The History of Deborah’s Place
1984
• Founding mothers meet with members of the Community Emergency Shelter Organization (CESO) to talk about how to assist single women living on the streets in Chicago
1985
• Deborah’s Place, opens Chicago’s first year-round overnight emergency shelter for 30 women at 1404 ½ North Sedgwick
• Martha Whelan hired as Executive Director
1986
• Irene’s, the daytime program of Deborah’s Place opens at 1742 N. Milwaukee Ave serving 30-40 women a day
1988
• Marah’s, the transitional housing program of Deborah’s Place, opens at 1110 N. Noble serving 22 women for up to two year
1991
• Patricia Crowley, O.S.B. hired as second Executive Director
1992
• Deborah’s Place Supportive Services Program begins with case management for women moving to housing as well as education services. Decision made to develop housing
1994
• “Hard Hat Party” kicks off the capital campaign for Deborah’s Place new housing initiative-Deborah’s Place II
1995
• Deborah’s Place opens 1530-32 N. Sedgwick co-locating 30 bed overnight shelter, 10 bed transitional shelter called Teresa’s and 39 units of permanent supportive housing
• Deborah’s Place celebrates 10 year anniversary
• Employment programming is implemented
1997
• Decision made to develop additional supportive housing and relocate Marah’s transitional housing program
1998
• Deborah’s Place develops WomanCraft, a hand made papermaking social venture to employ Deborah’s Place participants
• Kick-off event at the United Center for the $5 million A Light in the Window capital campaign kicks off for the construction projects at 1456 West Oakdale and 2822 West Jackson
1999
• Marah’s relocates to 1456 W. Oakdale and increases number of women to 30
2000
• Deborah’s Place receives the Sarah Lee Spirit Award
• The Rebecca Johnson Apartments open with 90 units of supportive housing at 2822 W. Jackson
2002
• Rededication of the 39 apartments at 1530-32 N. Sedwick as the Patty Crowley Apartments
2003
• Mayor Daley announces his support of the Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness in Chicago at the Rebecca Johnson Apartments
• Deborah’s Place begins to restructure programs to advance the goals of the 10 year plan
• Teresa’s transitional shelter converts to interim housing program
2004
• Audrey Thomas hired as third Executive Director
• Overnight Shelter converts to 15 bed Safe Haven Program
• Deborah’s Place celebrates 20th anniversary year
2005 •
1742 N. Milwaukee building & Irene’s daytime programming decentralized to Learning Centers at other Deborah’s Place sites
2006
• Relocated WomanCraft, Inc. to 4115 W. Ogden
• Marah’s converts to permanent housing program for women with disabilities
2007
• The MetLife Foundation and Enterprise Community Partners awards Deborah’s Place a prize for excellence in Supportive Housing at annual conference in Cleveland, Ohio
2008
• Deborah’s Place joins Rental Housing Support Program increasing housing capacity for 33 women.
• Health Services opens mini-health clinics at two Deborah’s Place sites