North Side Housing and Supportive Services

What North Side Housing and Supportive Services does

North Side Housing and Supportive Services (NSHSS), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit incorporated in Illinois and headquartered at 4410 N Ravenswood Ave in Chicago, is a human-services agency that has operated continuously since its 1983 founding (originally as Lakeview Shelter by neighborhood residents and churches) to support adults experiencing homelessness in moving to long-term stable housing. The organization concentrates on serving single adult men in Chicago, including veterans and individuals exiting incarceration, with ancillary services that extend to women and families through its Daytime Support Services Center.

The organization's service portfolio is built around three core programs: a 70-bed, 35-private-room trauma-informed emergency shelter in Rogers Park that opened in December 2024 and is designed to serve up to 250 men per year on a pathway to permanent housing; a Permanent Supportive Housing program operating 174–196 subsidized apartments across Chicago with intensive case management; and a Housing Navigation program that helps chronically homeless clients overcome barriers to entering PSH. Supporting offerings include a Daytime Support Services Center and an Art Therapy program delivered with The Open Studio Project. The flagship shelter's dorm-style non-congregate model — described as the first of its kind in Chicago — was co-designed with architecture firm Gensler on a pro-bono basis. There is no proprietary technology product; intake flows through Chicago's 311 system and housing placements through the city's Coordinated Entry System (312-361-1707).

NSHSS is funded through a diversified mix of government contracts (Chicago Department of Family & Support Services, Chicago Department of Housing, FEMA's Emergency Food and Shelter Board), foundation grants (United Way Metropolitan Chicago, Chicago Community Trust, Polk Bros Foundation, Reva & David Logan Foundation, SBB Research Group Foundation, among others), corporate sponsorships and in-kind donations (Conagra, IKEA, Bombas, Kohler, Byline Bank, Wintrust Bank), individual donations routed through peer-to-peer campaigns and employer matching programs, and pro-bono professional services (Gensler, Winston & Strawn). It holds the Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid and a Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator, and received the 2025 Outstanding Non-Profit Real Estate Development Award from the 31st Annual Chicago Neighborhood Development Awards. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and led by Executive Director Duncan Ward (MSW, MSHSA, LSW); no revenue figures are publicly disclosed.

Name

North Side Housing and Supportive Services

Legal name

North Side Housing & Supportive Services

Website

https://northsidehousing.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

North Side Housing and Supportive Services is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates a 70-bed trauma-informed emergency shelter, 174–196 units of Permanent Supportive Housing, and Housing Navigation services for adults experiencing homelessness, primarily single men and veterans.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless Services and Supportive Housing

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Temporary Shelters (624221), Other Community Housing Services (624229), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

Keywords

• Homeless shelter services
• Permanent supportive housing
• Housing navigation programs
• Trauma-informed care
• Homelessness prevention services

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

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, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors provide financial support through one-time and monthly recurring donations. The organization runs peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns and matching donation programs to maximize individual contributions.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate sponsorships for fundraising events, corporate donation matching programs, and in-kind donations from businesses.
3. Foundation Grants: Grants from foundations such as SBB Research Group Foundation to support specific programs addressing homelessness.
4. Government Contracts: Funding from government agencies including Chicago Department of Family & Support Services, Chicago Department of Housing, and Emergency Food and Shelter Board (FEMA).
5. Donated Goods and Services: In-kind donations including clothing, furniture, gift cards, Ventra transit cards, and vehicle donations through Vehicles for Charity program.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

North Side Housing and Supportive Services operates a 70-bed trauma-informed emergency shelter for men in Rogers Park, Chicago, paired with 174 units of Permanent Supportive Housing (196 apartments) and Housing Navigation services. The organization delivers emergency shelter, subsidized long-term housing, intensive case management, and pathways from homelessness to stable housing, supported by donations, government contracts, and foundation grants.

Product overview

North Side Housing and Supportive Services (NSHSS) provides a coordinated suite of homeless services in Chicago centered around three core programs: Emergency Shelter (70-bed trauma-informed shelter for men in Rogers Park), Permanent Supportive Housing (196 subsidized apartments with intensive case management), and Housing System Navigation (outreach and enrollment support for chronically homeless individuals). Additional offerings include a Daytime Support Services Center and an Art Therapy Program. The organization does not offer a technology product but rather social service programs delivered through human staff.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Emergency Shelter A 70-bed trauma-informed emergency shelter in Rogers Park providing housing for men experiencing homelessness, with private rooms, 3 daily meals, free laundry, case management, and pathways to permanent housing.
• Permanent Supportive Housing Subsidized housing with intensive case management services for formerly-homeless individuals, providing 174 PSH units and 196 apartments throughout Chicago combined with supportive services.
• Housing System Navigation Program that helps individuals experiencing chronic homelessness navigate barriers to entering Permanent Supportive Housing through street outreach, in-reach, and enrollment support.
• Daytime Support Services Center Support services available during daytime hours for both men and women experiencing homelessness, located at the Administrative Office.
• Art Therapy Program Therapeutic art sessions conducted in partnership with The Open Studio Project to support healing and mental wellness for shelter residents.

Quantifiable outcome

• 250 men expected to move from shelter to long-term homes annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and secondary.

• AIDS Foundation of ChicagocoreOthersGovernment partner for homelessness services in Chicago
• Center for Housing and HealthcoreOthersPartner focused on housing and health integration for homeless individuals
• Chicago Department of Family & Support ServicescoreOthersPrimary government funding and oversight partner for social services
• Chicago Department of HousingcoreOthersHousing development and funding partner
• GenslerflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture firm that designed the trauma-informed shelter in Rogers Park, creating the first-of-its-kind dorm-style model for homeless men. Gensler provided pro-bono design services.
• The Open Studio ProjectsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerArt therapy program partner providing creative healing services to shelter residents
• Holsten Human Capital DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelops low income and affordable housing, partnered to help Teresa find housing through housing navigation program
• Conagra FoodssecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner contributing to homelessness support
• Winston and Strawn LLPsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate law firm partner providing pro-bono legal services
• BombassecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerSock and clothing donation partner for homeless shelter supplies
• IKEAsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner providing furniture and home goods for permanent housing clients
• KohlersecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner providing plumbing fixtures and products

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Peers

• All Chicago Making Homelessness History:

Direct peers

• Deborah's Place: Chicago's largest provider of housing and services for women experiencing homelessness — a same-ecosystem peer within Chicago's coordinated entry system, although focused on women rather than men.
• Thresholds: Chicago nonprofit delivering housing, mental health, and substance use services to adults experiencing homelessness and mental illness — directly comparable in integrating PSH with supportive services for a similar single-adult client base.
• Heartland Alliance: Major Chicago social services organization providing housing, refugee services, and programs for people experiencing homelessness — operates Permanent Supportive Housing and shelter programs serving the same population as NSHSS.
• The Night Ministry: Chicago-based nonprofit providing overnight shelter, outreach, and supportive services to youth and adults experiencing homelessness — overlapping target population (single adults) and operating in the same Chicago coordinated entry ecosystem as NSHSS.
• Cara Chicago: Chicago nonprofit focused on workforce development and transitional employment for individuals affected by homelessness and poverty — directly comparable mission in Chicago serving similar adult populations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCcRlvFubpWwYKNT97ERvMlg
• Facebookfacebook.com/NorthSideHousingAndSupportiveServices
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/north-side-housing-and-supportive-services
• Instagraminstagram.com/northsidehousing
• Xx.com/NorthSideHSS

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 North Side Housing and Supportive Services