Sarah's Circle

This nonprofit works tirelessly to help women in need, providing a full continuum of services from day time support, interim housing, and permanent supportive housing. It is the only organization in Chicago that provides this wide range of services!

As a volunteer I can say that I've witnessed a team of caring and attentive staff.

I've been present at multiple events where prior clients gave testimony of how Sarah's Circle helped them thrive.

I've also had the privilege of being included in discussions around the expansion of interim housing and long term care.

I'm proud to volunteer with a non-profit that works so hard to provide programs that help end homelessness for women.

Even before volunteering with Sarah’s Circle I was impressed by the services provided to the community. As a volunteer, I have even more insight into how Sarah’s Circle helps women feel secure in a safe place!

They offer crucial services to women in need in Chicago. Be it a safe place to go during the day, computer access, meals or interim housing, Sarah’s Circle is ready to provide.

This organization really gives back to the community. They have done a lot of fundraising programs, and other additional services all to empower women in vulnerable populations. I am proud to be a member of their associate board.

Sarah's Circle is a nonprofit organization with a mission of serving women who are homeless or in need of a safe space. Located in Chicago's Uptown community, Sarah's Circle has provided support for thousands of women since 1979 and I am honored to be a part of the organization as a Member of the Associates Board.

Always a great experience volunteering with Sarah's Circle!

Sarah's Circle surprised me- their goal is genuinely to help women find housing first. The help they give is nonjudgmental and bountiful. After my partner mentioned giving to them monthly for a number of years, I was happy to research and find how successfully they were at helping these women find housing, while providing them job counseling or helping them find resources for countless other problems that arise.

Sarah's Circle has recently shifted from ameliorating homelessness to effectively ending homelessness for women by building affordable, permanent and supportive housing. Incredible work.

A few years ago, after moving to the U.S. from a small Eastern European country, I decided to look around for places where I could volunteer. I was reading information about different organizations and Sarah’s Circle was the organization that caught my attention the most. For one reason, I was impressed by the mission of the organization aimed at empowering women struggling with homelessness. Coming from a place where women have no voice and are deprived of equal opportunities, I knew that I wanted to be part of this organization and support it’s mission.

Little did I know, however, when I started to volunteer at Sarah’s Circle that soon, this organization will become my family. I vividly remember the first day when I went to volunteer there. Staff working at Sarah’s made me feel welcomed and I was impressed by the relationship between workers and homeless women residing at the shelter. Staff was patient and listened to these women, making them feel seen and important.

Since then I continue to volunteer at Sarah’s and be part of that family. It feels good to be part of the reason why some homeless women find purpose in life and strength to overcome difficult situations.

I've been involved with Sarah's Circle for the past 4 years as a member of the Associates Board. I am constantly impressed with the hard work and dedication of the staff as well as the support of the community. One of the many reasons this org stands out is due to their Interim Housing Program. Unlike a shelter, where women are forced to leave every morning, women at Sarah's Circle get temporary housing while they get back on their feet. They get to sleep in the same bed every night, build community, and have a safe space in addition to case management and access to a number of support services. It's the biggest women-only facility in Chicago that operates this way. The second standout component is their inclusionary approach. Sarah's Circle welcomes any client who identifies as a woman, a critical necessity for serving the population of trans women experiencing homelessness. The entire organization is well run by truly caring folks, and I am always proud to be associated in some small way with the work they do. I'm looking forward to being involved for many years to come and to watch the continued growth of this nonprofit.

I found Sarah's Circe on a volunteer site and immediately was captivated by the amazing services they offer women. And now they offer service 24 hours a day which is terrific for these women who find themselves with nowhere else to turn. Everyone who works and volunteers at the organization works hard to give the clients everything they can to make their lives a little bit easier. It is a fantastic place.

