ABOUT US

Our History

In the early 1980s, religious leaders of six Aurora churches and other concerned citizens formed a grassroots coalition to shelter, feed and clothe homeless individuals and families found walking the streets in adverse weather conditions. Rotating among the six church halls each night to provide a port in the storm for this struggling group, a core of volunteers prepared and served food at the churches – not just for the lone person who showed up the first night of shelter – but for the growing number of homeless who appeared at church doors each night.

The coalition approached City of Aurora leaders imploring them to help find a better solution to shelter, feed and care for this group of human beings caught in desperate situations. At that time, the City of Aurora’s former incinerator was available for sale and proposed as an option for providing services and shelter under one roof at an out–of–the–way location, yet on a bus route for access by the population who would be served at Hesed House and who did not have transportation. Thus was the creation of Hesed House.

Today, Hesed House is the second largest homeless shelter in the State of Illinois, and the largest shelter outside of the city of Chicago.  We utilize more than 7,000+ volunteers from over 90 area churches, businesses and service organizations to assist individuals and families experiencing homelessness every year. Hesed House sees 16 newly homeless individuals each week – that’s one new homeless individual every 8 1/2 hours. Hesed House strives to get 16 or 17 individuals out of homelessness each week. With the help of professional staff, alliances with outside agencies over a thousand people are served through Hesed House’s shelter and three housing programs annually.