I am a current resident @ The Red Shield Lodge shelter on 900 West Adams street. The staff treats you with no respect. Everyday you come in they do or say things to discourage you. Their only concern is money. They take donations, but none of it goes back into the homeless problem. They tell you you have to have a job by a certain date, as if you can make someone hire you, and if you don't have the job they put you out immediately with little or no notice. My family of 6 including myself have been there for about 3 months. We came here from Ohio to get our life back together after losing jobs , and losing our house. Which my husband has found a job, but I haven't yet. They told us we have to leave by noon tomorrow with 4 kids and no where to go. Also, they have a serious problem with rodents. We sleep every night with rodents making noises under the bed and in the bathroom. I addressed the problem to them and they didn't bother to correct it. So I had to spend my own money to buy traps, which I caught 4 rodents, and then they had a nerve to tell me I had to dispose of it myself. That was the last straw. My whole family has been nothing but miserable there, but we weren't quite ready to leave because we were in the process of looking for a place to move, but haven't found one yet. I have never witnessed such rudeness, uncaring, unsympathetic people in my life. Especially working at a public shelter. I was once in the working world and had our lives together until now. So I or my family don't deserve this type of treatment from anyone. I would never recommend anyone going there if they are trying to get on their feet. Also, they don't even offer you clothing donations for the kids. You have to buy everything. The only thing they give you is 3 meals a day.
Pros: The only pro is that you are off the street, but temporarily
Cons: They are only out to use you to receive donations.
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