Homelessness Support & Prevention

Safe, Stable Housing is Foundational for Health and Opportunity

Stable housing is essential for health, opportunity, and thriving communities. We focus on funding critical homelessness support and prevention services that help individuals and families secure and remain in safe housing. 

By investing in emergency assistance, housing stabilization, and access to essential resources, we intervene before crises escalate and support long-term independence. 

A man with a red cap and black puffy jacket holding a young girl with a colorful knit hat, outdoors in a winter setting with snow and blurred trees and cars in the background.
A cityscape of Chicago at sunset showing tall skyscrapers, bridges over the river, and buildings reflecting the sky.
A woman looking at a framed group photo on her lap, with a wooden bookshelf containing many framed pictures and decorative items behind her.

GRANTEE SPOTLIGHT

SisterHouse

SisterHouse was one of The Owens Foundation’s earliest benefactors and remains one of its longest-standing partners. Tom Owens was first introduced to SisterHouse through an employee who was a single mother living there with her four children. He was deeply moved by the organization’s compassion and its unwavering belief in the potential and dignity of women who had endured profound hardship.

SisterHouse provides a temporary home for women recovering from substance use. Within a safe, structured environment rooted in respect and accountability, residents rebuild self-esteem, nurture spiritual growth, and prepare for independent living. Under experienced leadership and with a proven track record, SisterHouse empowers women to reenter society with confidence and purpose.

Executive Director Patricia Banks, herself a former resident, often shares that “Cara” means friend—and that is exactly what The Owens Foundation has been to SisterHouse: a dear and trusted partner.