Home of the Sparrow

What Home of the Sparrow does

Home of the Sparrow (HOS) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 1987 and headquartered in Woodstock, Illinois, that delivers a continuum of housing and supportive services to women, children, families, and individuals experiencing homelessness across McHenry County and Northern Illinois. Its core program portfolio comprises a Transitional Shelter (housing 32-40 individuals per night), an Affordable Housing Program (25-26 units), a Subsidized Apartment Program (3-5 units), a Rapid Rehousing Program, a Homeless Prevention Program, and wraparound services (case management, trauma-informed counseling, Client Enrichment, Supported Employment). A social-enterprise thrift network — six Sparrow's Nest stores plus the upscale Community Threads resale store in Arlington Heights — generates unrestricted net income and supplies zero-cost clothing, furniture, and housewares to clients via vouchers; a four-truck logistics fleet covers ~78,000 miles/year for donation pickup and client moves.

Revenue is generated through an unusual hybrid model combining commercial thrift retail, individual and corporate donations, signature fundraising events (annual gala, golf outing, Celebration of Women Luncheon, Hope for Children Walk, Spark Hope virtual walk-a-thon), foundation and corporate grants (e.g., $50,000 Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Awards grant in 2024, recurring Community Foundation for McHenry County grants of $14,000-$22,000), tenant rent from affordable/subsidized housing, and in-kind donations. Operations are supported by 800+ individual and 400+ group volunteers contributing 53,000+ hours annually, with paid staff in the 51-100 range. Technology is standard non-profit stack: a website built by ESC! Technologies Group, online intake forms, donor-tracking software (the agency's first), event platforms (Qgiv, RallyUp, afrogs.org), and a Resident Maintenance Portal. Outcome metrics include a 97.5% permanent-housing placement rate and 65,000+ nights of shelter delivered in the most recent fiscal year, serving 2,500+ individuals annually.

Name

Home of the Sparrow

Legal name

Home of the Sparrow, Inc.

Website

https://hosparrow.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Home of the Sparrow is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 1987 that provides transitional shelter, affordable housing, rapid rehousing, and supportive services to homeless women, children, families, and individuals across McHenry County and Northern Illinois.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless Services & Affordable Housing

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Housing Services (62422), Other Community Housing Services (624229)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)

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 shelter services
• Affordable housing programs
• Rapid rehousing services
• Transitional shelter programs
• Nonprofit social services

Headquarters

HQ city

Mchenry

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Thrift store sales (Sparrow's Nest & Community Threads): Net proceeds from seven thrift stores (six Sparrow's Nest locations plus one Community Threads upscale resale store in Arlington Heights) provide unrestricted income and daily cash flow to fund programs. Stores also supply zero-cost clothing, furniture, and housewares to HOS clients via vouchers.
2. Individual donations (monetary and in-kind): Donations accepted online, by check, via the Holiday Giving Program (Gift of Hope, Gift of Opportunity, Gift of Support), vehicle donations, furniture pickup, and shelter wish list items. Suggested giving tiers include $10, $20, $25, $50, $100, $250, $500, and $1,000.
3. Fundraising events: Annual signature events including the "A Million Dreams: From Hope to Home" Charity Gala ($150 individual, $1,100 table of 8, $1,300 table of 10), Charity Golf Outing, Celebration of Women Luncheon ($55 individual, $80 VIP, $425 table of 8, $600 VIP table of 8), Hope for Children Walk, and Spark Hope virtual walk/run/bike-a-thon.
4. Foundation and corporate grants: Restricted and unrestricted grants from foundations including the Barrington Area Community Foundation (BACF) for the Client Enrichment Program, Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Awards ($50,000 in 2024), McHenry County Mental Health Board, and other community/government funders.
5. Corporate sponsorships: Multi-tier event and program sponsorships providing corporate partners with logo recognition on website, social media, program book, at events, and online registration/bidding platforms with direct link to sponsor websites.
6. Rental income from affordable and subsidized housing units: Tenant rent from approximately 26 affordable housing units and 5 subsidized apartment units. Priority is given to formerly homeless women and children; applicants must meet income guidelines and complete rental/credit/background verification.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Home of the Sparrow operates an integrated continuum of housing and support programs for women, children, families, and individuals experiencing homelessness in Northern Illinois. Its core offerings include a Transitional Shelter (32-40 residents/night), Affordable Housing (25-26 units), Subsidized Apartments (3 units), Rapid Rehousing, and Homeless Prevention, paired with case management, trauma-informed counseling, employment support, and Client Enrichment services. A network of seven thrift/resale stores (Sparrow's Nest and Community Threads) generates unrestricted revenue that cross-subsidizes the programs.

