Heartland Human Care Services

What Heartland Human Care Services does

Heartland Human Care Services (HHCS) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, nonsectarian organization founded in 1888 and headquartered at 4822 N. Broadway in Chicago, Illinois. The organization traces its roots to Jane Addams and Hull House, and in fiscal year 2024 separated from its former parent, Heartland Alliance, to operate as an independent 501(c)(3). With 600+ team members serving across Chicago and 15 states, HHCS delivers a portfolio of more than 20 programs organized into four service areas: Housing Support and Advocacy (Building Stable Communities, Independent Supportive Housing, Neon Youth, Supportive Permanent Housing, Supportive Services for Veteran Families, and Travelers Aid Chicago); Safety and Justice (Manuel Saura Center, Freedom from Trafficking, SEED, and Unaccompanied Children); Refugee and Immigrant Community Services (RICS, with sub-programs in Case Management, Youth and Family Services, Vocational and English Language Training, and Employment Services, plus the RICS Heartland Football Club); and Workforce Development (Chicago FarmWorks and Asset Building). It serves over 20,000 marginalized individuals annually (24,000 projected for 2025), including people experiencing homelessness, refugees, immigrants, trafficking survivors, veterans, justice-involved youth, and airport travelers.

Core technical infrastructure is centered on a Salesforce-based participant data management system configured with encryption, firewall, password protection, and controlled access to safeguard personally identifiable information across programs. HHCS does not disclose proprietary AI/ML systems, mobile applications, or APIs; the technology stack is operational rather than product-oriented. The Participant Voice Council, in which program participants serve as full voting members on the Board of Directors via five advisory groups, is a governance differentiator rather than a technology asset. CARF International accreditation provides external validation of program quality standards.

HHCS operates on a hybrid revenue model combining private donations and philanthropic contributions (monthly and one-time, with program designation options), federal and state government grants and contracts (notably the VA's Supportive Services for Veteran Families, federal Home Study Post-Release Services funding, and the State of Illinois SEED Diversion Program), and modest program service fees (e.g., $10 per raised bed annually at Chicago FarmWorks, $30 per person volunteer fee). Services are delivered at no cost to participants. The go-to-market motion is community-led: beneficiary access flows through Coordinated Entry System referrals, court systems (Circuit Court of Cook County), healthcare and community partners, and self-referrals, with Travelers Aid Chicago operating direct-to-consumer information desks in O'Hare International Airport terminals. Strategic partners include the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, City of Chicago, NeighborSpace, Rush University Medical Center, AIDS Foundation of Chicago, and Chicago Housing Authority.

Name

Heartland Human Care Services

Legal name

Heartland Human Care Services

Website

https://heartlandhumancareservices.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1888

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Heartland Human Care Services is a Chicago-based nonprofit, founded in 1888 and independent since FY2024, serving over 20,000 marginalized individuals annually across housing, refugee and immigrant services, workforce development, safety and justice, and airport support programs through 600+ team members in Chicago and 15 states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social and Human Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC), Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Behavioral Health–Capable Assisted Living (Mental Health/SUD Support) (HLADABAI)

Keywords

• Social services nonprofit
• Homeless housing programs
• Refugee immigrant services
• Workforce development training
• Human trafficking support

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago, Illinois

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Private Contributions: The organization relies on donations from private donors and foundations to fund programs and services. Donors can give monthly or one-time donations, with options to designate contributions to specific programs like Refugee and Immigrant Community Services.
2. Government Grants and Contracts: Programs such as Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) are funded by the United States Department of Veteran Affairs. The SEED program is a State of Illinois Diversion Program. Home Study Post-Release Services operates through federal funding.
3. Program Service Fees: Some programs generate revenue through participant fees, such as the FarmWorks Community Garden program with annual membership fees of $10 per raised bed, and group volunteer fees of $30 per person.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Heartland Human Care Services is a nonprofit social services organization that delivers direct, community-based programs to individuals and families experiencing poverty, homelessness, displacement, and injustice. Its service portfolio spans rapid re-housing and supportive housing, refugee and immigrant integration services, workforce development and transitional jobs, youth welfare and justice diversion programs, human trafficking survivor support, veteran family services, airport-based traveler assistance, and financial capability / asset-building education.

Product overview

Heartland Human Care Services (HHCS) is a nonprofit organization offering a diverse portfolio of social service programs, not a unified software product. The organization operates 20+ distinct programs organized into four core service areas: Housing Support & Advocacy (Building Stable Communities, Independent Supportive Housing, Neon Youth, Supportive Permanent Housing, Supportive Services for Veteran Families, Travelers Aid Chicago), Safety & Justice (Manuel Saura Center, Freedom from Trafficking, SEED, Unaccompanied Children), Refugee & Immigrant Community Services (RICS with sub-programs for Case Management, Youth & Family Services, Vocational & English Language Training, Employment Services, and the RICS Heartland Football Club), and Workforce Development (Chicago FarmWorks, Asset Building). Additional programs include Participant Voice Council for participant governance and Protective Travel Services at O'Hare Airport. The organization serves over 20,000 marginalized individuals annually with 600+ team members across Chicago and 15 states.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RICS: Refugee & Immigrant Community Services - essential and comprehensive services provided to those newly in the U.S. and other at-risk Chicagoans
• Chicago FarmWorks
• Neon Youth
• Travelers Aid Chicago
• Supportive Permanent Housing
• Building Stable Communities
• Manuel Saura Center
• RICS Heartland Football Club Chicago
• Asset Building Program
• SEED
• Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF)
• Independent Supportive Housing
• Freedom from Trafficking
• Home Study Post-Release Services (HSPRS)
• Protective Travel Services

