ABOUT US
At Family Promise Chicago North Shore, we are dedicated to helping families who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless get back on their feet and provide a stable lifestyle for their children.
OUR MISSION
Helping families regain stability
We help families with children in homeless situations return quickly to permanent housing. We provide shelter, meals, job search assistance, and other support for families, while working to address the root causes of their homelessness.
OUR STORY
Family Promise Chicago North Shore
In 2009, a group of volunteers, after learning about the growing number of students and families experiencing homelessness in our community, came together to establish a local network of Family Promise. We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting families with children who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and helping them achieve stability and transition into permanent housing.
2009 - 2014 The beginning
In 2009, the only affiliate of Family Promise in Illinois was founded.
In 2010, Family Promise Chicago North Shore accepted the first two families into the Rotational Shelter program.
In 2012, we grew to add a case manager to serve the families with resources. Also, that year, we added new congregations in Glencoe.
In 2014, we added a part-time Program Associate to work with our many volunteers and congregations that support our program.
2015 - 2020 Expansion of services
In 2018, the first Junior Board of Family Promise Chicago North Shore was created. It was made up of high school students from New Trier, Glenbrook South, Loyola Academy, and Evanston Township High Schools.
In 2019, we added a Workforce Development program to serve families in all areas of employment. This program helped pay vocational training fees, purchased medical scrubs, steel-toe boots, and supported families with resumes and looking for jobs.
In 2020, as Covid spread across the country, we added five new staff members, four of whom were from families that experienced homelessness in our shelter program.
2021 - 2024 Capacity building & structure
In 2022, we continue to expand by adding a full-time Program Manager to oversee all programming.
In 2023, we expanded services to include more Community Outreach and our Homeless Prevention and Shelter Diversion Programs. Keeping families in their homes with small financial support eliminates the disruption and trauma of leaving their community.
In 2024, as we worked on our strategic plan and built capacity, we added a full-time Director of Development & Operations to our staff.
2025 - Present renovation & future planning
In 2025, we announced a new remodeled Family Room at the Day Center with support from companies and volunteers. This new space could accommodate more families and was truly an environment with a trauma-informed safe space.
As the only network of Family Promise in Illinois, we serve families from the tri-county area. We began a partnership with thirteen local congregations to support our families, and now this has grown to 28 local congregations.
HOW WE WORK
We have a unique solution
We keep families together. Traditional shelters often require men and older male children to separate from mothers and small children. We provide a safe environment where we can care for the whole family as a unit.
We leverage community resources
We provide transitional shelter using the existing facilities of local congregations and organizations, making our model very cost-effective.
We bring people in need together with people who want to help. We provide the framework that turns compassion into action.
We provide a daytime location
Unlike most shelter programs, we also offer our families a daytime location which provides them with a mailing address, job search resources, and a place to have their children picked up for school.
We keep families housed
Last year, we were involved in 700 calls with the goal of keeping families housed. These calls involved social service agencies, landlords and the families.
We address the root causes of family homelessness
We provide supportive services tailored to each family to address the root causes of their homelessness. Through workshops, training, and counseling, each family develops a stabilization plan to prepare them for independence.
Serving Families in Chicago and the North Shore Since 2010.
We are an affiliate of the Family Promise Network
OUR TEAM
Executive Leadership
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Tracy Lawson, M.A.
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT & OPERATIONS
Josh Churchia
Program Staff
CASE MANAGER
Karen Aikens
VAN DRIVER
Jim Greene
SHELTER SUPPORT STAFF
Martha Hermida
PROGRAM MANAGER
Contact Us
Board of Directors
PRESIDENT
Abra Berkley
Jewelry Consultant
MEMBER
Rick Drake
Investment Manager
MEMBER
Ann Weisberg
Educator
TREASURER
Steve Sudhoff
Financial Consultant
MEMBER
Katie Hauser
Realtor
SECRETARY
Julia Joehl
Retired Educator
MEMBER
Dr. Sharon Moise
Chief Medical Officer
MEMBER
Sarah Begor
Retired Project Management Professional
MEMBER
Bessie Simmons
Social Worker
Junior Board of Directors
Our Junior Board of Directors started in 2018.
Each year, it is comprised of students from five North Shore High Schools, including
New Trier High School
Glenbrook South High School
Loyola Academy
Highland Park High School
Evanston Township High School
The Junior Board volunteers facilitate activities for the youth in the various programs, lead our Christmas Party and Back to School giveaways, raise awareness of family homelessness, and raise money through youth-led fundraisers like our 3V3 Basketball Tournament and Mother Daughter Tea.
Partnering Congregations
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Am Yisrael Synagogue
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Beth Hillel Congregation Bnai Emunah
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Congregation Hakafa
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Congregation Sukkat Shalom
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Christ Church of Winnetka
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Divine Mercy Parish
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Ebenezer African Methodist Episcopal Church
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First Congregational Church of Evanston
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First Presbyterian Church of Wilmette
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Gloria Dei Lutheran Church
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Grace Lutheran Church
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Hope Community Church
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Kenilworth Union Church
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Northfield Community Church
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Northminster Presbyterian Church
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North Shore Congregation Israel
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North Shore United Methodist Church
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Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church
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St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church
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St. Elisabeth’s Episcopal Church
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St. James Armenian Church
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St. John’s Lutheran Church
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St’s Joseph & Francis Xavier Catholic Church
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St. Nicholas Catholic Church
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St. Norbert Catholic Church
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St. Paul’s African Methodist Episcopal Church
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Temple Jeremiah Synagogue
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Winnetka Covenant Church
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Winnetka Presbyterian Church