Thresholds

12/19/2025

I just visited Thresholds, which provides housing and mental health care to people in need.

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, Trump is choosing over people. We have to fight back — which we can do by supporting organizations like Thresholds that are on the front lines every day.

12/19/2025

Thresholds is making an impact in McHenry County! Thanks to a new mental health pilot at the McHenry County Jail, in partnership with the McHenry County Sheriff's Office and the Illinois Department of Human Services, people found unfit to stand trial are now receiving specialized care early — right where they are, instead of waiting in jail without support. This innovative work is possible because Thresholds stepped in with daily therapy, education, and compassionate support.

“This program is incredibly important,” says BreeAnn Kaczmarczyk, licensed social worker and Thresholds team leader in the jail. “I am so passionate about this work because I see a difference in each one of these people, and making that change for one person is huge. What we are doing for them could be the thing that supports them through their future decisions.”

From art therapy to relapse prevention and understanding the legal process, Thresholds isn’t just addressing symptoms — it’s helping people build a foundation for healthier futures. https://bit.ly/4p2kyq0

McHenry County jail detainees deemed unfit to stand trial are receiving specialized psychiatric care while waiting for an open bed in a mental health facility.

12/18/2025

❄️ This season of giving, help us share the gift of warmth ❄️ The Thresholds Junior Board is hosting a Winter Donation Drive to support our neighbors experiencing homelessness.

Coats, hats, gloves, socks, and other cold-weather essentials can make a life-changing difference during the winter months. ❤️

🎁 You can donate easily through our Amazon Wishlist. Every item goes directly to those who need it most. Let’s come together to keep our community warm this winter. Thank you for your generosity!

🔗 Link to Amazon Wishlist: https://bit.ly/3YEXqTG

12/17/2025

When a disruption to SNAP benefits left some of our clients without reliable food access, Thresholds responded instantly. With support from our friends at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, 200 boxes of food were distributed across six Thresholds locations, providing fresh produce and essential perishables to those who rely on SNAP benefits.

Every day, Thresholds staff support members with food resources, transportation, and ongoing care. During the SNAP disruption, that support became a lifeline.

Thank you to our partners and staff who ensured no one was left without the support they deserve.

Learn more about how Thresholds addresses food insecurity every day: https://bit.ly/4p513gK

12/16/2025

On Saturday, we were honored to host Congressman Mike Quigley at our Ravenswood Certified Community Behavioral Health Center to discuss the role supportive housing plays in recovery, and the challenges facing the federal Continuum of Care program. These conversations matter, and we appreciate his leadership and support of our work. Thank you, Congressman!

12/15/2025

This weekend, extreme cold put lives at risk across Chicagoland. In response, Thresholds’ Homeless Outreach Program stepped up to meet people where they were, providing care packages and connecting individuals to lifesaving support and housing resources.

Hear directly from Homeless Outreach Program Director Jaclyn Story on why showing up during extreme weather is critical to our community: https://bit.ly/44y8y8y

Thank you to CBS Chicago News for highlighting this work and its impact.

Due to the frigid conditions, outreach teams are working to help unhoused communities.

12/15/2025

Big news for behavioral health access in Illinois! Governor Pritzker has signed landmark legislation that strengthens mental health parity and removes barriers for people using private insurance to access care.

This success is a testament to the power of advocacy and collaboration. Thank you to the lawmakers, partners, providers, and advocates who helped move this forward and kept access to care at the center of the conversation.

Learn more about why we're celebrating: https://bit.ly/4rZjZzZ

12/12/2025

Save the date!📅 We hope you'll join us for Thresholds Gala '26: Meet the Moment - our biggest night of the year! ✨

This will be an inspiring evening dedicated to expanding access to life-changing mental health and substance use services. Together, we’ll celebrate Thresholds’ transformative programs and look toward a future where community-based care is accessible to all. 💙

For more information, including tickets and sponsorships, visit thresholdsgala.org

12/11/2025

Our Thresholds McHenry team had a great time helping the Woodstock Opera House get into the holiday spirit by creating our very own Thresholds Christmas tree! 🎄✨

We’re grateful for opportunities to spread cheer and stay connected to our community. ❤️

12/10/2025

Last week, Thresholds took over the CAN TV studio, with President and CEO, Mark Ishaug and Director of Workforce Development, Sterling Haukom-Anderson in the building!

Guest host (and Thresholds board member) Dr. Suzet McKinney sat down with Mark Ishaug to talk about the proposed changes to HUD funding. As Mark put it, "This NOFO (Notice of Fundraising Opportunity) is simply devastating. It will upend decades of evidence-based practices that we and our partners all over the country have implemented to keep people from homelessness. It is designed to disrupt a system that we have built and has supported, nationally, millions and millions of people."

Following this segment, Thresholds' Sterling Haukom-Anderson and renowned journalist, Hugo Balta talked about how current events are impacting people's mental health. To that, Sterling said, "Just across the board, everybody reacts differently to stress. So we're seeing all kinds of different reactions from all of us who are living in this uncertainty right now."

You can watch both Mark and Sterling on Chicago Newsroom 2.0 here: https://youtu.be/a5jQZBUyHoc

12/10/2025

Late last month, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) introduced a new funding notice that upends how homelessness and and permanent supportive housing programs are funded. If instituted, this pivot would force service providers to shutter programs, lay off staff and put thousands of Illinoisans at risk of losing their homes.

Organizations like Thresholds rely on federal funding to keep people safely housed and connected to wrap around supports. If HUD doesn’t reverse course, the impact could be devastating — especially for those living with serious health conditions and fixed incomes.

Last week, Thresholds CEO Mark Ishaug joined Suzet McKinney on CAN TV to break down what’s at stake, why this fight matters and what we can do to help. Watch here: https://cantv.org/programs/2025/12/05/chicago-newsroom-s6e10/

12/09/2025

Big news — Illinois passed a new bill that could make it much easier to find a therapist who accepts your insurance. The bill creates a formula to set fair reimbursement rates for mental-health providers, addressing one of the biggest reasons many therapists stopped taking insurance: low pay and red tape.

That means more therapists might re-join insurance networks — which could help more people get affordable mental health care instead of paying out-of-pocket or going without. This is a win for anyone who’s struggled to find coverage. 💙

And it's thanks to the tireless work of State Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, State Senator Karina Villa, Heather O'Donnell, and all the advocates who wouldn't take no for an answer!

Thank you to Chicago Tribune for visiting Thresholds' Center for Mental Wellbeing in Ravenswood, and talking to our staff and clients for this important piece. https://bit.ly/4ptdcwY

Here’s hoping this makes therapy more accessible to all who need it. 🎉

Many therapists have stopped taking insurance because of what they describe as low payment rates and administrative hoops that make it difficult to treat patients.