Community Partner Spotlight: Deborah’s Place

Mission

Deborah’s Place opens doors for women experiencing homelessness in Chicago. Our supportive housing and services offer women the key to healing, achieving their goals, and moving on from the experience of homelessness.

CEO

Kathy Booton Wilson has been a leader at Deborah’s Place since 1987, serving as Chief Strategy Officer, Chief Operations Officer, and Director of Supportive Housing. With an MSW, she has pioneered innovative programs, such as the eviction prevention program, while working to increase the organization’s capacity to serve more women. Appointed CEO in 2023, Kathy drives strategic vision, fosters key partnerships, and advocates for systemic solutions to homelessness. She also teaches social work at Prairie State College and serves on the Chicago Continuum of Care’s System Performance and Evaluation Committee.

Services Offered

Deborah’s Place fulfills its mission through a holistic model that combines supportive housing with a range of evidence-based services. We offer 163 units of permanent supportive housing, a 10-bed interim housing program, and a 15-bed Safe Haven for chronically homeless women. Our community-based housing includes over 200 units, plus 72 subsidized scattered-site units through private landlord partnerships and the CARES Act. These are paired with customizable services, including case management, therapeutic services, two Learning Centers, Health Services, and Alumnae Services for former residents.

Current Projects

Deborah’s Place recently launched the Conservatory Apartments, a 43-unit building in Garfield Park developed with Interfaith Housing Development Corporation and Trilogy. Deborah’s Place provides services to 34 women in the building and 10 in scattered-site housing. Since opening in May 2024, all 34 units have been filled. This project combines the resources of three agencies, focusing on unhoused women, including those who have experienced chronic homelessness and those coming directly from the streets.

Organizational Impact to the Community

For 40 years, Deborah’s Place has worked toward ending homelessness for single, unaccompanied women in Chicago. As one of just two agencies serving this population, we know that the women we serve can overcome barriers related to housing, health, and stability when provided affordable housing, healthcare, a steady income, and social support. Last year, nearly 700 women were served through our comprehensive programs, a number that continues to grow.

Funding Sources

A diversified funding profile allows us to sustain and expand our programs, ensuring we can continue to fulfill our mission. About 40% of our funding comes from federal grants, 25% from program and rental revenue, 20% from individual gifts and donations, and about 15% from private grants.

This spotlight is part of the Healthy City Collaborative, a program within the UIC Office of Community Engagement And Neighborhood Health Partnerships.

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