Product overview

Home of the Sparrow (HOS) is a single, unified non-profit social services organization (a 501(c)3 registered in 1987) rather than a modular SaaS platform; it delivers an integrated continuum of housing and support services to women, children and families experiencing homelessness in Northern Illinois. The core offering is the Transitional Shelter Program (32–40 individuals/night), which is surrounded by the Affordable Housing Program (25–26 units), the Subsidized Apartment Program (3 units), the Rapid Rehousing Program and the Homeless Prevention Program. Across all housing programs the same Resident Maintenance Portal and Rent Payments Portal are offered, and the same Supportive Resources layer (case management, trauma-informed counseling, Client Enrichment Program, Supported Employment Program) is delivered. The Sparrow's Nest Thrift Stores (Cary, McHenry, Mundelein, Palatine, Third Lake, Woodstock) and the Community Threads Upscale Resale Store in Arlington Heights operate as a social-enterprise revenue arm (also supplying the Furniture Pick Up Service), with all proceeds funding the housing and support programs. The Holiday Giving Program (Gift of Hope / Gift of Opportunity / Giving Tree) is the annual donor-engagement wrapper around this portfolio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sparrow's Nest Thrift Stores: Network of six thrift store and donation center locations operated by Home of the Sparrow in Northern Illinois, including locations in Cary, McHenry, Mundelein, Palatine, Third Lake, and Woodstock. Net proceeds support HOS programs.
• Community Threads

Products and services

• Rapid Rehousing Program Short- to medium-term rental assistance program that helps homeless women and families secure permanent housing in the community, combined with assigned case management. Partners with local landlords who receive timely rent payments and a dedicated Case Manager for each tenant.
• Affordable Housing Program Long-term affordable rental housing offering approximately 25-26 two-bedroom apartment units across Northern Illinois for low-income families who are homeless or at risk, with case management support 2-4 times per month following move-in.
• Subsidized Apartment Program Short-term subsidized apartment program (3 units) that houses families for up to a year while they build resources for independent living.
• Transitional Shelter Program Short-term communal transitional living shelter housing 32-40 women and children per night, with case management, life-skills and educational classes, trauma-informed counseling, child & family therapy, budgeting classes, and employment support.
• Homeless Prevention Program Outreach and prevention program focused on keeping women, children, families and individuals stably housed through rental assistance, case management and connections to community resources.
• Sparrow's Nest Thrift Stores Network of six thrift stores and donation centers in Cary, McHenry, Mundelein, Palatine, Third Lake and Woodstock reselling donated clothing, furniture and housewares. Net proceeds support HOS programs; stores also supply zero-cost clothing, furniture and housewares to HOS clients via vouchers.
• Community Threads (Upscale Resale Store) Upscale resale store operated in Arlington Heights, IL selling gently-used clothing, shoes and home goods, with proceeds supporting HOS programs and a rear Donation Drop Off Center for collecting donated items.
• Furniture Pick Up Service Free in-home furniture donation pickup service backed by a four-truck logistics fleet. Donated items are routed to Sparrow's Nest stores for resale, and vouchers for free goods are provided to HOS clients and partner-agency clients.
• Client Enrichment Program Program that subsidizes child care, sponsors children's day camps and extracurricular activities, provides on-site haircuts, and arranges social outings (holiday parties, bowling, museums, zoo visits). Also includes Trauma-Informed Design upgrades to the Transitional Shelter environment.
• Supported Employment Program Employment-readiness and job-placement support including resume help, referrals to job fairs and staffing agencies, interview-skill coaching and connections to local employers.
• Supportive Resources & Counseling Trauma-informed counseling, financial and budgeting classes, career planning, linkages to community resources, and basic needs assistance delivered to clients across all HOS programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97.5% of clients successfully obtained permanent housing
• +6 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered moderate, core and minor.

