CHICAGO (CBS) — A nonprofit crucial for the needy in Chicago is closing, leaving many vulnerable people seeking food and healthcare. Heartland Alliance Health, which operates two clinics and three food pantries, announced it will shut down soon.
The clinics are located in Englewood at 5501 S. Halsted St. and in Uptown at 4009 N. Broadway. They will close their doors at the end of this month, impacting over 8,000 community members who rely on their services.
Many workers are feeling blindsided. “Employees are angry,” said Michael Brieschke, chair of the Heartland Alliance Worker Union. “They are frustrated. They are heartbroken.” This closure harms not just staff but also clients, many of whom are unhoused or have significant health challenges.
Brieschke pointed out that many clients face physical health issues, mental health struggles, or substance abuse problems. “These are people who grew up in poverty and are still trapped in that cycle,” he added.
The organization has faced financial difficulties over the past two years. Just last year, Heartland Alliance split into four separate entities to save costs. Despite efforts to secure private funding, it hasn’t been enough to keep the clinics and pantries running.
Although the nonprofit hasn’t publicly detailed the reasons for the closure, its website now directs clients to other federally-funded services in Cook County. The clinics will officially close on Wednesday, February 26, while the food pantries will shut down on Saturday, February 22.
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Englewood, Uptown
