Sarah’s Circle has been a safe haven in times of crisis for countless women since 1979. From our start, we have envisioned a safe and secure home for every woman in Chicago. In 2024, we are still working day in and day out to achieve this goal.
The women we serve are some of the most vulnerable people in Chicago, and without extensive support services it can be extremely difficult for women experiencing homelessness to change their circumstances. By providing Permanent Supportive Housing we are serving these women with the most effective solution to homelessness – a permanent home they can call their own.
Ultimately, the goal of all of Sarah’s Circle’s programming is to help women in Chicago experiencing homelessness find permanent housing. In total, we serve about 700 women each year.
We are grateful for the community support we have received, which has made the continuation of this important work possible.
“If not for Sarah’s Circle, I’d still be out on the streets, ready to give up on life… who knows where I’d be? Now I can be me and live my truth.”
Coco, Sarah’s Circle client
Demographics of Women Served by Sarah’s Circle
| 100% are women with low incomes |
| 49% enter our programs with no income |
| 100% face a shortage of affordable housing |
| 40% of clients are 55+ |
| 88% are BIPOC |
| 41% report having a mental health condition |
| 7% report having a substance use disorder |
| 31% report having a physical disability |
| 58% of clients enter programs directly from the street or shelter |
2023 Accomplishments
Sarah’s Circle is incredibly proud of its work to provide high-quality services and solutions to women experiencing homelessness in Chicago. Our 2023 accomplishments include:
| 694 women helped across all our programs |
| 230 women served at the Daytime Support Center |
| 299 women served by the Interim Housing Program |
| 80 women served by the Rapid Rehousing Program |
| 85 women served by the Permanent Supportive Housing Program |
| 434 women provided with case management assistance |
| 140 women helped to move into permanent or more stable housing |
| 18,250 nights of shelter provided in our Interim Housing Program |
| 61,950 meals served |
To learn more about our impact, please view our latest Annual Report.
