Deborah's Place

Description: Sharing the belief that housing is a human right and that all people deserve a safe place to sleep, a small group of women founded Deborah’s Place in 1985 as Chicago’s first year-round, overnight emergency shelter for women who are homeless. Out of our early days in a church gymnasium, we quickly expanded to address the broader needs of women experiencing homelessness, and added daytime programs, permanent and transitional housing, case management, and wrap-around supportive services.

From our humble beginnings, we have evolved and responded to women’s needs by expanding housing options and championing innovative practice approaches, including a comprehensive case management recovery model and a nationally-recognized Eviction Prevention Program. Today, as Chicago’s largest provider of supportive housing exclusively for women, Deborah’s Place offers a continuum of interim and permanent housing options, all linked to vital supportive services at three locations throughout the city.

Target demographics: Deborah’s Place served unaccompanied adult women who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. We specialize in reaching unaccompanied adult women who are considered by the system to be the “hardest to house” and who represent 43 percent of Chicago’s single homeless population.

Demographic Characteristics:
75% African American
17% Caucasian
67% between ages 41-60
Age range: 20-80

Situational Characteristics:
59% experience chronic homelessness
92% live with a disability
70% live with a mental illness
40% experience chemical dependence
30% are victims of domestic violence

Direct beneficiaries per year: Over 400 women go through the doors of Deborah’s Place each year, and we strive to ensure that once housed in our programs, not one will return to the streets. “Kathy”, a former participant of Teresa’s Interim Housing and the Rebecca Johnson Apartments, described how she broke the cycle of homelessness at Deborah’s Place in a recent letter to our Executive Director: “I enjoy my life now. I find a purpose to get up in the morning and am more capable of handling challenges that life brings my way.” In the letter, she described her personal journey: Finding her dream job (“the longest I have ever been employed with one employer before,” she wrote), living in her own apartment, and approaching completion of her doctorate degree. “This would never have been possible without the support and encouragement that I received from Deborah's Place.” Like Kathy, women come to Deborah’s Place for assistance reclaiming control over their lives and discover not only the tangible reward of a key to their new homes, but also their inner strength to recover from homelessness.

Someone who had 3 hours of volunteer time could: Cook and serve dinner to 30 women at Marah's Permanent Housing or the programs at 1530 N. Sedgwick; Teach an array of workshops in one of our Learning Centers; Give one-on-one resume and job search training; Provide administrative support in our main offices; Clean the common areas or plant flowers and landscape at any of our three locations; Throw a party for or play Bingo with the women.

Geographic areas served: Deborah’s Place serves women throughout the City of Chicago with locations in the East Garfield Park, Old Town, and Lakeview neighborhoods.

Board Members and Affiliation: Kimberly Cole, President

L. Paul Haase, Vice President

Catherine Colombo, Secretary

Lisa Zambrano, Treasurer

Mary Ashmore

Coral Cawthorn-Zake

Darius Gill

Katrina Malone

Scott Nierman

Ngozi Okorafor

Judith Rayborn

Gail Russell

Erica Porter Walton

Mary Whalen