BIGG MAMA'S HOUSE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND

SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCY

Homeless women and youths and young adults returning to society from prison and Juvenile detention center have no where to go. As a result, they turn back to drugs, prostitution, and criminality for survival. According to Illinois Department of Correction, 2011-2012 statistical report, there are over 5,000 women and young adults and youths incarcerated in Illinois State Prisons and detention centers, and 3,500 in Illinois Federal Prisons a 1000 of these women and young adults will parole and receive probation in 2014-15. this is a population at risk. Our organization is responding to the need in the community to house homeless Women and Youths and Young Adults coming out of prison, and Juvenile Detention centers. If we provide assistant to these Women, Youths,and Young Adults, we can cut the cost of housing them for years in prison and detention centers. This population at risk can be difficult to communicate with yet their use of Transitional Housing's services would give them some profound benefits. Bigg Mama Housing has the skills and experience to provide our clients with the tools they will need to become productive citizens.Bigg Mama Transitional Housing of Chicago is an Not for Profit faith based Organization that provides transitional housing and life skill training for women and youths and young adults. It offers assistance to women and youths, and young adults coming out of Illinois department of correction and detention centers, frequently homeless, as they move from dependent, often abusive relationships into independent, self-sufficient lifestyles. Additionally, it assists clients in child reunification. This is particularly important as 80% of the clients have children but no custody.

     This will be one of few cities’ women, and youth and young adults-only facility and the only one with long-term transitional housing. All other shelters only offer 30 days to a year or less of housing whereas BMH , Transitional Housing offers up to 24 months and One year of aftercare to monitor our clients progress. On staff will be several Chemical dependency counselor, AIDS/HIV counselor, and a family reunification counselor, Social workers, an Advance Certified Nurse Assistants, to assist clients

The facility provides clients within an 16-step program that teaches them necessary life skills. This collaborative approach to empowerment is the keystone to developing self-sufficiency in the clients. The steps include Personal Development, Computer readiness classes, Vocational Training, Substance Abuse Counseling, Interpersonal skills building, Mental health Groups, Domestic Violence Group, and Sexual and Mental Abuse Group, MRT (Moral Recognition Therapy), Community involvement, leisure activities, and independent living skills. Just to name a few.

     Transitional Housing has identified two distinct market segments of clients based on age; those who are under 30 and those who are 30 and over. The distinction is important because of the high percentage of clients with children, and those in the younger clients segment having far younger children. The less than 30 age group is growing annually at 10% and the 30 and over age group growing at 12%. The two groups respectively have 165,454 and 158,745 potential clients. The overwhelming majority of clients come from lower social-economic population groups.

    Rosemary McCollum is the driving force behind the organization and fills the Executive Director role. Rose holds a BSW in Social Work from Governor State University, Rose has earned an AAS. Degree in Addiction Studies, from Kennedy King College, . Formally homeless, A recovering Addict, and Ex-offender she can relate to her clients. Additionally, she has several years of social service project management skills. While working as the program manager of BMH along with her colleagues. She hopes to be one of Chicago's largest Transitional housing relief service provider, Rose has developed a proactive empowerment program which has become the foundation for Transitional Housing's collaborative approach to empowerment. Rose and her colleagues has an comprehensive network of personal and professional contacts with key community leaders. This will be instrumental in raising the profile of Transitional Housing Re-entry program within the community as well as having a significant impact on fund-raising activities.

There is no charge to our clients Bigg Mama House operates solely on Donations, Grants, and fundraising, and Prayer.