Facing Forward

Values

Why do we face forward?

Envisioning a better future is the first step to empowerment. We turn our backs on homelessness and position ourselves to envision what’s next. We break the cycle of homelessness in Chicago by providing housing and social services that empower individuals to face forward to a new future. We know that connecting people to safe, stable, long-term housing first creates the best platform to address the root causes of homelessness.

Over the past five years, 85 percent of our clients have changed their lives and ended their cycle of homelessness. They have pride in their home. They receive health care that improves their quality of life. They earn high school degrees and excel in college programs. And their children thrive.

Permanent Supportive Housing

Without critical needs like food and housing met, it is difficult for people to address other issues related to health and safety, creating a chronic, often generational, problem. Our goal is to break this cycle by connecting people to permanent housing first. Once that essential housing need is met, we offer voluntary services. We partner with the individual and their family to create a unique portfolio of supportive services to help them meet their goals. This might include health care, substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment, education and job training. Led by the client, we serve as a foundation to help connect and guide their journey toward self-sufficiency.

meet our team

Staff and Management

Rev. Douglas Bradshaw
Executive Director
Laura Bass, LCSW
Director of Programs
Shawn Decker, LCSW
Associate Director of Programs
LaShonda Milton, CPA
Director of Finance
Robret Simpson
Director of Operations
Marissa Trevisan
Director of Development
Justine Allenbach
Skilled Assessor
Samantha Beckett
Housing Locator
Emmanuel Cabrales
Property Advocate
Alexis Clark
Operations Associate
Kayla Cormier
Case Manager
Edith Davis
Program Manager
Stephanie Davis
Case Manager
Rafael Espinoza
Case Manager
Mary Flores
Case Manager
Olandrian Glasper
Education Advocate
Alexis Gregg
Grants and Communications Manager
Trevon Hagan
Accountant
Asya Hayes
Case Manager
Tennille Hunt
Case Manager
Matthew Jaccarino
Data Administrator
Keith Jackson
Case Manager
Shaponda Jimmerson
Health Services Specialist
Cynthia Lane
Case Manager
Japhia Lewis
Program Assistant
Venus London
Program Manager
Byron Pruitt
Youth Advocate
Chanece Richard
Early Childhood Specialist
Jemelia Slaughter
Housing Navigator
Sarah Venton
Case Manager
Bryan White
AFC Case Manager
Canentra Williams
Program Manager

Board Members

Sean Auton, Board President

Equity Partner, HMB

Julie Hamilton, Board Vice President

Principal, Brand Partner, +Intention

Jeff Oskin, Board Treasurer

Vice President, J.P. Morgan Securities, LLC

Michael Richmond, Board Secretary

Sales Executive, The Horton Group

Rev. Douglas Bradshaw, Executive Director

Facing Forward to End Homelessness

Ashwin Avasarala

Analytics Engagement Leader, KBS

Bryce Bach

Principal, Oliver Wyman

Bibek Das

Attorney, Chawla & Ravani, P.C.

Chris Hume

Executive Vice President, Cullen CM

Theo Schroeder

Facing Forward Resident

Matthew Tucker

Director of Marketing Strategy, Highmark Health

Stephanie Van Vlerah

Managing Director, Oxford Financial Group, Ltd.

Harish Venkitaramanan

Corporate Strategy Manager, Cisco Systems

Our Partners

Above and Beyond Recovery Center

Access Community Health Network

Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago

AIDS Foundation of Chicago

All Chicago

Association House of Chicago

Bobby E. Wright Comprehensive Behavioral Health Center

Breakthrough Urban Ministries

Cabrini Green Legal Aid

Cara Chicago

CARPLS

Casa Central

Catholic Charities

Center for Changing Lives

Center for Housing and Health

Chicago Commons

Chicago Family Health

Chicago Furniture Bank

Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women’s Network

Chicago Recovery Alliance

Christian Community Health Center

Claretian Associates

CommunityHealth

Connections for Abused Women and their Children

Cook County Health

Corporation for Supportive Housing

CPS Students in Temporary Living Situations

Cradles to Crayons

Deborah's Place

Department of Rehabilitative Services

Department of Family and Supportive Services

Erickson Institute

FarmWorks

Friend Family Health Center

Goldie's Place

Goodwill

Greater Chicago Food Depository

Haymarket Center

Healthcare Alternative Systems

Heartland Alliance Health

Helping Her Live

Hines VA Medical Center

Housing Opportunities and Maintenance for the Elderly

Housing Opportunities for Women

Howard Brown Health Centers

Inspiration Corporation

Interfaith Housing Development Corporation

Jackson Park Hospital

Jesse Brown VA Medical Center

Kaleidoscope

La Casa Norte

Lawndale Christian Health Center

Lawrence Hall

Legal Aid Chicago (formerly Legal Assistance Foundation)

Mary Crane Center

Mercy Health

Metropolitan Family Services

Midwest Harm Reduction Institute

Mile Square Health Center

Mount Sinai Hospital

Near North Health Systems

New Moms

Northeastern Illinois University

Northwestern Memorial Hospital

One Summer Chicago

Ounce of Prevention

Pacific Garden Mission

PCC Wellness

Pilsen Wellness Center

Presence Health

PrimeCare Community Health

Rush University

Rush University Medical Center

Ruth M. Rothstein CORE Center

Safe Families for Children

Safer Foundation

Salvation Army

Share Our Spare

Sharing Connections Furniture Bank

St. Bernard Hospital

St. Leonard's Ministry Michael Barlow Center

St. Sabina Church

The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship

The Boulevard

The Women's Treatment Center

Thresholds

UI Health

University of Illinois at Chicago

University of Chicago

University of Chicago Medical Center

Westside Health Authority

Platinum Partners
  • Horwood Marcus & Berk
  • Chicago Wolves
Gold Partners
  • First Eagle Bank
  • Northern Trust
Silver Partners
  • The Horton Group
  • Seyfarth Shaw LLP