DuPagePads History 1985-Present
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1985
DuPagePads (Public Action to Deliver Shelter) provides overnight shelter and meals for people who are homeless. Community Partners (churches/ congregations) provide night sites and teams of volunteers, October to April.St Mary of Gostyn Catholic Church in Downers Grove is the first night site location, December 21.
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1989
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1995
New building completed for daytime center and offices, 705 W. Liberty, Wheaton.Study by Northwestern and Wheaton concludes that DuPagePads could be used as a prototype for other communities across the nation.
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2000
Daytime site expands to Support Center: life skills coaching, employment readiness, computer skills, basic needs, support groups, and workshops. DuPagePads Transitional Housing (single men and women) begins with HUD grant.
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2001
Transitional Housing provides 7 apartments for 14 participants. Goal is re-entering the community. Volunteer Mentoring Program to support participants. -
2002
Not For Profit Agency of the Year/Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce. -
2003
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2004
HUD grant awarded to initiate DuPagePads Supportive Housing Program for individuals with a disability and who have been homeless for a year or longer.Housing 1st philosophy adopted.
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2005
Agency Partner of the Year/United Way of Metropolitan ChicagoAnnual Award for Business Excellence/Notable Not-For-Profit/ Business Ledger
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2008
Interim (overnight) Housing operates with 130 congregations and over 4,000 volunteers. Partner Leadership Giving expands to 123 Partners.The DuPage Homeownership Center awards DuPagePads the Robert Christ Affordable Housing Award.
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2009
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2010
DuPagePads receives the following awards: Annual Award for Business Excellence/Notable Nonprofit, Glen Ellyn Chamber of Commerce Nonprofit of the Year and Glen Ellyn Jaycees Not for Profit organization of the year.Designated Southern line sites as Family sites.
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2011
DuPagePads Receives the Community Builder Award from Elmhurst Masonic Lodge #941 and was chosen as Naperville Junior Woman’s Club Community Improvement Partner.DuPagePads began the Family Outreach Program to engage families who have made previous contact with DuPagePads to ensure that the clients have access to social services and community benefits even if they are not regularly utilizing the overnight shelters.
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2012
DuPagePads receives the 2012 Edwin Deicke Not-for-Profit Organization of the Year from the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce as well as the 2012 Reader’s Choice Award from Glancer Magazine.Began a pilot Respite Care Program for clients suffering from an illness or injury and in need of a respectful atmosphere to rest and heal while being able to access supportive services that assist in their recuperation.
Established an Operations and Finance department and moved our finances back in house.
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2013
DuPagePads receives a donation of $30,000 from the Spirit of Volunteerism Fund of the DuPage Community Foundation to create and implement online volunteer training. This is the largest grant awarded from this fund.DuPagePads wins $10,000 worth of in-kind items from an Ikea voting contest to be used in our Supportive Housing apartments.
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2014
Began Street Outreach Program.Received Four Star Rating from Charity Navigator.
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2015
30th Anniversary.Awarded 2015 Large Not-for-Profit of the year by the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce.
Began Short-Term Housing Employment Program for individuals who are homeless and working overnight shifts.
In November, we ended chronic veteran homelessness for those served.
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2016
Awarded Chamber630’s Not-For-Profit of the Year.
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2018
Awarded Exceptional Service Non-Profit of the Year from the Oak Brook Chamber of Commerce.