Haven on Lincoln celebrates ribbon cutting

Mayor Brandon Johnson recently joined the Departments of Housing (DOH), Family & Support Services (DFSS), the 40th Ward Office, and community partners to celebrate the ribbon cutting of The Haven on Lincoln, a newly redeveloped non-congregate shelter at 5230 N. Lincoln. 

“Providing the dignity of homes that are safe and accessible to our residents is a fundamental pillar of our administration's commitment to build a more equitable Chicago,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “The Haven on Lincoln is a testament to what is possible when we prioritize the physical and mental well-being of our residents. By reviving this space and returning it to the community, we are providing stability while ensuring our most vulnerable neighbors have the resources and the respect they need to feel at home in our City.” 

Set to be managed and operated by Cornerstone Community Outreach, The Haven on Lincoln transforms the former two-story motel previously known as The Diplomat into a modern shelter for single adults. The shelter will provide transitional housing with 37 sleeping rooms alongside comprehensive wraparound health and social services. The facility is specifically designed to support individuals experiencing homelessness, particularly those living with untreated physical and behavioral health conditions. 

The project builds on the success of stabilization housing models first piloted during the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of DOH’s Non-Congregate Shelter Acquisition (NCS) program, the Johnson administration is working to convert approximately 300 traditional shelter beds into non-congregate settings that offer greater privacy and supportive services.  

Designed by Gensler with a trauma-informed approach, The Haven on Lincoln emphasizes both grounding and connective spaces. Interior finishes feature earthy materials that evoke stability and security, while shared spaces incorporate cooler tones and water-inspired elements to foster connection and calm. The site also includes a mural and on-site garden to enhance community and well-being. 

In a major adaptive reuse effort, half of the property's former parking lot has been transformed into healing gardens, complete with raised planting beds, flexible outdoor seating, and shaded gathering areas. These outdoor spaces are designed to support mental health and resident engagement. 

Sustainability is central to the project’s design. The building has been retrofitted as a fully electric, decarbonized facility, featuring a 35 kW solar array and an energy storage system to maintain critical operations during emergencies. High performance HVAC systems, improved indoor air quality, and increased green space further reinforce the connection between healthy environments and positive housing outcomes.  

For Cornerstone Community Outreach, shelter operations funding will flow through DFSS to improve the health and safety of the shelter ecosystem, alongside DFSS’s Shelter Infrastructure Initiative, which will upgrade hundreds of shelter beds to the non-congregate model.  

DOH acquired the property using Chicago Recovery Plan (CRP) funds and, with the authority granted from a land disposition ordinance in September 2025, will transfer it to Cornerstone Community Outreach for operation. The Haven represents a $14 million total investment from DOH and the Johnson administration, with $5.5 million sourced from the Lincoln Ave TIF district.

The Haven on Lincoln will remain dedicated to housing and supportive uses for the long term, with a 15-year grant agreement term followed by a 30-year land use restriction requiring the property to serve as a shelter, transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, or affordable housing.