Agency Details:

The Wings Program

The mission WINGS Program, Inc. is to provided a continuum of integrated services in an effort to end domestic violence and homelessness one family at a time.

Description:
Provides services aimed at ending homelessness and domestic violence. Programs include transitional housing, case management, therapeutic, financial and vocational counseling, career development, mentoring, homeless prevention assistance, and a child development program.

History:
In 1985, a man named Louis Tosto did something that he normally would not do. He picked up a man who was hitchhiking and learned that he was homeless and sleeping in the forest preserve. Louis was shocked to hear the stories of homelessness in the suburbs and even more appalled to learn of the absence of services to help these individuals. From this experience, Louis and a group of concerned individuals investigated the issue of homelessness in this somewhat affluent area of the Northwest Chicago suburbs. The group learned that there were very few services available for the homeless, and that women and their children were most in need. The group proposed to create a home for these women and children. Through collaborations with the Northwest Suburban Council for Community Service and Alexian Brothers Medical Center, they created Housing and Shelter Program (HASP), which was incorporated in 1986.

The program provided resources and arranged emergency housing for women and their children facing homelessness. In 1988 HASP purchased its first home with the capacity to house 10 women and children each night with a maximum stay of 3 months. In 1989 HASP changed its name to WINGS Program, Inc, (Women In Need Growing Stronger) and by 1990 WINGS began providing transitional housing for up to 2 years, counseling, and other supportive services.

Today WINGS operates 4 homes and 26 apartments in Chicago’s north and northwest suburban Cook County. Current maximum capacity is 90 women and children each night, but the actual number served fluctuates depending upon family size.

Responding to another unmet need in the north and northwest suburban area, WINGS opened at 45 bed domestic violence “Safe House” on January 3, 2005. This facility is located in Rolling Meadows. Previously there was no an easily accessible shelter in this area for a woman who is fleeing a desperate situation. Families who enter the “Safe House” will receive short-term shelter, legal and crisis counseling and numerous other services.

Contact people:

Rebecca Garr, Executive Director, (phone), (email) Beth Reneelye, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone), (email) Terri Channer, Director Of Development, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (847) 908-0911

Address:

P.O. Box 95615 Palatine, IL 60095

Web Site: http://www.wingsprogram.com

Last updated on November 20, 2009