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ABOUT US - OUR HISTORY & FUTURE

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS.....

SFPI had its humble beginnings in the living room of the founder, Ms. Tammie T. Morris. Once a month, a few women and teen girls from the community would gather to build camaraderie and share information and advice around relationships, parenting, personal trauma and counseling, housing needs, job information, and spiritual enrichment.  

 

The group began connecting with women and teen girls outside of the circle. This led to more women being invited to fellowship gatherings. 

 

The program grew beyond the cozy living room space into a nearby community center where monthly empowerment workshops, counseling sessions, bible study, and special events were held. 

Thus, the heart and soul of Sister-Friend Partnerships, Inc. was born.

 

SFPI established its formal Board of Directors in 2013 and was recognized by the IRS and the State of IL as a 501c3 charitable organization. 

SFPI  continues to refine its focus to meet the socioeconomic conditions of vulnerable women facing a domestic crisis and/or homelessness.    

SFPI - JOINING THE FIGHT AGAINST HOMELESSNESS

THE CAUSE/CRISIS: Too little affordable housing, insufficient living wages, limited access to specialty medical care, a domestic crisis, and community violence are some of the reasons people face homelessness. 

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  • The Chicago Coalition for the Homeless (CCH) released its most recent data findings, estimating 58,000 people were impacted by homelessness in Chicago, IL, in 2019, immediately before the COVID–19 outbreak.

  • Between 5,290 and 6,786 people experience homelessness on a single night in  Chicago, with the female population increasing by 4%.

  • Black and Hispanic/Latiné households are experiencing a disparate impact in Chicago; 69% of Black households and 63% of Hispanic/Latiné households report serious financial problems during the COVID–19 pandemic, which impacted having a place to live and food to eat. 

  • Because many people who are homeless are older adults or have underlying medical conditions, they may also be at increased risk for severe illness than the general population. 

  • Lack of housing contributes to poor physical and mental health outcomes, and linkages to permanent housing for people experiencing homelessness should continue to be a priority while addressing risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Resource:https://www.chicagohomeless.org City of Chicago 2019 Homeless Point-in-Time Count Report & www.cdc.gov

SFPI'S SOLUTION:  Hurting families need immediate and long-term solutions to end cycles of poverty and homelessness.   SFPI endeavors to address the long-term compounding issues of homelessness from a gender-responsive lens for housing, behavioral health counseling, and any surrounding social determinants of healthcare needs.

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  • Homeless shelters serve a critical function in our communities. Our goal is to offer transitional housing that is clean, safe, and conducive to restoration, along with behavioral health programs and services that lead to financial independence, educational empowerment, health and wellness, spiritual enrichment, and more.

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Additionally, our commitment includes building strong community partnerships that work to reduce the number of abandoned buildings in our neighborhoods by repurposing them for multi-site, low-income co-op and studio housing. 

 

"Together, we can change the world around us!"

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