOUTHWEST SIDE (Little village, pilsen, mckinley park, bridgeport, armour square) (est. 2024)
The effort to create the Near Southwest Side EMHSP began in the summer of 2023. Understanding the need for accessible mental health services, community residents rallied around the program. Through months of hard work residents and interns collected over 6,400 signatures to place two binding referenda on the 2024 ballot. Our efforts paid off on November 5th when the Near Southwest Side EMHSP was approved with 79% of the vote!
The Near Southwest Side Governing Commission has since begun meeting monthly to open a new community mental health center that serves their neighborhoods. The Coalition is currently conducting a community Mental Health Needs Assessment to identify main stressors and mental health needs in the area and ensure residents have a direct say in the services provided at the center they voted for. If you’re a resident of the Near Southwest Side, participate in the survey by clicking on the link below!
Englewood-Greater Chatham (west englewood, englewood, auburn gresham, chatham, greater grand crossing, avalon park) (est. 2024)
Residents of Englewood-Greater Chatham have been hard at work since 2023 to bridge the gap in mental health resources in the community. Residents were ecstatic when they broke the record for signatures collected by one of our programs when they submitted over 10,980 signatures to the Chicago Board of Election in August of 2024! The excitement continued into their Fall Campaign which culminated in 91% of voters approving the creation of their own EMHSP!
The Englewood-Greater Chatham Governing Commission has begun meeting monthly to discuss the opening of their new mental health center in the years to come. If you’re a resident of our Englewood-Greater Chatham area, to participate in the community’s Mental Health Needs Assessment, click on the link below!
Southeast EMHSP (Kenwood, hyde park, woodlawn, south shore) (est.2022)
As Chicago began to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic in the summer 0f 2021, it became clear to residents of the Southeast area that a lack of mental health resources was a pressing issue for the community. As the community opened up, residents were ready to begin organizing and gathering signatures in order to establish an expanded mental health services program to begin addressing the mental health needs of Southeast Chicago. The Southeast community approved their EMHSP in November of 2022 with 93% voting YES, the highest percentage any of our programs has ever been approved with!
The Southeast Governing Commission is working towards opening their new mental health center in the near future!
West Town-Humboldt Park EMHSP (est.2022)
The effort to create West Town and Humboldt Park began in the summer of 2021. The importance of mental health resources was highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and as vaccine distribution rolled out, residents of West Town and Humboldt Park were eager to organize and get a head start on gathering signatures so that the community has the opportunity to vote to establish an Expanded Mental Health Services Program. The WTHP approved their program in November 2022 with 85% of the vote!
In the fall of 2025, the West Town-Humboldt Park Governing Commission signed with Rincon Family Services to be their service provider for the new center. The search for a building has begun, and the Commission looks to open their center in the coming year!
Bronzeville EMHSP (Near South Side, Douglas, Oakland, Grand Boulevard, Fuller Park) (Est. 2020)
The Bronzeville EMHSP was created in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Residents from across Bronzeville recognized the pressing need for expanded mental health services and began engaging with local residents to create the program. Over the course of the summer of 2020, residents and the Coalition’s Community Advocate Team gathered signatures while wearing PPE and remaining socially distanced. In November 2020, residents from across Bronzeville voted nearly 89% in favor of creating the program!
The Bronzeville EMHSP is expected to open mid/late 2026 to begin serving their community residents with mental health services!
Logan Square, Avondale, and Hermosa EMHSP (Est. 2018)
In 2018, residents of the Logan Square, Avondale, and Hermosa (LSAH) communities voted to create Chicago’s third EMHSP. This program, approved by over 86% of voters, successfully gathered over 8,000 signatures from local residents and received the support of over 50 local community institutions.
In September 2020, the community successfully completed their LSAH Community Mental Health Needs Assessment. This document provides information on the mental health needs of the community.
LSAH communities held their Grand Opening in April of 2024 thanks to the hard work of dedicated community members. The LoSAH Center of Hope/LoSAH Centro de Esperanza has now been serving the community for 2 years and making amazing connections with local community groups, schools, and churches to expand their reach and services as far and wide as possible.
West side EMHSP (North Lawndale, East and West Garfield Park, Near West Side) (Est. 2016)
The West Side EMHSP effort was launched in 2015 with the program being approved by over 86% of voters in November 2016. Residents and leaders gathered over 10,000 (!) signatures and received the support of over 50 local institutions.
On October 15, 2019, the West Side’s new community mental health center, The Encompassing Center, first opened its doors and began providing services to residents! 6 years later, the Encompassing Center has now incorporated a mobile unite, BRYCE, to their services to attend local events and service the community anywhere and everywhere!
If you live on the West Side and would like to learn more about your community’s center, click the button below!
North River EMHSP (Albany Park, Irving Park, North Park, Sauganash) (Est. 2012)
The North River EMHSP is the pioneering EMHSP. The program was passed in November 2012 with the support of 74% of voters in the community. The passage of this referendum marked a 10-year long effort by local residents that included three successful referendum campaigns, years of community outreach, and a dedication to fighting for expanded mental health services in these communities and across Chicago.
On October 30, 2014, The Kedzie Center opened its doors and began providing the first new public mental health services to residents of the North River community(not to be confused with River North). Since that time, thousands of residents have received services at the center and in community sessions throughout the neighborhood.
If you live in the North River Community and would like to learn more about your community’s center, click the button below!