Every Tuesday at 1:00 pm, when my volunteer shift is over, I leave Sarah’s Circle feeling grateful for my time there. The best days are when a client comes up to the front desk to announce that she has found a job, or that she is back in school, or she now finally has her own apartment. It is a victorious feeling for everyone. I heard abut Sarah's Circle at a resale shop who donated profits to Sarah's Circle. I was very impressed about the idea of helping women help themselves. When I started volunteering there, I was all the more impressed at the women's strength, resilience and patience. It is very rewarding to volunteer at Sarah’s Circle seeing how volunteers, interns and staff work together as a team to help homeless women get out of homelessness.

I started at Sarah's Circle in January and I couldn't be happier. The staff is wonderful, helpful, and always supportive of their volunteers. I fully support the mission of Sarah's Circle and feel that they strive each day to support their clients in every way possible.

I didn't fully know what to expect when I began volunteering at Sarah's Circle. I have very little experience with the homeless population. I was worried that I might feel depressed while I volunteered there, but exactly the opposite is true! Sarah's Circle is a special and unique community for diverse, wonderful women who happen to be greatly in need. Being part of that community has been wonderful and I have enjoyed all of the relationships I've developed there -- with clients, staff and other volunteers! Without Sarah's Circle, I don't know where many of these women would be today.

Have you ever hauled a suitcase through an airport on your way to a vacation destination & thought, "What an ordeal to keep track of one suitcase from baggage claim to hotel!!!"? Imagine having to guard ALL your belongings 24/7 on the streets of Chicago, without a safe place to rest? That is reality for the women of Sarah's Circle. Wouldn't it be wonderful to provide permanent housing or at least safe havens for women who have found themselves on the streets? The dedicated staff and volunteers of Sarah's hope to accomplish this for the women who find life necessities & friendship there.

Sarah's Circle helps women get back on their feet and get their lives back from a variety of difficult to overcome personal challenges. Sarah's Circle services are more than a safety net--it's a community of women coming together to make us all stronger.

Sarah's Circle is a shelter and drop-in day center for women in need. They have many daytime services such as laundry and showers, as well as providing aid through case management, social work, and housing. Everyone at Sarah's Circle is determined to better the lives of the women they serve. The staff is passionate and committed to the women and are always willing to help out and empower the women in any way they can. The clients are the primary concern at this institution and the staff are constantly working to better serve them.

I have been volunteering at Sarah's Circle for about a year and have never met such a dedicated group of professionals as those who work at Sarah's Circle. They truly care about the women they are helping, and make continual efforts to get the community involved and educated as well. Kudos to the staff here, and keep up the great work!

Sarah's Circle was originally just a day center for homeless women but now it has extended its hours to be from 8am to 8pm. I started to volunteer when I was in high school I came back multiple times to volunteer because I believe in helping people to help themselves at hard times. This is why I like Sarah's Circle, is because it provides women with a way to help them fight homelessness while simultaneously helping them with their basic needs for the moment. Sarah's circle has social workers assigned to its clients so that the clients can look for affordable homes and jobs while simultaneously providing basic things like showers, laundry, breakfast, lunch, dinner as well as computer and phone. Sarah's Circle is great if you would like to volunteer but need a flexible schedule plus you can help out using whatever talent you have! For me, Sarah's Circle has helped me grow as a person as I have seen some of the harshness of life but also how much people care for each other. The staff at Sarah's Circle is always welcoming even in a long day. It is definitely a place I would recommend to others looking towards volunteering.

Sarah's Circle holds a special place in my heart. As a student of social work and a volunteer, I learned a lot at this agency. When I think of my time there, I remember the women I met and interacted with and it is difficult to describe in words what the impact of spending time with them was like for me. All I can hope for is for SC to continue to thrive and for the women SC serves to keep shining, because their spirit is what illuminated mine.

I decided to intern here after meeting some of the staff and seeing the atmosphere at Sarah's Circle. The clients, staff, and volunteers care about one another, and it shows. I absolutely must recommend this place for anyone who wants to help empower women and end homelessness. You really cannot find a more supportive organization both in the service they provide and in the personal relationships they develop.