Sarah’s Circle has been providing services for women who are homeless or at risk of homelessness for 30 years. We have grown from a small organization providing daytime support services to local area women, to an agency that provides comprehensive services and permanent supportive housing. Today, we serve approximately 700 women annually, from all areas of Chicago.
While the scope of our programs has grown, the need for services and housing for women who are homeless has grown as well. According to a study by the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless there are 21,078 individuals facing homelessness on a typical night. Of the 21,078 individuals only 22% are served by overnight shelters. In Chicago calls to the Homeless Prevention Call Center have increased 53% from December 2007 to December 2008. The citywide rise of homelessness has been felt at Sarah’s Circle; in 2009 we served an unprecedented number of women (725 unduplicated women made 15,286 visits). From 2008 to 2009, the average number of women per day increased from 49 to 63. There are many reasons for homelessness including mental illness, domestic violence, poverty and a lack of affordable housing. Sarah’s Circle is determined to strive towards the elimination of homelessness with the creation of additional housing for women suffering from chronic homelessness.
In our 30th year of service, Sarah’s Circle is embarking on a campaign to raise money for the purchase and renovation of a building. This building, 4836 N. Sheridan Rd. will be the new “home” for Sarah’s Circle. The building will house all of our current programs; provide space for growth and ten units of permanent, supportive housing for women with a history of chronic homelessness. We will be blending multiple sources of funds for the purchase and renovation which will include the use of Illinois Housing Development Authority’s Affordable Housing Tax Credits. Through this program, donors making donations for this project are able to receive a tax credit against their Illinois income tax liability, as well as charitable donation on their federal tax return.
Please take some time to review Explanation of Tax Credits and Tax Credit Examples. These materials describe how you will benefit from a contribution to this project for Sarah’s Circle. This is a critical stage in the history of Sarah’s Circle, and we hope you consider being a part of this endeavor.
