Community outreach: Women In Need Growing Stronger (“WINGS”)—Providing support for homeless women and children

WINGS, one of the organizations supported by the Women Everywhere project, is a non-profit comprehensive transitional housing program dedicated to ending homelessness for women and children in the Northwest Chicago suburbs. It is the mission of the WINGS program to provide a personal growth program in a transitional living setting for homeless suburban women and their children to learn to manage their lives through education, guidance and support.

The WINGS program provides the building blocks for success including:

Shelter. WINGS provides housing, food and clothing to homeless women in the Northwest suburbs.

Stability. With the basic needs addressed, families are able to become stable and work towards future goals.

Support. The women and children who stay in the WINGS program receive intensive support from case managers, counselors, volunteers and other women who have experienced similar situations.

Self esteem. As the women and children progress through the program, they regain their sense of confidence.

Success. The culmination of the program is self-sufficiency and permanent housing.

WINGS' residents are women and children who become homeless due to extreme hardships and circumstances. The women are from all ethnic backgrounds and all ages. With 12 shelters, homes and apartments throughout the North and Northwest suburbs, WINGS has the capacity to assist 65-70 women and children each night. WINGS manages in excess of 200 calls a month from people seeking assistance.

WINGS succeeds, in large part, due to the support of private individuals and businesses. Individuals or businesses wishing to help can make tax-deductible cash contributions or provide much needed goods or services. A wide variety of volunteer opportunities also exist at WINGS for individuals and community groups interested in helping others. In addition, WINGS recently opened a resale shop located at 756 Northwest Highway in Palatine, IL, and is always interested in receiving donated goods.

Jenner & Block's women attorneys have volunteered at WINGS for the last two years as part of the Women Everywhere project. WINGS is a wonderful organization with dedicated, committed staff and volunteers. We have enjoyed a relationship with WINGS and encourage others to support this worthy cause.

If you are interested in more information about WINGS, please call 847/640-8542 or visit the WINGS Web site at www.wingsprogram.com/.