Fortitude began in January, 2017 as a street outreach designed to connect needy and homeless individuals with resources and assistance. Every Thursday night, a team of community volunteers brings food, hygiene, cold protection items, sweatshirts and coats,  and snacks to a location in Kankakee.  In 2019, Fortitude opened a rotating site PADS shelter for overnight, emergency sheltering from October-April.  Volunteers primarily staffed the shelter.

Between 2019-2023, Fortitude continued to shelter at the old St. Paul’s Lutheran School location in Kankakee thanks to St. Paul’s for the generously donated space.  During that time, Fortitude made plans to construct a building on Washington Ave., Kankakee, however, as building costs escalated as result of the pandemic, it became economically unfeasible.  Unable to gain continued approval to shelter at St. Paul’s, and with no time to find and get approval to shelter elsewhere, Fortitude worked creatively to procure a 45 foot customized coach bus with 19 full bunk beds on board for shelter for the Fall of 2023.  Early in 2024, Fortitude announced the intent to purchase a building in East Kankakee to serve as a Forever Home for all of Fortitude’s services.

Fortitude serves from a trauma-informed perspective. Trauma-informed providers understand that needy and homeless individuals have experienced a great deal of trauma in their lives. It is difficult to trust others and challenging to reach out for help and navigate the difficult systems necessary to obtain real help. Many individuals have given up on the idea that they can live a better life. We understand that change occurs through relationships, so our first priority is always caring for the physical, social, and spiritual needs of our visitors, through which relationships are built.