Heartland Alliance Health is ceasing operations, with plans to close clinics serving patients in Englewood and Uptown.
A notice on the organization’s website said, “It is with great sadness that Heartland Alliance Health (HAH) will be closing its doors.” The closures follow Heartland Alliance Health’s spin off from social services organization Heartland Alliance last year.
Heartland Health Alliance said in a statement Wednesday, “Unfortunately, after extensive efforts, HAH has determined that it no longer has a sustainable path forward and must wind down operations.”
Employees have been told that the two clinics will close Feb. 26, and the organization’s three food pantry locations will close Feb. 22, said Michael Brieschke, a housing case manager with Heartland Human Care Services and chairperson of the union for employees at Heartland Alliance Health and other organizations.
The last day for all 113 employees will be Feb. 28, he said.
Heartland Alliance Health serves people experiencing homelessness, and is a federally qualified health center meaning it receives federal funding to provide care.
A voicemail message at the provider’s main phone number instructed patients to continue going to their scheduled appointments. But Heartland is not accepting any new patients. Heartland Alliance Health’s voicemail is directing patients seeking medical and psychiatric care to Cook County Health, and people seeking food to the Greater Chicago Food Depository.
Employees were told about the closures last week, Brieschke said. About 50 of the employees are part of the union, the United Human Services Workers union, which is part of the National Organization of Legal Service Workers/UAW local 2320.
The closure follows years of financial turmoil. Heartland Alliance Health used to be part of Heartland Alliance, a leading Chicago social service organization, until Heartland Alliance broke up into four separate entities last year: Heartland Alliance Health, Heartland Alliance International, Heartland Human Care Services and the National Immigrant Justice Center, Brieschke said.
Before the spinoff, the health division had struggled to cover escalating health costs and expenses related to a surge of migrants. In 2023, before becoming an independent organization, the health division indefinitely furloughed more than 150 employees and scaled back programming.
Heartland Alliance was founded in the 19th century as Travelers and Immigrants Aid by reformer Jane Addams.
Block Club Chicago first reported news of the closure.
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