South Suburban PADS

What South Suburban PADS does

South Suburban Public Action to Deliver Shelter (SSPADS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1990 and headquartered in Homewood, Illinois, that provides emergency shelter, affordable housing, and supportive services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Chicago's south suburbs. Its service area covers South Cook County (90%) and Will County (10%), and it serves as the largest shelter provider in that geography, having helped over 20,000 people, provided more than 700,000 nights of shelter, and served over 2 million meals since inception. The organization currently supports 400+ people into affordable housing annually and operates with a 45+ person staff under Executive Director Doug Kenshol.

The operating model is built around three integrated program pillars — Emergency Shelter (delivered via a non-congregate, hotel-based model that grew capacity 169% since 2019), Affordable Housing (Rapid Rehousing serving ~150 people per year and Permanent Supportive Housing serving ~250 per year, anchored by the 77-unit owned Country Club Hills Wellness Center developed in 2011), and Supportive Services (case management, the Pathways to Better Health and Pathways to Financial Security programs, street outreach, the HUB referral network, and a culinary arts program). All services are delivered free to clients using evidence-based practices including Housing First, Harm Reduction, Trauma-Informed Care, and Motivational Interviewing.

Revenue is sourced from individual donations, planned/legacy gifts, corporate philanthropy (Bank of America, Caterpillar, CN, USG, CIBC, Fifth Third Bank, University of Chicago Ingalls), and federal/state government funding accessed through the Illinois Department of Human Services. SSPADS co-founded the Illinois Shelter Alliance in 2022, a 70-agency coalition that successfully drove $5M (FY23), $40M (FY24), and $7M (FY26) in state IDHS Emergency and Transitional Housing Program increases. Distribution is regional and direct, relying on EntryPoint Coordinated Entry referrals, the HUB partner network, street outreach at libraries, hospitals, and community sites, and owned housing assets.

Name

South Suburban PADS

Legal name

South Suburban Public Action to Deliver Shelter

Website

https://sspads.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

South Suburban PADS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1990 that delivers emergency shelter, affordable housing, and supportive services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness across South Cook and Will Counties in Illinois.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Housing & Social Housing Development/Modernization Programs (FSALAKAH)

Keywords

• Emergency shelter services
• Homelessness prevention
• Affordable housing
• Supportive services
• Case management

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago Heights

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. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individuals through online platforms (Network for Good), mail-in checks, and memorial/tribute gifts to support the mission of preventing and ending homelessness.
2. Planned Giving: Legacy gifts including beneficiary designations on retirement accounts, life insurance policies, bank accounts, and brokerage accounts; memorializes donors while supporting long-term organizational sustainability.
3. Corporate Philanthropy: Grants from organizations such as USG, CIBC, CN, Fifth Third Bank, and University of Chicago Ingalls; employee match programs with companies including Caterpillar, Bank of America, and CN.
4. Government Funding: Federal COVID-19 funding and increased state budget allocations including $5 million FY23, $40 million FY24, and $7 million FY26 increases in the IDHS Emergency and Transitional Housing Program.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

South Suburban PADS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides emergency shelter, affordable housing, and supportive services to individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness in the south suburbs of Chicago. Its programs span an emergency shelter, permanent affordable housing (including veterans housing and the Kuchuris Center), and supportive services such as food pantry, outreach, prevention, and case management designed to move clients toward self-sufficiency.

Product overview

South Suburban PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing an integrated service model to prevent and end homelessness in Chicago's south suburbs. The organization operates three core service pillars—Emergency Shelter (non-congregate hotel-based shelter), Affordable Housing (Rapid Rehousing and Permanent Supportive Housing programs), and Supportive Services (case management, health, financial, and family support). Key housing assets include the 77-unit Country Club Hills Wellness Center. The evidence-based practices employed include Housing First, Harm Reduction, Cultural Competency, Rapid Rehousing, Permanent Supportive Housing, and Non-Congregate Shelter. Since 1990, SSPADS has provided over 700,000 nights of shelter and served over 20,000 people.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Illinois Shelter Alliance: A coalition formed in 2022 of nearly 70 emergency shelter and transitional housing agencies dedicated to saving lives in every corner of Illinois. SSPADS co-founded this alliance.

