Home Sweet Home Ministries

What Home Sweet Home Ministries does

Home Sweet Home Ministries (HSHM) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1917 in Bloomington, Illinois, providing a continuum of shelter, food, housing, and outreach services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness and material poverty across seven Central Illinois counties (McLean, Livingston, Logan, Dewitt, Woodford, Piatt, Ford). Its service platform includes a 70+ bed emergency shelter at 303 E. Oakland Avenue, the newly opened The Bridge Shelter Village (48 non-congregate tiny home units opened January 2026 accommodating up to 56 adults), a 365-day full-service dining center serving 33,480 meals annually, the Bread for Life Food Co-op (a membership-based food access program with 162 active members), The Junction Community Center (offering State ID, mail, and storage services for unsheltered individuals), Rapid Rehousing and Bridge of Hope family stabilization programs, and street outreach services. The Bridge of Hope program deploys trained Neighboring Volunteers from partner churches to provide 12-24 month wraparound support to families facing homelessness.

The organization's revenue model is donations-driven with diversification across seven streams: individual and corporate charitable contributions, planned giving and legacy gifts, employer matching programs (with State Farm, Caterpillar, Thrivent, Microsoft, Exelon, and Allstate), Bread for Life Co-op membership fees ($5/visit or work exchange), the Brown Scholarship endowment ($2,500-$5,000 awards), vehicle donations through CARS, and ShopRaise shopping contributions. Technology stack is standard nonprofit operational tooling: DonorPerfect for donation processing, VicNet (Volgistics) for volunteer management, Constant Contact for email marketing, and Paycom for HR. The organization maintains GuideStar Platinum Transparency certification and is led by CEO Matt Burgess with an 11-member Board of Directors chaired by Sally Salegna.

The go-to-market approach is community-led, relying on volunteer engagement through the VicNet portal, church partnerships, employer matching programs, and local media. Service delivery is exclusively direct-to-client through physical locations and street outreach; no commercial product or fee-for-service revenue exists beyond the modest Bread for Life Co-op fees. Output metrics from 2022 (the most recent disclosed impact year) include 15,496 nights of shelter, 33,480 meals served, and 162 active co-op members, with operational capacity expected to expand materially following the January 2026 opening of The Bridge Shelter Village.

Name

Home Sweet Home Ministries

Legal name

Home Sweet Home Ministries, Inc.

Website

https://hshministries.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1917

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Home Sweet Home Ministries is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1917 in Bloomington, Illinois, providing emergency shelter, transitional housing, food services, and outreach programs to individuals and families experiencing homelessness and material poverty across seven Central Illinois counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless and Social Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Housing Services (62422), Community Food Services (624210)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB), Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

Keywords

• Emergency shelter services
• Homeless services
• Food assistance programs
• Rapid rehousing
• Community outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Bloomington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Primary revenue stream from individual donors, corporate donors, and community supporters. The organization accepts one-time and recurring donations through its website, as well as vehicle donations, Amazon Wishlist donations, and ShopRaise shopping contributions.
2. Planned Giving and Legacy Gifts: Bequests, retirement plan designations, life insurance beneficiaries, charitable remainder/lead trusts, and real estate gifts from Legacy Partners.
3. Bread for Life Food Co-op Membership: Co-op members contribute either through volunteering (2 hours per visit) or paying $5 per visit plus 1 hour of work. This creates a partial cost-recovery mechanism while maintaining dignity-based service model.
4. Brown Scholarship Program: Awards multiple scholarships of $2,500 to $5,000 to qualifying individuals. Funded through designated scholarship endowment.
5. Employer Matching Programs: Corporate employees double their donations through employer match programs with companies including State Farm, Caterpillar, Thrivent, Microsoft, Exelon, and Allstate.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Home Sweet Home Ministries provides emergency shelter, meals, housing navigation, and supportive services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness and material poverty in Central Illinois. Core offerings include 70+ bed emergency shelter, The Bridge 48-unit non-congregate shelter village, a 365-day dining center, the Bread for Life Food Co-op, Rapid Rehousing and Bridge of Hope housing programs, The Junction Community Center, and street outreach services.

Product overview

Home Sweet Home Ministries operates as a multi-service homeless shelter and community support organization in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois. The core offering is a continuum of shelter services including traditional Emergency Shelter at 303 E. Oakland Avenue and The Bridge Shelter Village (48-unit non-congregate tiny home village). Supporting services include the Dining Center (meals 7 days/week), Bread for Life Food Co-op (membership-based food access), Rapid Rehousing and Bridge of Hope housing programs, The Junction Community Center, and Street Outreach. Additional programs include the Brown Scholarship, Adopt-A-Meal volunteer program, and clothing/shoe recycling. The organization serves McLean, Livingston, Logan, Dewitt, Woodford, Piatt, and Ford Counties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Bridge: A shelter village with tiny homes providing safety, warmth, and hope for neighbors experiencing homelessness. Offers 48 private units (40 individual, 8 double) for up to 56 adults.
• The Junction
• Bread for Life Food Co-op
• Bridge of Hope
• Night In A Car
• Blessed Birthdays

