Make REAL Change

• Suburban Cook County Call Center Hotline - 877-426-6515 (8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday)
• Entry Point
• OPHC Street Card(PDF, 170KB)

Panhandling is protected under the First Amendment as a form of free speech. Soliciting, which involves offering items for purchase (such as candy bars, bottled drinks, or other goods), is different. Under Village Code (Chapter 18 – Peddlers and Solicitors), soliciting without a permit can be considered illegal.

The Village of Oak Park also recognizes a common misconception: that all individuals who panhandle or solicit are unhoused. Through our intentional and ongoing engagement with individuals in public spaces, our E.C.H.O. team and community partners have developed a clearer understanding, this perception does not accurately reflect the unhoused population in Oak Park.

The Make REAL Change campaign is not intended to criminalize panhandling. Instead, it is designed to reduce the need for panhandling by offering meaningful alternatives and connecting individuals who are actively unhoused and interested in engaging with services to the resources they need. The campaign focuses on compassion, connection, and long-term solutions for those most in need.

• Be respectful
• Engage in eye contact with the individual and set clear boundaries, if necessary
• Do not make assumptions about their individual situation or circumstance
• Do not offer unsolicited advice
• Provide information about local social service providers such as Housing Forward and Beyond Hunger
• Remember that it is ok to politely say no

The Village of Oak Park launched the Make REAL Change campaign, an initiative rooted in compassion, safety, and community collaboration. This campaign was specifically designed to support unhoused residents in Oak Park who are actively engaging with Village staff and community partners to access services and work toward stable housing.

This campaign encouraged residents and visitors to contribute in ways that create meaningful impact. Community donations helped provide hotel stays, food gift cards and other essential basic needs for individuals awaiting access to emergency shelter or interim housing on their path to permanent housing.

We recognize that not all individuals are ready or willing to engage with services upon first contact. That’s why we work to build trust and rapport over time through the Village’s E.C.H.O. team and our dedicated street outreach partners, who engage people with dignity, consistency, and care.

The campaign also sought to:

• Educate the community about the realities of homelessness and the resources available.
• Empower individuals experiencing homelessness by connecting them to comprehensive, person-centered care.
• Enhance public safety by addressing concerns with thoughtful, solution-focused responses.
• Engage local businesses and residents in strategic, coordinated support efforts.