DuPage Pads

What DuPage Pads does

DuPagePads is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social services organization founded in 1985 and headquartered in Wheaton, Illinois, that delivers a continuum of housing and support services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness in DuPage County. The organization operates four named service sites, including the Interim Housing Center (IHC), a 115-room hotel-converted facility in Downers Grove that is the first hotel-to-interim housing conversion in Illinois and serves approximately 300 guests nightly, of whom roughly 100 are children; the Empowerment Center in Downers Grove providing case management, education, employment, and financial-literacy programming; the Access Center in Wheaton for in-person assessments and basic needs; and 180 scattered-site Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) and Rapid Rehousing (RRH) apartments county-wide. Additional programs include Housing Now move-in assistance, Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) up to two years, the Haven of Hope Rapid Rehousing track for survivors of domestic violence, street outreach, and Career Employment Solutions. Reported program outcomes include an 80% reduction in mental health incidents and 75% reduction in health incidents since the 2022 IHC purchase, 136 children connected to school annually, 88% PSH retention at one year, and 91% Housing Now retention. DuPagePads employs 70+ paid staff, is supported by 4,000+ annual volunteers, and coordinates with 80+ faith partners and 50+ community organizations, including Northwestern Medicine, College of DuPage, VNA Health Care, DuPage Housing Authority, and Northern Illinois Food Bank. Underlying operational technology consists of the federally/HUD-aligned Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) required by the DuPage Homeless Continuum of Care for outcome measurement, with no proprietary software stack.

The organization's revenue model is multi-channel and entirely donor-funded. Streams include individual donations organized through the Pads Partners tiered annual giving program (Friend $1–$499, Partner $500–$999, Premier Partner $1,000–$2,499, Sustaining Partner $2,500–$4,999, Visionary Partner $5,000+); foundation and corporate grants (anchored by a December 2025 $5 million grant from the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund); government grants from the DuPage County Board and other federal/state sources (which underwrote the March 2022 purchase of the IHC); planned giving vehicles including bequests, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, and IRA beneficiary designations; gifts of stock and securities; employer matching gift programs; and signature fundraising events such as Drive for 155, Wake Up Your Spirit Breakfast, Rock & Bowl, Naperville Neighborly Day, and Rockin' For Our Vets. All client services are provided free of charge. Operating governance rests with a Board of Directors under President & CEO April Redzic, with a C-suite comprising a Chief Programs Officer, Chief Financial Officer/VP Administration, and Chief Development Officer. Geographic scope is explicitly restricted to DuPage County, Illinois, with no claims of broader national or international service delivery.

Name

DuPage Pads

Legal name

DuPagePads

Website

https://dupagepads.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

DuPagePads is a Wheaton, Illinois-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1985 that provides emergency shelter, interim housing, permanent supportive housing, rapid rehousing, and case management services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness in DuPage County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Other Community Housing Services (624229)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public & Affordable Housing Programs (Subsidies, Vouchers, Public Housing) (BPAIANAA), Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

Keywords

• Homeless services
• Emergency shelter
• Supportive housing
• Case management
• Employment services

Headquarters

HQ city

Wheaton

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. Individual Donations: Direct donations from individuals at various giving levels (Friend $1-499, Partner $500-999, Premier Partner $1,000-2,499, Sustaining Partner $2,500-4,999, Visionary Partner $5,000+). Also includes memorial and honorarium gifts, and special occasion cards.
2. Government Grants: Funding from government sources including DuPage County Board grants and federal/state programs. The DuPage County Board provided a generous grant enabling the IHC purchase in 2022.
3. Foundation & Corporate Grants: Received $5 million grant from Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos Day 1 Families Fund. Corporate partners at Platinum, Diamond, Gold, and Silver levels provide annual support.
4. Employer Matching Gifts: Corporate matching gift programs where employers match employee donations, maximizing donor impact.
5. Planned Giving & Legacy Society: Bequests through wills, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, life insurance donations, IRA beneficiary designations, and real estate donations.
6. Stock & Securities Donations: Accepts gifts of stock and securities which may provide tax benefits to donors while supporting operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

DuPagePads operates a continuum of housing and support programs to end homelessness in DuPage County, Illinois. Core offerings include emergency shelter, a 115-room Interim Housing Center (a repurposed hotel serving ~300 people nightly), permanent supportive housing (180 apartments), rapid rehousing, case management, employment services, meals, and outreach. All services are provided free of charge to clients and funded through donations, grants, and government funding.

Product overview

DuPage Pads is a nonprofit social services organization founded in 1985 that provides a comprehensive continuum of housing and support services to end homelessness in DuPage County, Illinois. The organization operates multiple interconnected programs: Emergency Shelter and Outreach provides immediate access to services; the Interim Housing Center (IHC) offers 115 rooms of converted hotel shelter for approximately 300 people nightly; the Empowerment Center delivers case management, education, and employment services; and Permanent Supportive Housing provides 180 subsidized apartments for individuals with disabilities. Additional housing programs include Rapid Rehousing, Housing Now, and Tenant-Based Rental Assistance. The organization serves over 1,200 guests annually and employs 70+ staff members, supported by over 4,000 volunteers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Interim Housing Center (IHC): A repurposed hotel providing emergency shelter and housing for approximately 300 people each night through 115 rooms
• Empowerment Center
• Permanent Supportive Housing
• Rapid Rehousing
• Housing Now
• Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA)
• Haven of Hope Rapid Rehousing
• Young Professionals Council

