THRESHOLDS

What THRESHOLDS does

Thresholds is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit behavioral health and supportive housing organization founded in 1959. It provides community-based mental health treatment, substance use treatment, crisis response, housing, IPS-supported employment, peer support, and specialized programs for veterans, deaf individuals, and youth/young adults. The organization operates 30+ programs across 90+ sites in Chicago and adjacent suburbs, serves more than 13,000 members annually, and employs 1,300-1,400 staff. It is a designated implementation partner for the Williams and Colbert consent decrees and has transitioned 1,784 class members out of institutional care, with 1,255 (70%) remaining in the community.

Name

THRESHOLDS

Legal name

Thresholds

Website

https://thresholds.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Chicago-based nonprofit founded in 1959 providing community mental health, substance use, housing, and employment services to 13,000+ individuals with serious mental illness across 90+ sites in Chicagoland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Behavioral Health Services

NAICS

Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Community Housing Services (62422), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Child and Youth Services (62411), Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (623220)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) & Public Behavioral Health Providers (HLAFACAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB), Residential Mental Health Treatment Centers (HLAFACAC), Substance Use Disorder Prevention & Recovery Services (BPAGACAE)

Keywords

• Behavioral health services
• Mental health treatment
• Supportive housing programs
• Substance use treatment
• Community mental health

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts and Medicaid: Thresholds receives funding through Medicaid and government contracts for behavioral health and supportive housing services. As the single largest payer of mental health and substance use treatment, Medicaid funding is a primary revenue source. The organization also receives state and federal grants.
2. Donations and Foundation Grants: Revenue from individual donors, corporate sponsors, and foundation grants. The organization hosts annual galas and maintains ongoing donor relationships. Boeing has donated more than $250,000 since 2010, and the 2026 Gala raised $1.27 million.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Thresholds provides community-based behavioral health services to individuals with serious mental illness and substance use disorders across Chicago and surrounding suburbs. Services include mental health treatment, substance use treatment, supportive housing, supported employment, crisis response, homeless outreach, and peer support — delivered at no direct cost to clients through Medicaid, government grants, and donations.

