Primo Center for Women and Children

What Primo Center for Women and Children does

Primo Center for Women and Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, founded in 1977 (incorporated as Urban Family and Community Centers) and rebranded under its current name in 2005, operating as Chicago's largest provider of services for families experiencing homelessness. The organization serves families led primarily by single mothers, many of whom are survivors of domestic violence, across three housing tiers — Interim Housing (350+ beds in the Englewood and Austin neighborhoods), Permanent Supportive Housing (91 units across Chicagoland), and Triage Housing (40 beds for single women) — supported by integrated healthcare, mental health, early childhood development, and education programs organized around the High Fidelity Wraparound model and trauma-informed care framework.

Core programs include Special Beginnings prenatal care in partnership with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, Primo Bright Beginnings maternal and child health, Kids Connect (with Catholic Charities and Heartland Alliance Health), Parents as Teachers, FUSE Initiative for chronically homeless individuals, and on-site primary care with Lawndale Christian Health Center plus psychiatric services via Rush University Medical Center. The organization's core technology stack is operational rather than product-based: case management, referral routing through Chicago's DFSS/311 system and SPARC, and Microsoft 365 for organizational systems following a 2025 migration from G-Drive.

The business model is multi-stream nonprofit funding: government grants and contracts from HUD, IDHS, DFSS, and HRSA form the primary base, supplemented by individual donations (including monthly Primo Family Subscriber recurring gifts), corporate and foundation grants (BCBSIL, Lavin Family Foundation, RedMane Technology), planned giving, and a sliding-fee service model where fees are $0 for homeless clients and discounted up to 200% of federal poverty guidelines. Distribution occurs through government referral channels, community partnerships, and advocacy at federal, state, and local levels rather than direct sales. The organization is in an expansion phase, with a new interim shelter and administrative headquarters planned for 2027 in the Auburn-Gresham neighborhood, supported by recent executive team buildout under CEO Felicia Blakley (appointed 2024).

Name

Primo Center for Women and Children

Legal name

Primo Center for Women and Children

Website

https://primocenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Primo Center for Women and Children is Chicago's largest 501(c)(3) nonprofit provider of services for families experiencing homelessness, operating 350+ shelter beds, 91 permanent supportive housing units, and integrated trauma-informed healthcare and education programs organized around the High Fidelity Wraparound model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Family Homeless Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Housing Services (62422), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO), Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

Keywords

• Family homeless services
• Supportive housing programs
• Trauma-informed care
• Homelessness prevention services
• Early childhood development

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Contracts: Federal funding from US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS), and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). These government grants and contracts form the primary funding base for shelter operations, supportive housing, and social services.
2. Donations and Contributions: Individual donors, corporate foundations, and nonprofit funders contribute at various levels ($100,000+ to $50-$99). Includes monthly recurring donations through Primo Family Subscriber program and planned giving options.
3. Blue Cross Blue Shield Partnership: Partnership with BCBSIL for Special Beginnings maternal health program and Primo Bright Beginnings grant supporting pregnant mothers, infants, and young children experiencing homelessness.
4. Program Service Fees: Sliding fee scale for services with discounts based on family size and income up to 200% of federal poverty guidelines. Fee agreement is $0 for homeless clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Primo Center for Women and Children provides interim housing, permanent supportive housing, and triage housing for families experiencing homelessness in Chicago, supported by integrated healthcare, trauma-informed behavioral health, early childhood development, and educational programs. Services are organized under the High Fidelity Wraparound model that coordinates housing, healthcare, and education into individualized family plans across 350+ shelter beds and 91 units of permanent supportive housing.

Product overview

Primo Center for Women and Children operates as a social services nonprofit offering a comprehensive, family-centered model of care for families experiencing homelessness in Chicago. The organization provides three main housing tiers (Interim Housing, Permanent Supportive Housing, and Triage Housing), supported by integrated healthcare services including mental health care and prenatal programs through Special Beginnings®. Educational support is delivered via early childhood development, Parents as Teachers, Kids Connect, and after-school programming through Chicago HOPES for Kids partnerships. The High Fidelity Wraparound model serves as the organizing framework, connecting all services across housing, health, and education domains. The organization operates 350+ shelter beds and 91 units of permanent supportive housing across multiple Chicago locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Primo Bright Beginnings: A comprehensive maternal and child health program that combines home visiting services, integrated medical and mental healthcare, and transportation assistance for families experiencing homelessness.

Quantifiable outcome

• 708 children cared for last year
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