Products and services

• Asset Building Program
• Building Stable Communities
• Chicago FarmWorks
• Freedom from Trafficking
• Home Study Post-Release Services (HSPRS)
• Independent Supportive Housing
• Manuel Saura Center
• Neon Youth
• Participant Voice Council
• Protective Travel Services
• Refugee & Immigrant Community Services (RICS)
• RICS Heartland Football Club Chicago
• SEED (Supporting Education and Employment Development)
• Supportive Permanent Housing
• Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF)
• Travelers Aid Chicago
• Workforce Development
• Unaccompanied Children Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 11,000+ children and families served since 2013 through Home Study Post-Release Services
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• City of ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with City of Chicago for urban farming operations. The City collaborates on food access initiatives and community development programs through Chicago FarmWorks.
• NeighborSpacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerSpace is a partner in the Chicago FarmWorks urban farm initiative, providing land and support for community food production in East Garfield Park.
• Rush University Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRush University Medical Center partners with Chicago FarmWorks for food access initiatives. In 2024, nearly 4,000 servings were distributed through Rush's Food is Medicine initiative.
• Breakthrough Urban MinistriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBreakthrough Urban Ministries collaborates with Chicago FarmWorks, receiving 8,000 servings of fresh produce in 2024 for community distribution in East Garfield Park.
• Our Lady of the Angels Community PantrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity pantry partner receiving over 13,000 servings of fresh produce from Chicago FarmWorks for distribution across East and West Garfield Park.
• Chicago Housing AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChicago Housing Authority partners with Heartland Human Care Services for the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program, providing asset-building opportunities for families in federally subsidized housing.
• Circuit Court of Cook CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe SEED program operates in partnership with the Circuit Court of Cook County, providing an alternative to traditional prosecution for felony drug charges with expungement upon completion.
• AIDS Foundation of ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIDS Foundation of Chicago partners for the HOPWA program referral process for Independent Supportive Housing, specifically serving people living with HIV.
• READI ChicagominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEED program builds upon lessons from READI Chicago, an innovative response to gun violence that connects people with cognitive behavioral interventions, employment and education training.
• Coordinated Entry System (CES) - City of ChicagocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReferrals for multiple housing programs including Building Stable Communities, Horizons I and II, and Neon Youth come from the City of Chicago's Coordinated Entry System.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Thresholds: Chicago nonprofit providing supportive housing, mental health services, and substance use treatment for individuals experiencing homelessness—directly comparable to HHCS's Supportive Permanent Housing and Independent Supportive Housing programs.
• A Safe Haven Foundation: Chicago nonprofit providing housing, workforce development, and supportive services to individuals experiencing homelessness and reentry—overlapping with HHCS's Building Stable Communities, SEED, and housing portfolio.
• RefugeeOne: Chicago-based refugee resettlement agency providing case management, employment services, English language training, and youth services—directly competing in RICS's core market.
• Cara Collective: Chicago workforce development nonprofit operating transitional jobs programs for individuals facing barriers to employment—directly overlapping HHCS's Chicago FarmWorks and SEED workforce models.
• Travelers Aid International / Travelers Aid of Metropolitan Washington: National network of Travelers Aid programs operating airport-based social services and protective travel—directly comparable to HHCS's Travelers Aid Chicago program at O'Hare.
• Marillac St. Vincent Family Services: Chicago-based nonprofit providing housing, workforce development, and youth services to families facing poverty—comparable in program mix and target population to HHCS's community-based programs.

Broad incumbents

• Heartland Alliance: Former parent organization of HHCS until FY2024 separation. Continues to operate overlapping programs in housing, refugee services, and advocacy across the Midwest, making it the most directly comparable incumbent.
• Salvation Army Metropolitan Division: Large-scale Chicago-area social services provider offering emergency shelter, housing, and veteran services (including SSVF-like programming)—a broader incumbent with overlapping federal contract exposure.
• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago: Large multi-service Chicago nonprofit providing refugee resettlement, housing, immigration legal services, and workforce programs—directly overlapping HHCS's RICS and housing portfolios.
• Volunteers of America Illinois: National nonprofit with Illinois operations providing supportive housing, veteran services, and reentry programs—comparable to HHCS's SSVF, Independent Supportive Housing, and HSPRS lines.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TravelersAidChicago
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/heartland-alliance-human-care

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 Heartland Human Care Services