Our Mission & History
South Suburban PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter, or SSPADS) is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization with a mission to prevent and end homelessness in the south suburbs of Chicago. SSPADS was founded 34 years ago in 1990 by dedicated community members who saw a need and decided to assist their unhoused neighbors across the Southland.
Dozens of churches hosted SSPADS shelter on a rotating basis and nightly moved “pads” on the floor each day. They decided to call this initiative Public Action to Deliver Shelter (PADS). Their efforts helped open the first church-based emergency shelters just in time for Christmas.
Today, the founding legacy endures as thousands of people volunteer every year to continue providing shelter, meals, affordable housing and services to help people overcome homelessness and build brighter futures.
Since 1990, SSPADS has provided over 700,000 nights of emergency shelter and over 2 million meals to enable over 20,000 people to overcome homelessness. In addition, SSPADS provides pathways home by helping over 400 people to preserve or access affordable housing homes every year.
SSPADS owns several apartment buildings and places clients in scattered-site housing. In 2011, SSPADS developed its own 77-unit PSH building in Country Club Hills called the Wellness Center, which includes a full-service teaching kitchen, community rooms, computer lab, classroom, playground, bus service, and clinic space. Our work helps those who are unhoused obtain affordable, permanent rental housing and work to achieve better health and economic security.
Prior to the pandemic, SSPADS could only provide 13,000 nights of shelter and 39,000 meals per year. We have increased our budget significantly with the help of increased philanthropy and federal COVID-19 funding and implemented a non-congregate, hotel-based shelter model. As a result, our emergency shelter impact has grown over 169% since 2019. SSPADS is the proud recipient of the 2018 Bank of America Neighborhood Builders Award, the 2019 National Good Neighbor Award, and a 2024 Lever for Change Award from MacKenzie Scott’s foundation Yield Giving.
Our Service Area
| Alsip Blue Island Bridgeview Burbank Burnham Calumet City Calumet Park Chicago Heights Chicago Ridge Country Club Hills Crete Dixmoor Dolton East Hazel Crest Evergreen Park Flossmoor Ford Heights Frankfort | Glenwood Harvey Hazel Crest Hickory Hills Homewood Justice Lansing Lynwood Markham Matteson Merrionette Park Midlothian Mokena Oak Forest Oak Lawn Olympia Fields Orland Hills Orland Park | Palos Heights Palos Hills Palos Park Park Forest Phoenix Posen Richton Park Riverdale Sauk Village Southern Chicago Heights South Holland Steger Summit Thornton Tinley Park University Park Worth |
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Get email updates about our mission to prevent and end homelessness, volunteer and donation needs, and upcoming fundraising events.
NOTE: If you are an SSPADS client seeking or receiving services, please call, email a staff member, or use our contact form.
Take Action
Provide someone with a pathway home.