Connections for the Homeless Begins $6.7 Million Renovation to Restore Hilda’s Place Shelter

Connections for the Homeless began a $6.7 million renovation of Hilda’s Place, a shelter and support facility located at 1458 Chicago Ave in Evanston. The project marks the first time since the COVID pandemic that the facility will offer year-round overnight shelter.

The groundbreaking ceremony brought together staff from Connections, city officials, and faith leaders, including Mayor Daniel Biss and U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-9th District). Dozens of attendees included individuals who had previously received support through Connections and Evanston community members. Elected officials, Connections leaders, and project architects ceremonially turned soil to mark the start of the renovation.

The renovation will transform the lower level of Lake Street Church, where Hilda’s Place has operated for over 40 years. Plans include 30 shelter beds, 11 new showers, 10 bathrooms, an elevator, and other accessibility improvements. Construction is expected to begin Monday, with the renovated shelter slated to reopen next spring.

“These are practical things, right? But they are also powerful: dignity, safety, rest and the chance to begin again,” said Connections CEO Betty Bogg. The project reflects a commitment to providing essential services and creating a safe environment for those in need.

Hilda’s Place operated as an overnight shelter from 1984 until spring 2020, when Connections moved shelter residents out of the congregate setting. The church’s decision to open its doors to people experiencing homelessness in 1984 was a “subversive act of compassion,” according to Connections Board Chair Dan Cox. That year, First Baptist Church of Evanston, now Lake Street Church, joined local clergy and residents in advocating for a shelter for people experiencing homelessness.

Connections grew out of that effort. What began with the church providing a safe place to sleep expanded into an organization providing shelter, drop-in services, eviction prevention, and housing advocacy. “Today is more than a construction project,” Cox said. “It’s about creating a place where our neighbors in need can find support; they can find dignity and they can find a good night’s sleep.”

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