Products and services

• Emergency Shelter Program Emergency shelter providing safe overnight accommodation and basic needs to individuals and families experiencing homelessness in the south suburbs of Chicago.
• Affordable Housing Permanent affordable housing units for individuals and families transitioning out of homelessness, operated as part of the organization's housing portfolio.
• Kuchuris Center Named housing facility within SSPADS' affordable housing portfolio serving individuals and families in the south suburbs of Chicago.
• Veterans Housing Dedicated affordable housing program for veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness in the south suburbs of Chicago.
• Family Promise Program supporting families experiencing homelessness or housing instability through housing and supportive services in the south suburbs of Chicago.
• Food Pantry Food pantry providing food assistance to clients and community members facing food insecurity in the south suburbs of Chicago.
• Outreach Services Community-based outreach to individuals experiencing homelessness, connecting them to shelter, housing, and supportive services.
• Prevention Services Homelessness prevention services aimed at households at risk of losing their housing, helping them maintain stability and avoid entering shelter.
• Case Management Case management services that connect clients to housing, benefits, and supportive resources to move them toward self-sufficiency and stable housing.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 20,000 people helped to overcome homelessness since 1990
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Illinois Shelter AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormed in 2022, the Illinois Shelter Alliance (ISA) is a coalition of nearly 70 emergency shelter and transitional housing agencies and allies dedicated to saving lives throughout Illinois. ISA advocates for increased government funding for emergency shelters and affordable housing. SSPADS Executive Director Doug Kenshol is Co-Founder of ISA. ISA successfully advocated for $5 million FY23, $40 million FY24, and $7 million FY26 increases in state funding for the IDHS Emergency and Transitional Housing Program.
• Turnstone Development CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the development of the 77-unit Country Club Hills Wellness Center permanent supportive housing development. Turnstone Development Corporation partnered with SSPADS to create this PSH building with studio, one, and two-bedroom apartments.
• Aunt Martha'scoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner operating an onsite medical clinic at the Country Club Hills Wellness Center, providing primary care services to residents.
• Housing Action IllinoiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvocacy partner working with ISA to advocate for $100M increase in funding for emergency shelters, affordable housing, and other homeless service initiatives. Recently presented the Governor's Office and IDHS with an advocacy letter requesting increased funding.
• EntryPoint (Coordinated Entry System)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with other agencies throughout suburban Cook County to prioritize affordable housing opportunities for individuals and families with the greatest need through the EntryPoint Coordinated Entry system.
• The HUBcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner of the HUB network, which helps participants access food, clothing, workforce training and other services through a network of participating agencies. For information, call the HUB helpline at 708-966-9482 or visit FindHelpSouthCook.org.
• Financial Institution VolunteersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteers from participating financial institutions provide financial education classes and training through the Pathways to Financial Security program to help participants establish bank accounts, create budgets, and achieve economic security.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hesed House: Aurora, Illinois-based nonprofit providing emergency shelter, transitional housing, and supportive services. Comparable to SSPADS in Illinois-based geographic focus, three-pillar service model, and reliance on community volunteers and donor funding.
• A Safe Haven: Chicago-based nonprofit providing emergency shelter, supportive housing, and workforce development for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Operates owned PSH real estate similar to SSPADS's Wellness Center and uses an integrated services + housing model.
• Heartland Alliance: Major Chicago-based human services nonprofit providing housing, healthcare, employment, and legal services to people experiencing homelessness and poverty. Most direct comparable to SSPADS given overlapping Chicago-area service area, integrated housing + supportive services model, and evidence-based practice orientation.
• BEDS Plus Care: Chicago south suburban nonprofit providing emergency shelter, transitional housing, and supportive services — directly overlapping SSPADS's South Cook County service area and three-pillar (shelter + housing + services) model. Among the closest geographic and programmatic peers.
• Deborah's Place: Chicago-based nonprofit providing shelter, interim housing, and permanent supportive housing for women experiencing homelessness. Comparable to SSPADS in operating PSH real estate and using an integrated shelter-to-housing pipeline with supportive services.
• The Night Ministry: Chicago-based nonprofit providing housing, health care, and outreach to youth and adults experiencing homelessness and poverty. Comparable to SSPADS in street-outreach-led GTM, case management integration, and Chicago metro service area.
• Thresholds: Chicago-based nonprofit providing mental health treatment, housing, and supportive services to adults with serious mental illness and homelessness. Comparable to SSPADS in operating Permanent Supportive Housing, providing case management, and serving highly vulnerable populations in the Chicago metro area.

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Charities USA: National network of Catholic Charities agencies providing emergency shelter, affordable housing, and supportive services across the U.S. Comparable to SSPADS at the sector level — same service pillars and evidence-based practices — but operates as a much broader federation rather than a single-region specialist.
• Salvation Army: Global faith-based nonprofit providing emergency shelter, transitional housing, and disaster relief services with significant U.S. presence. Comparable to SSPADS in operating hotel/hotel-style shelters and serving individuals experiencing homelessness, though far broader in mission and geography.
• Volunteers of America: National nonprofit providing affordable housing, behavioral health, and services to vulnerable populations including people experiencing homelessness. Comparable to SSPADS in operating PSH and emergency shelter, though as part of a multi-service national portfolio rather than a focused regional operation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sspads
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/south-suburban-pads

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 South Suburban PADS