• The Grind Sports Foundation (Jeremiah Wilson)moderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 May 2025Partnership with professional basketball player Jeremiah Wilson's The Grind Sports Foundation for Spark Hope 2025 — a virtual walk, run, and bike-a-thon fundraiser throughout June 2025. The Grind Sports Foundation empowers underserved youth through sports, mentorship, and education; HOS provides affordable housing, transitional shelter, rental assistance, and outreach services.
• Chick-fil-A, Inc.coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 January 2024Chick-fil-A awarded Home of the Sparrow a $50,000 True Inspiration Awards grant in January 2024 to support the Transitional Shelter, Rapid Rehousing, and Affordable Housing programs. Earlier (September 2023), HOS was named one of five regional finalists for the same award. Chick-fil-A also hosted Community Care Nights at its Crystal Lake (9/6/2023, 5-8pm) and Algonquin (9/13/2023, 8am-8pm) locations, donating a share of profits to HOS.
• Local landlords in McHenry County (Landlord Engagement Program)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 July 2023Ongoing recruitment of local landlords to house HOS Rapid Rehousing Program clients. Perks include an assigned case manager per tenant, timely and consistent rent payments, reduced vacancy rates, and additional incentives. Coordinator: Lindsay Kellner ([email protected], 815-271-5444 x258).
• Willow Creek Community ChurchminorOthers · 1 January 2023Multi-site church and longstanding community partner recognized for generous contributions to HOS programs.
• Bull Valley Golf Club (Woodstock, IL)moderateGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partner for HOS's Annual Charity Golf Outing (e.g., August 21, 2023; August 5, 2024; August 4, 2025) — shotgun-start format with grilled lunch, social hour, and auctions.
• Holiday Inn — Crystal Lake (800 S. Illinois Route 31)moderateGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue for the annual Signature Gala ("A Million Dreams: From Hope to Home" on September 18, 2026 and prior Signature Gala on October 10, 2025).
• Boulder Ridge Country Club (Lake in the Hills, IL)moderateGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual venue for the Celebration of Women Luncheon (March 6, 2026; March 7, 2025; March 8, 2024).
• The Sanfilippo Estate (Barrington Hills, IL)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue for the 35th Anniversary Gala (May 21, 2022) and 36th annual "Gala du Cirque" (April 29, 2023).
• Jim M'Lady / M'Lady Nissan (Crystal Lake, IL)minorOthersLong-time supporter providing in-kind donations (computers for client resource rooms; a Brookfield Zoo outing for shelter families in August 2012).
• Council on Accreditation (COA)minorOthersLiz Heneks (former HOS program leader) previously participated in the Council of Accreditation self-assessment and site review processes during her $12M Child Welfare Agency work.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• A Safe Place: Waukegan, IL nonprofit providing emergency shelter, housing, and supportive services for survivors of domestic violence and homelessness. Comparable in serving Lake County / Northern Illinois with a continuum-of-care model.
• The Harbour: Park Ridge, IL nonprofit providing housing and supportive services for women and children experiencing homelessness or domestic violence. Closely matches HOS's women-and-children-focused shelter plus affordable housing model.
• Sarah's Inn: Oak Park, IL-based nonprofit providing domestic violence services, emergency shelter, and supportive housing. Comparable in targeting women and families in the Chicago suburbs with case management and trauma-informed care.
• Hesed House: Aurora, IL-based nonprofit offering emergency shelter, transitional housing, and supportive services for homeless individuals and families. Directly comparable to HOS as a regional Illinois shelter operator with case-management-driven housing outcomes.

Regional players

• PADS Lake County: Lake County, IL nonprofit providing emergency shelter, supportive housing, and case management for homeless individuals. Same model archetype as HOS but serving a different Northern Illinois county.
• DuPage PADS: DuPage County, IL network of overnight shelters and supportive housing programs. Comparable shelter-plus-housing model serving a different adjacent Chicago-suburban geography.

Broad incumbents

• The Salvation Army Metropolitan Division: National nonprofit operating emergency shelters, transitional housing, and social services across the U.S., including Chicago-area locations. Comparable shelter-and-social-services model but at much larger scale.
• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago: Large multi-service nonprofit operating housing, shelter, and family services across Chicago and suburbs. Overlaps with HOS on housing and family-support programs but at significantly greater scale and broader mission.
• Habitat for Humanity Chicago (and national affiliate): National nonprofit focused on affordable homeownership and housing stability. Comparable on the affordable-housing mission in the Chicago region but specializes in homeownership rather than shelter operations.

Others

• Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois: Social-enterprise nonprofit operating thrift/retail stores whose proceeds fund workforce development and community programs in Northern Illinois. Closely comparable on the thrift-store-as-social-enterprise funding model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thesparrowssong
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCAzVkzGzbLCCpIA2dRaCZcw
• Facebookfacebook.com/homeofthesparrowillinois
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/home-of-the-sparrow
• Instagraminstagram.com/homeofthesparrowinc
• TikToktiktok.com/@homeofthesparrowinc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

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 Home of the Sparrow