Products and services

• Emergency Shelter and Outreach Street outreach team travels into the community to engage unsheltered individuals and connect them with shelter, emergency supplies, case management, and referrals to community resources.
• Interim Housing Center (IHC) A repurposed hotel in Downers Grove, Illinois providing 115 rooms and safe overnight shelter for approximately 300 people each night, including families with children. The first hotel-to-interim housing conversion in Illinois.
• Empowerment Center Located four blocks from the IHC, provides case management, education and employment services, financial literacy workshops, parenting support, mental health peer supports, and linkages to medical and health services for clients.
• Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) Subsidized housing for individuals, families, and veterans with documented disabilities who have experienced homelessness. Includes case management with 24-hour crisis intervention, totaling 180 apartment units throughout DuPage County.
• Rapid Rehousing (RRH) Program launched in fall 2020 to help households experiencing homelessness quickly obtain permanent housing. Combines supportive case management with rental assistance, focusing on first-time homeless households.
• Housing Now Assists clients with locating housing and affording upfront move-in costs such as security deposits. Provides a caring case manager for one year after move-in to ensure successful transition from homelessness to housing.
• Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) Helps individuals and families experiencing homelessness obtain housing by providing assistance with housing location, ongoing case management support, and financial assistance for deposits and rental subsidies for up to two years.
• Haven of Hope Rapid Rehousing Provides apartments and wraparound services including safety planning for survivors of domestic violence. Launched in 2022.
• Career Employment Solutions Employment support including vocational assessments, job coaching, resume assistance, interview preparation, GED courses, and connections to employers through on-site hiring events.
• Access Center Located at 703 W. Liberty Drive in Wheaton, provides in-person assessments for shelter and housing resources, along with showers, lockers, laundry, and basic needs. Extended to overnight and weekend hours in December 2025.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% reduction in mental health incidents since IHC purchase in 2022
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• DuPage County Community ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty-level human services coordination and referrals for homeless individuals and families in DuPage County.
• DuPage County Health Dept.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth department partnerships for client wellness programs and health workshop delivery.
• Northwestern MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner providing medical services and wellness resources for clients.
• College of DuPage (GED Program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership providing GED courses and continuing education opportunities for clients.
• VNA Health CarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare services and support for clients at the Empowerment Center.
• DuPage Housing AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing authority partnerships for permanent housing placements and rental assistance programs.
• Veterans Assistance Commission of DuPage CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVeterans benefits assistance and housing support for homeless veterans.
• Bridge CommunitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransitional housing partner for families experiencing homelessness.
• Family Shelter ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDomestic violence services and referrals for families fleeing abuse.
• NAMI of DuPagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health support and resources for clients through mental health collaborative.
• H.O.M.E. DuPagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinancial literacy workshops including Personal Budget and Understanding the Credit Report, plus one-on-one financial coaching.
• HAS (Healthcare Alternative Systems)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubstance use and coping skills programming delivered on-site at the Empowerment Center.
• Wheaton Bank and TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinancial literacy partnership delivering Money Smart Workshop to build financial knowledge for clients.
• Northern Illinois Food BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood bank partnership supporting meal programs for 300 nightly guests.
• CompudoptcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSix-week computer course with eight modules including Computer Basics, Email, Internet Use & Safety for clients.
• Jane Addams Resource Corporation (JARC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManufacturing training partnership providing CNC machine operating certification program (24 weeks, 6 hours/day, 5 days/week).
• Transforming Impossible Into Possible (TIP Institute)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelf-empowerment workshop program helping clients transform their lives through small group discussions on identity, forgiveness, goal setting, barriers, and gratitude.
• 80+ Faith and Community OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExtensive network of churches, mosques, temples, hospitals, and religious organizations providing volunteer support, meal services, referrals, and community advocacy. Includes Adventist Hinsdale LaGrange Hospitals, Islamic Center of Naperville, 93 Catholic churches, 70+ Protestant churches, and more.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bridge Communities: DuPage County-based transitional housing nonprofit for families experiencing homelessness. Listed as a strategic partner but operates an adjacent transitional housing model and serves overlapping client populations.
• PADS Lake County: Illinois-based nonprofit providing emergency shelter and supportive services to people experiencing homelessness, using a similar faith-based volunteer and rotating-shelter model.
• Shelter, Inc. Illinois-based nonprofit providing emergency shelter and housing services to families and individuals experiencing homelessness, with overlapping service offerings and similar target population.

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Charities USA: National faith-based social services network providing shelter, housing, and homelessness prevention services. Has local affiliates in Illinois and operates similar programs at greater scale.
• Heartland Alliance: Chicago-based antipoverty nonprofit providing housing, supportive services, and resources to vulnerable populations including those experiencing homelessness. Comparable service array.
• The Salvation Army Metropolitan Division: Large national human services organization operating emergency shelter, transitional housing, and supportive housing programs in Illinois and the broader U.S.
• Family Promise: National nonprofit operating shelter and housing programs for families experiencing homelessness across the U.S. Broader scale but similar mission and emergency-to-permanent housing model.
• Volunteers of America Illinois: National nonprofit with Illinois operations providing supportive housing, case management, and services to homeless and vulnerable populations. Comparable service continuum.

Regional players

• All Chicago Making Homelessness History: Chicago-co-focused nonprofit coordinating resources and policy to address homelessness, analogous to DuPage's role within the DuPage Homeless Continuum of Care.

Others

• Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH): National nonprofit that funds and advises on supportive housing development, closely aligned with DuPagePads' PSH program. Acts as a funder/peer rather than a direct service competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/DuPagePads
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@DupagepadsOrg
• Facebookfacebook.com/DuPagePADS
• Instagraminstagram.com/dupagepads
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dupage-pads

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 DuPage Pads