Product overview

Thresholds is a behavioral health organization providing a comprehensive suite of integrated mental health, substance use treatment, housing, and support services. The organization operates multiple programs including Intensive Outreach and Integrated Care, Housing & Residential Programs, Veterans Project, Homeless Outreach, Youth & Young Adult Services, Peer Success Program, IPS Employment Services, Crisis Response, Deaf Program, Substance Use Treatment, and Creative Arts Therapy. Programs like the Assertive Community Linkage Program and Housing Is Recovery Program work in partnership with government agencies and healthcare providers to deliver coordinated care. The organization previously operated Thresholds Health (primary care services) which transitioned to PCC Community Wellness Center in 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Intensive Outreach and Integrated Care Comprehensive mental health outreach and integrated care services including crisis response, mental wellbeing centers, substance use treatment, and workforce development for individuals with serious mental illness in Chicago.
• Housing & Residential Programs Supportive housing services providing community housing options for people with serious mental illness, including opportunities for social relationships through communal living.
• Veterans Project Program helping veterans cope with mental illness, homelessness, and unemployment through community events, counseling, housing services, and supported employment.
• Homeless Outreach Program Street-based outreach services connecting individuals experiencing homelessness with mental health services, housing support, and essential resources.
• Youth & Young Adult Services Mental health services designed to treat the first signs and symptoms of mental health conditions in youth and young adults, including emerging adult services.
• Peer Success Program Staffed by individuals in mental health recovery who provide services and outreach to members, offering first-hand experience with the same struggles members face.
• IPS Employment Services Individual Placement and Support (IPS) supported employment services helping individuals with serious mental illness obtain and maintain competitive employment.
• Crisis Response Immediate, compassionate care for individuals experiencing mental health emergencies, meeting people where they are and connecting them to support services.
• Deaf Program Specialized mental health and support services for deaf individuals, providing accessible care and communication support.
• Substance Use Treatment Treatment services for individuals with substance use disorders, integrated with mental health services.
• Creative Arts Therapy Therapeutic services using creative arts including music, visual arts, and expression as part of recovery programs.
• Centers for Mental Wellbeing Mental health centers providing comprehensive behavioral health services within communities served.
• Research & Evaluation Evidence-based practice research and program evaluation to improve outcomes for individuals with serious mental illness.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,255 of 1,784 individuals (70%) transitioned from nursing homes have avoided any return to institutional care
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• McHenry County Sheriff's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 October 2025Pilot mental health program inside McHenry County jail providing individualized services including therapy, medication management, and education for individuals deemed unfit to stand trial. Partnership includes Illinois Department of Human Services.
• PCC Community Wellness CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 August 2025Thresholds Health division transitioned operations to PCC Community Wellness Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center. This allows the clinic to continue serving patients at its West Side location while expanding services with PCC's expertise and resources.
• Cook County HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 April 2024$1.8 million partnership funded by ARPA over three years for the Assertive Community Linkage Program, providing enhanced emergency mental health services and aftercare for individuals with mental health and substance use conditions in Cook County. The program addresses 'revolving door syndrome' at Stroger Hospital and Provident Hospital EDs.
• Chicago Coalition for the HomelessminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 April 2024Thresholds joined 26 other statewide partners in filing an amicus brief in Johnson v. Grants Pass, the landmark Supreme Court case related to homelessness rights.
• Illinois Health Practice Alliance (IHPA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017State-wide collaborative of 120 behavioral health providers. Mark Ishaug serves as founding board member. IHPA is an independent practice association helping align payer and provider incentives toward value-based care.
• Healthy Minds Healthy Lives CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition that helped pass HJR52, a resolution raising awareness of federal actions and encouraging policymakers to recommit to evidence-based, community-backed treatment and housing models.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Gateway Foundation: Large Illinois-based nonprofit operating residential and outpatient substance use and co-occurring mental health treatment programs — comparable Medicaid-funded clinical model and population.
• Haymarket Center: Chicago-based nonprofit providing substance use treatment, mental health, and supportive housing — overlaps significantly with Thresholds' SUD and residential programs in the same metro.
• Trilogy Behavioral Healthcare: Chicago-based nonprofit providing community behavioral health, residential, and care coordination for adults with serious mental illness — directly comparable mission, geography, and service model to Thresholds.
• Heartland Alliance Health: Chicago-area nonprofit delivering integrated primary and behavioral healthcare, housing, and supportive services to people experiencing homelessness and serious mental illness — closely mirrors Thresholds' housing-first, integrated-care approach.
• Lutheran Social Services of Illinois: Statewide Illinois nonprofit delivering behavioral health, youth services, and community-based support across multiple sites — comparable scale, funding model, and service breadth.
• Pathways to Housing: National nonprofit pioneering the Housing First model for individuals with serious mental illness and homelessness — directly comparable evidenced-based model and target population, though national in scope.
• Aunt Martha's Health & Wellness: Illinois nonprofit providing integrated behavioral health, primary care, and social services to vulnerable populations including youth and adults with mental illness — comparable CCBHC-style service model.
• Community Counseling Centers of Chicago (C4): Chicago community mental health provider serving adults with serious mental illness through outpatient, residential, and supportive housing programs — same payer mix, same population, same service lines as Thresholds.

Regional players

• Center for Urban Community Services (CUCS): New York-based nonprofit providing supportive housing, mental health, and social services for people experiencing homelessness and behavioral health conditions — comparable model but operates in a different metro.

Others

• National Council for Mental Wellbeing: National trade and advocacy organization representing community behavioral health providers including CCBHC operators — relevant as a policy/advocacy peer shaping the funding environment Thresholds depends on.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thresholdschi
• Facebookfacebook.com/ThresholdsChicago
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thresholds

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 THRESHOLDS