Current/Upcoming Expanded Mental Health Services Programs (EMHSPs)
Upcoming EMHSPs
Far Southwest Side (Mount Greenwood, Morgan Park, Beverly, Washington Heights, Roseland, and West Pullman)
Over the last two summers the Far Southwest Side has worked with summer interns and community residents in collecting signatures from Mount Greenwood, Morgan Park, Beverly, Washington Heights, Roseland, and West Pullman for the creation of a new mental health center in their community. The mental health advocacy team was able to collect over 9,700 signatures to place 2 referendum questions on the ballot that would allow residents to create an Expanded Mental Health Services Program (EMHSP)!!
During the fall of 2026, community members will learn more about creating an EMHSP in their neighborhood and the benefits/resources that can be created by this program if approved in November. Community residents can support this initiative by getting involved with the Far Southwest Side’s Community Action Team and by sharing education materials about the program with family, friends, and neighbors.
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! Over the last two summers a group of interns and residents canvassed in these communities to share educational materials and collect signatures for an Expanded Mental Health Services Program (EMHSP). Their mental health advocacy team collected over 11,200 signatures (the highest number of signatures we have ever collected in one single area!!) to submit to the Chicago Board of Election and have an opportunity to vote on the creation of an EMHPS this November. If created, this new EMHSP will bring new affordable mental health services to all the residents in these 3 neighborhoods. Community residents can support this initiative by getting involved with the Mid-Northside’s Community Action Team and by sharing education materials about the program with family, friends, and neighbors.
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 for their neighborhoods. The Coalition has also conducted a community Mental Health Needs Assessment to identify the main stressors and mental health needs of the area to ensure residents have a direct say in the services provided at the center they voted for. The Near Southwest Side Mental Health Needs Assessment is now available 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 collected and 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.
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!