30 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2026BCBSIL invested in Primo Bright Beginnings, an innovative maternal and child health initiative supporting pregnant mothers, new parents, infants, and young children experiencing homelessness. Partnership includes Special Beginnings program for prenatal care. BCBSIL's support helps address barriers to prenatal care, postpartum services, pediatric healthcare, and behavioral health support.
• Home Illinois SummitsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Annual statewide summit bringing together advocates, service providers, healthcare professionals, philanthropists, and government leaders to address homelessness in Illinois.
• Congresswoman Delia RamirezcoreOthers · 1 February 2026Illinois 3rd Congressional District representative who hosted Social Safety Net Roundtable with Primo CEO Felicia Blakley. Advocates for federal funding for housing and family support services.
• Congressman Danny DaviscoreOthers · 1 November 2025Long-standing champion of Primo's work; represents districts where both Englewood and Austin interim shelter campuses are located. Advocates for SNAP benefits and PSH funding.
• Congressman Jonathan JacksoncoreOthers · 1 November 2025Representing Auburn-Gresham district where Primo's new interim shelter is slated to open in 2027. Discussed early investment and collaboration opportunities.
• Lawndale Christian Health CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOn-site health services partnership providing primary medical care for residents at Primo's facility in the Austin neighborhood. Integrated healthcare delivery at the shelter location.
• Rush University Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner providing psychiatric services and support for the Primo Bright Beginnings maternal health program, including expanded partnerships for prenatal and postpartum care coordination.
• Heartland Alliance HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-leads Kids Connect program and conducts screenings, intakes, and well child home visits. Partnership supports families in navigating healthcare and mental health services.
• Catholic CharitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-leads Kids Connect, a child-focused advocacy program helping families navigate education, healthcare, and mental health services. Partnership focuses on children's well-being.
• Chicago HOPES for KidscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides after-school and summer youth programming to support academic growth, social-emotional learning, and positive relationships. Partnership offers tutoring, enrichment activities, and nurturing encouragement.
• Howard Brown HealthsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerConducts screenings, intakes, and well child home visits as part of integrated healthcare services for families.
• Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS)coreOthersCity of Chicago department that refers families to Primo's interim housing and permanent supportive housing programs. Families access services through DFSS via 311 calls.
• Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS)coreOthersState government department providing funding support for Primo's programs and services. Data reporting to IDHS for state statistical purposes.
• YWCA Metropolitan ChicagosecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership where Anna, a former Primo client, was connected to YWCA's program helping women build careers and find trades.
• Nourishing HopesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides nutritious food via a personalized food distribution program supporting families' nutritional needs.
• Share Our SparesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerDonates essential items including diapers, car seats, and strollers to directly support Primo mothers with limited means.
• Above & Beyond Family Recovery CentersecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides high quality free outpatient behavioral addiction treatment services for families in need.
• University of Illinois Chicago - Health Equity and Justice PartnerssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership focusing on health inequities and challenges faced by marginalized populations.
• Illinois Chapter, American Academy of PediatricssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerGuidance resource for child, youth and family well-being and quality healthcare standards.
• Teamwork EnglewoodsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnects Englewood residents to mentoring, digital literacy, workforce training, career readiness programs, and job placement services.
• Lavin Family FoundationsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides crucial in-kind soft goods including adult and children's clothing, footwear, coats, and bedding.
• Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood assistance program for pregnant mothers, new mothers and young children to eat well and stay healthy.
• Salvation Army - Emergency Homeless Assessment and Response CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerServes as the access and assessment hub for families awaiting shelter placement in Chicago's coordinated entry system.
• Facing Forward to End HomelessnesssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides long-term housing, essential resources, and personalized, family-wide support services.
• Center for Housing and HealthsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecializes in services for people experiencing homelessness and chronic illnesses.
• The Night MinistrysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides overnight and short-term housing programs for young people and adults experiencing homelessness.
• Matthew House, IncsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides food and other critical services for individuals who are unsheltered or facing homelessness.
• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign - Children and Family Research CentersecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerServes as the research partner for Kids Connect program, providing evidence-based evaluation and research support.
• RedMane TechnologysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology partner; Alex Mack serves as CFO of RedMane Technology LLC and is on Primo's Board of Directors. RedMane sponsors events and provides technology expertise.
• Chicago HopesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization that takes Primo families on field trips to experience life outside of pain and the reality of being homeless.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Deborah's Place: Chicago-based nonprofit providing housing and supportive services for women experiencing homelessness. Operates interim and permanent supportive housing programs with case management, making it a directly comparable women-focused homelessness service provider operating in the same Chicago market.
• Sarah's Circle: Chicago nonprofit serving women experiencing homelessness with interim housing, permanent supportive housing, and day program services. Directly comparable to Primo Center in its women-only homelessness focus in the Chicago market with similar housing-plus-supportive-services model.
• A Safe Haven: Chicago-based nonprofit providing comprehensive services including housing, healthcare, job training, and supportive services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Operates a similar wraparound model serving families with comparable array of integrated services.
• La Casa Norte: Chicago nonprofit serving youth and families experiencing homelessness with housing, supportive services, education, and health programs. Comparable to Primo in its family-focused mission and integrated service approach serving similar populations in the same Chicago market.

Broad incumbents

• Heartland Alliance: Chicago-based anti-poverty and human rights nonprofit providing services across housing, healthcare, and economic development. While broader in scope than Primo, operates in overlapping domains (housing, health, services for vulnerable populations) in the same Chicago market and is an existing programmatic partner.
• Family Promise: National nonprofit addressing family homelessness through community-based shelter, housing, and prevention programs. Comparable to Primo Center in its family-homelessness focus, but operates nationally across 200+ affiliates with significantly broader geographic reach and recognition.
• YWCA Metropolitan Chicago: Chicago-area women-focused nonprofit providing services including workforce development, housing advocacy, and domestic violence services. Shares women's empowerment focus with Primo Center and is an existing referral/outflow partner for workforce programming.
• Catholic Charities of Chicago: Regional affiliate of Catholic Charities USA providing comprehensive social services including housing, family services, and immigration support in the Chicago area. Operates broader portfolio than Primo but shares overlapping family services and is an existing Kids Connect program partner.
• Volunteers of America: National nonprofit providing housing, healthcare, and supportive services to vulnerable populations including families experiencing homelessness. Operates at significantly larger scale nationally with similar housing-plus-services model serving families, veterans, and other populations across multiple states.

Others

• All Chicago Making Homelessness History: Chicago-focused organization working to prevent and end homelessness through research, advocacy, and coordination across the homeless services ecosystem. Adjacent to Primo as a coordinating body that funnels families to direct service providers and aggregates data on homelessness needs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC1kS5N0R5xW1yR2h3eLJK9g
• Instagraminstagram.com/primocenter
• Facebookfacebook.com/primocenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/primo-center-for-women-and-children

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Primo Center for Women and Children