Products and services

• Emergency Shelter Services Emergency shelter at 303 E. Oakland Avenue offering beds, meals, case management, and supportive services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Includes over 70 beds, veteran-reserved beds, family rooms, and three meals plus snacks daily.
• The Bridge Shelter Village 48-unit non-congregate shelter village with tiny homes providing low-barrier shelter for adults experiencing unsheltered homelessness. Features private sleeping cabins with on-site mental health, substance use treatment, and housing assistance services.
• Dining Center Full-service dining center providing breakfast, lunch, and dinner 7 days a week, 365 days a year for shelter residents and community members at 303 East Oakland Avenue.
• Bread for Life Food Co-op Membership-based food co-op for low-income individuals and families. Members work 2 hours per visit or pay $5 for 1-hour option, choosing their own food items twice monthly. Includes emergency food assistance.
• Rapid Rehousing Program Housing program connecting individuals and families with Housing Navigator for rapid placement into permanent housing. Includes landlord networking, financial assistance with deposits and utilities, and ongoing case management.
• Bridge of Hope 12-24 month family stability program partnering single mothers with trained Neighboring Volunteer groups and case managers to achieve safe housing and family resilience.
• The Junction Community Center State-of-the-art community center at 301 East Oakland Avenue providing State ID services, mail services for unsheltered individuals, and community gathering space. Open Tuesday-Friday 10am-5pm.
• Street Outreach Mobile outreach services engaging directly with individuals in encampments, providing essential resources including food, warm clothing, and connecting people with mental health services, addiction recovery, and housing programs.
• R. Mack, Roy, and Hazel Brown Scholarship Scholarship program awarding multiple $2,500-$5,000 scholarships to individuals meeting criteria and selected by the organization's committee. Applications open annually.
• Adopt-A-Meal Program Community volunteer program enabling groups to plan, prepare, and serve meals to clients. Includes 4-hour sessions, commercial kitchen access, and staff guidance.
• Clothing and Shoe Recycling Program Donation bin program accepting clothing and shoes at multiple locations throughout Bloomington-Normal. Proceeds support shelter programs and services.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15,496 nights of shelter provided in 2022
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 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

Integration9 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Christ Temple ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChurch serving as a Bridge of Hope Neighboring Volunteer group, providing prayer, encouragement, and practical support to families facing homelessness in Bloomington-Normal. Has supported two families through the 12-24 month program.
• Hy-VeeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner providing food donations and support for HSHM food services programs.
• Midwest Food BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFood bank partner supporting HSHM's food distribution programs through food donations.
• ISU Food RecoveryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIllinois State University student organization recovering food and donating to HSHM.
• RivianminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner among local businesses supporting HSHM.
• CARS (Charitable Adult Rides and Services)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerVehicle donation partner processing car, truck, van, SUV, boat, motorcycle, ATV, RV, trailer, and airplane donations. Provides tax benefit documentation to donors.
• ShopRaiseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerShopping platform partner enabling supporters to generate donations through everyday online purchases at over 1,000 participating retailers. Percentage of purchases goes to support HSHM.
• MarcFirstminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization providing job coaching services, referring individuals with disabilities to volunteer opportunities at HSHM.
• Property Partners (Karen Schmidt, Catherine and Tim Poffenbarger, Ruth Cobb, Roger Holstrom, All Seasons Properties, Young America, Allied Properties, Dowd Properties)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandlords and property managers partnering with HSHM's Rapid Rehousing program to provide housing options for clients transitioning from homelessness. Property owners benefit from reduced vacancy rates and reliable tenants.
• Normal Community High SchoolminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal high school featuring HSHM as a featured non-profit on their Alumni page, helping spread awareness among students and families.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Charities USA: National faith-based network operating emergency shelters, food pantries, housing programs, and case management services. Comparable multi-service continuum serving low-income and homeless populations.
• Salvation Army USA: National faith-based nonprofit operating emergency shelters, food programs, and housing services across the U.S. Comparable in mission and service mix (shelter + food + rehousing) though vastly larger in scope and footprint than HSHM's Central Illinois operation.
• Volunteers of America: National nonprofit providing shelter, supportive housing, and rehousing programs for people experiencing homelessness. Highly comparable service model and target population, though operating nationally rather than regionally.

Regional players

• Hope for the City (Chicago-area): Midwest nonprofit providing shelter and food to people experiencing homelessness. Comparable service portfolio but operates in a different metro geography than HSHM's Central Illinois catchment.

Direct peers

• Heartland Alliance: Chicago-based nonprofit providing housing, shelter, and supportive services for people experiencing homelessness and poverty. Comparable service portfolio including non-congregate shelter models, rehousing, and food programs in the Midwest.
• Gospel Rescue Mission: Faith-based rescue mission network providing emergency shelter, meals, and recovery services. Closely comparable in faith-centered mission, service mix, and shelter-to-rehousing continuum, though locations are typically larger urban settings.
• YWCA McLean County: Local peer providing housing, women's services, and economic empowerment in Bloomington-Normal. Direct referral partner for HSHM clients (one alum cited as YWCA Social Enterprise Specialist); directly comparable in serving the same community and population.

Emerging players

• Habitat for Humanity (McLean County affiliate): Affordable housing nonprofit operating in Central Illinois. Comparable in addressing housing insecurity for low-income populations, though focused on home ownership rather than emergency shelter and rehousing.
• MarcFirst: Bloomington-based nonprofit providing services for individuals with disabilities, referring volunteers to HSHM. Comparable as a regional nonprofit serving vulnerable populations in the same geography.
• Midwest Food Bank: Central Illinois food bank distributor that supplies HSHM's food programs. Comparable in mission (food security) and overlapping geography, but functions as a wholesale food distributor rather than direct service provider.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hshministries
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCUF7dh0cBNYtybtOYszdgTw
• Facebookfacebook.com/HomeSweetHomeMinistries
• Instagraminstagram.com/hshministries
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/home-sweet-home-ministries-inc-

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Sweet Home Ministries