Founded by Jamie Albert in appox. 2009, the primary function and goal of Joliet Direct Homeless Assistance (JDHA) lies right in the name of the organization:

 

We seek to provide assistance directly to the homeless and less fortunate of the JOLIET area by going DIRECTLY to them.

 

When it comes to activism, it is said that “direct action” begets the best results. We feel the same way about our charity work… We get to know the HOMELESS and under-privileged of the area on a personal level. This is not just standard outreach either – a handshake, an exchange of pleasantries and a flier with our name and contact on it, but rather real quality time spent, whether that be sitting down for a cup of coffee and just chatting or helping them across town, or regularly checking in on them to find out what are their most current needs. We also help people acquire much needed state identification cards and food stamps.

 

The ASSISTANCE part comes in all shapes and forms. From providing everything from blankets, stocking caps, coats, overalls, sweaters, boots/shoes, gloves to hand and body sanitizer, razors, toothpaste and brushes and other personal products from our donors, to helping them with transportation, whether that be a ride, providing bus pamphlets and/or fare, VA benefit information and telephone numbers, access to free government telephones for those that qualify: every volunteer, including myself, keeps a supply of these types of items in our cars. We host an annual clothing drive event in which we auction off tents; provide legal counseling, courtesy of Will County pro-bono program: help for veterans, assistance with food stamps, and other information in order to access the help they so desperately need; and provide clothing, blankets, and even baked goods and more. Assistance also comes in the form of simply spending time with them and constantly letting them know that our presence is here, and that our assistance is unconditional, or, rather, on the condition of improving lives.

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We now operate YEAR ROUND. Myself and any and all volunteers make sure we always have summer clothes in our trunks, and more importantly, bottled water, and gas in our tanks in case we run into a person that needs to get out of the heat and to the shelter gets there!
 

It doesn't stop there either. Although we congratulate the work of other non-profits that serve the homeless in Will County, we are also a watchdog for any organization that exploits or discriminates the homeless, and we make this public knowledge when this happens. This also includes mis-apropriation of food, cash, clothing and other donations.... i.e. stealing from the poor.

 

We've extended our help to addicts, most of them homeless, and try to get them in a rehab THAT DAY and assess their needs the best we can. We also are expanding and providing other services, just ONE of those being harm reduction through the Chicago Recovery Alliance (C.R.A.). If you are an IV drug user that needs clean supplies but can't afford them, CONTACT US. DO NOT SHARE NEEDLES. Not only will we get you the clean equipment you need, but we will refer you to every rehab in the Will County area to the best of our knowledge and ability so you can be DRUG FREE. And, if you have a friend that you think is OD'ing, for lords sake call 911, you will not be punished. This is now a law. If you are still scared, call us at 312.721.6790. Also look at our contact us or updates page.

JDHA is non-partisan non-profit group. We are neither "liberals" nor "conservatives." We simply believe that everyone has a right to the basic requirements of life, regardless of decisions they have made that may have adversely affected their lives.

 

Basically our mission is to come to people that are temporary or chronically homeless, and help them with their needs that hopefully either at least improve their quality of life or help them in some way, and ultimately with some individuals depending on their situation, try to reverse their situation from homeless to having a home, and do this by our name ("DIRECT homeless ASSISTANCE) in other words, try as hard as we can to seek out the homeless and help them in any way we can, instead of them having to seek us out, although of course, we welcome to help all people that find out about us through facebook, our website www.jdha.us . word of mouth, etc. We work with other organizations to help as well, such as Daybreak shelter, Catholic Charities, Catholic Worker, etc. We do not discriminate based on spiritual beliefs, ethnicity/nationality/race. age, disabilities, etc. WE TREAT HOMELESS PEOPLE WITH THE SAME RESPECT WE WOULD ANYONE ELSE. AT ANYTIME, EVEN A MILLIONAIRE CAN BECOME JOBLESS AND HOMELESS. In fact, we have helped people that were former 7 digit earners (millions) and are now homeless. UNFORTUNATELY, HOMELESSNESS, JUST LIKE DRUG ADDICTION, DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE - it can happen to anyone - . So we in turn do not discriminate.or judge.