Our Services

From five sites, Vital Bridges serves more than 2,000 economically disadvantaged people living with HIV and AIDS in metropolitan Chicago. Strategically located program sites operate in communities such as Edgewater, Garfield Park and Englewood. The remaining two sites are in the suburbs of Elk Grove Village and Oak Park.

Most of our clients fall well below the poverty line with an average income of less than $700 per month. Ranging in age from under 2 to 70, our clients include men, women and children from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.

Food Services
Each year, Vital Bridges’ provides over half a million meals to nearly 1,800 clients in great need. If clients are able to leave their homes, they come to one of our five grocery centers located around Chicagoland to “shop” for two weeks worth of nutritious groceries. If their illness has them homebound, we deliver hot prepared meals or groceries right to their door. All at no cost.

Nutrition Program
At Vital Bridges, we know that proper nutrition is key to strengthening fragile immune systems, mitigating the side effects of HIV meds, managing weight, and controlling other ailments like diabetes. Each year our Registered Dieticians conduct 800 nutritional assessments to help clients take control of their diets and manage their own health.

Case Management
Vital Bridges’ Case Managers help our clients assess their short and long term needs, and work with them to find solutions. Whether a client is having trouble in a relationship, can’t work out a routine to take their meds on time, or has an addiction our case managers are here to help. With guidance and emotional support, our Case Managers provide nearly 10,000 counseling sessions to nearly 200 clients each year.  Through case managers, clients are also referred for mental health assessment, short term therapy, and treatment.

Housing Program
Housing Specialists at Vital Bridges help clients learn how to secure and maintain stable housing. Many of the people who walk through our doors have been homeless or have bounced from one dangerous living situation to the next. Each year, we provide over 30,000 nights of safe shelter to help clients regain their footing and settle into healthy lifestyles with a roof over their head.   

Educational and Vocational Services
For Vital Bridges’ clients, self-sufficiency is lifelong goal. Our Educational and Vocational services help they reach that goal. At our Learning Center, clients can be tutored in reading and math, take computer classes, enroll in life skills workshops, and even receive job readiness training.

For more information about Vital Bridges’ food services contact food@vitalbridges.org; about the other services contact services@vitalbridges.org.