DuPage P.A.D.S.
DuPage PADS has served their community for the past 25 years seeking to put an end to homelessness. Read below to see how they have made an impact and why MSC is proud to partner with this worthy organization.
Q: In a few sentences explain what is DuPage PADS?
DuPage PADS was founded on the need to provide shelter, food, and support services for men, women, and children who are homeless. DuPage PADS was formed out of a partnership with community leaders. In the last 25 years, DuPage PADS has grown from providing services in one congregational space with 100 volunteers, to become one of the largest suburban providers of shelter through our Interim Housing program. Services provided include case management, transitional and permanent housing, and employment services. Currently, DuPage PADS is providing services in over 27 congregations supported by more than 4,000 volunteers with one goal in mind: to end homelessness throughout the county.
Q: What impact is DuPage PADS making in the local communities where they are based?
This past year alone, 1,115 people were served and more than 400,000 hours of shelter and 101,000 meals were provided to people in need. 174 children and 128 families were provided with services in 2010. DuPage PADS also partners with over 50 health, legal and social service agencies to provide vital services to our clients. Our employment readiness program partners with College of DuPage and Literacy DuPage to offer GED classes on-site. Between December 2009 and June 2010, eight individuals received GED certificates. Another 118 individuals obtained employment in 2010.
Q: How have you seen growth with DuPage PADS?
Besides the growth already mentioned, DuPage PADS has also seen a growth in the need for services in DuPage County for homeless men, women, and children. The recent economic downturn has brought many families to our doors for the first time due to job loss and loss of housing. Over the past two years, DuPage PADS has seen a 65% increase in the number of children served. 174 children were served by DuPage PADS in 2010. In fiscal year 2010 1,115 individuals were served and 128 families.
Q: What was the driving force behind DuPage PADS?
In 1985, after identifying the increasing need in the county for a non-programmatic emergency shelter, the Housing Task Force of the Human Needs Coalition of DuPage County founded DuPage PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter). Sheltering programs were studied and the model that was chosen was from a neighboring sheltering program in Aurora, IL. The PADS program sheltered homeless people in different congregational sites each night of the week on a seasonal basis. More than 25 years after the initial efforts, DuPage PADS, Inc. continues to serve people in crisis and at the lowest income levels in our community. Through a wide array of services and programs, DuPage PADS provides temporary and permanent housing solutions for people in crisis, while facilitating access to community-based social services that promote health, independence and self-sufficiency, all in a setting that encourages personal responsibility.
Q: What does the future hold for DuPage PADS...short term and long term goals?
DuPage PADS believes that housing is the key to tackling the community-wide challenges associated with homelessness and requires a dedication to ending, not just managing homelessness. It means providing interim overnight, transitional and permanent housing solutions. Our proven strategy goes beyond supplying housing alone. By offering the necessary multi-faceted support services and employment assistance, we can help to prevent our participants from becoming homeless again. We empower them to rebound and rebuild their lives while holding them accountable for their own progress. This is achieved through the compassion and respect given to each of our participants.
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