At All Chicago, one of the most vital aspects of our role in the homelessness response system is the partnerships that we’ve formed with housing organizations across the city. The work that these providers put in to understand the needs of their clients allows All Chicago to prioritize the security, distribution, and efficient use of available funding.
One of our partners that epitomizes this relationship is Deborah’s Place. Deborah’s Place is a housing organization that supports women coming out of homelessness, providing stable housing, and giving these women the skills and resources necessary for them to sustain themselves independently once they leave the organization. Deborah’s Place’s has locations in East Garfield Park, Old Town, and West Humboldt Park, with over 200 units for their clients. Their positive impact on the homelessness response system is huge, and they are a part of All Chicago’s commitment to a homelessness response model that works.
We sat down with Gwen Johnson, Alumnae Manager at Deborah’s Place, to speak about the organization, their partnership with All Chicago and its importance to serving those in need.
“We provide health services which support the women with mental or medical or even physical support for their health needs,” Johnson explains, “as well as other services in the community, food services, pantries and things of that nature. Our focus is housing, health, and income.”
Deborah’s Place and All Chicago are partnered through the Emergency Fund, a source of immediate financial assistance for those struggling with bills or payments and need a small amount of assistance to regain stability. All Chicago sends payments to landlords, utility service providers, and mortgage holders so that the clients can focus on getting back on their feet. Johnson manages the use of funds from the Emergency Fund at Deborah’s Place. “The Emergency Fund has been a great support to our women in helping them to maintain their housing through rent payment, security deposits and also paying their utility bills in order for them to continue to have those services on in their units,” she notes.
All Chicago’s relationship with organizations like Deborah’s Place is central to the work, because our partners are so familiar with the neighborhoods that they serve and the clients that they deal with. They know what their clients need. All Chicago in turn coordinates the various sources of financial and other support that can address those needs.
“We are able to actually communicate with All Chicago about the needs of our participants,” Johnson says, “and be able to refer our participants or request funding to support them in their housing needs such as rental assistance or utility assistance in order for them to continue to maintain their housing.”
“In FY2026, we assisted 682 women with services,’ Johnson says. “Ninety-five percent of those women maintained housing. Part of that support that assisted them with providing them with housing support was through All Chicago’s emergency funds.”
All Chicago is proud to work with Deborah’s Place and other organizations who show such a deep commitment to bettering the lives of the individuals who may be struggling throughout Chicago. All Chicago’s network of partners helps us change thousands of lives as we work together to prevent and end homelessness.
