Facing Forward to End Homelessness

What it reported doing in 2024

Supportive services programs: sanctuary place, home connections, home connections ii, housing resource specialists (formerly skilled assessors), housing location, first foundationssanctuary place - clients in this program reside at sanctuary place, a 69-unit housing development in chicago's west humboldt park neighborhood. It offers 63 studio apartments for single residents, 6 townhomes for families, and access to on-site case management and supportive services. The organization provides long-term housing and supportive services which are designed to enhance the quality of life for the residents and empower them in moving toward progressively self-sufficient living. Support services include promoting residential stability, increasing household income, addressing healthcare needs, educational advancement, job readiness, and everything else identified as a root cause of homelessness or a barrier to advancement. Services are provided by the organization as well as through linkage agreements with other agencies.housing resource specialists (formerly skilled assessors): in partnership with local shelters, facing forward conducts one-time assessments focused on housing needs and vulnerability. Facing forward assisted 1,994 individuals in fiscal year 2025 from chicago's housing services wait list to connect them to critical resources including food, shelter, and medical care through referrals to service providers in the community.first foundations is a rapid-rehousing pilot program for families with expectant parents or children ages three and under who are facing or at risk of homelessness and helps them to secure stable, affordable housing for families and provides two years of rental assistance and comprehensive case management. Supportive services include employment assistance, age-specific support for children, parenting supports, and connections to childcare and family healthcare, we help families build stability and develop the skills necessary to move from the program into stable housing of their own. First foundations served 11 families (30 individuals) in fy25.innovative programs for families facing forward's two-generation pilot programs home connections i & ii take a transformative approach to ending homelessness by addressing the interconnected needs of parents and children. By housing families quickly and providing targeted support, families are empowered to break generational cycles of homelessness and create pathways to lasting stability and success. In partnership with chicago public schools and university of chicago urban labs, the home connection pilot program provides housing-focused case management, short-term financial assistance, and up to one year of rental assistance for families with students experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Our home connection program served 47 families (165 individuals) in fy25.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 85.7%; rating input score 86
• Program expense ratio: 79.2%; rating input score 79
• Fundraising efficiency: $16.14 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 53; 53rd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 0 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 0
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Missing
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 93.8%; rating input score 94; 24th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -8%; rating input score 16; 16th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.42; rating input score 14; 14th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.22; rating input score 41; 41st percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 5.5%; rating input score 50; 50th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 11.3% per year; rating input score 100; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 10.5% per year; rating input score 100; 70th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 21.5% per year; rating input score 100; 86th percentile among comparable filings