Mission

Filling the Gap NFP is a restorative organization dedicated to providing dignified and transformational housing to people in need.

 

Vision

Our vision is to create an environment in the south suburbs of Chicago where residents looking to rebuild their lives can find a stable place to live. We look to bring together resources from the community, local government, stakeholders, and other non-profit agencies to increase the number of housing options available to this widely underserved population.

 

Our Plan

At Filling The Gap NFP, we will be working with local agencies to help place people in transition in a safe and productive environment. Once they are placed in housing, we will help them find resources to meet their other basic needs through donations and other local organizations.

 

Our Needs

We are currently raising funds to not only sustain our program at the Sycamore and Cypress Houses but enrich our resident programming.

We are also looking for volunteers with expertise in housing , graphic design, marketing, accounting, and those passionate about providing transformational housing for people in need in our community.

 

CURRENT ACHIEVEMENTS

  • 2019: Hosted an Awareness Night and received a $25K grant.

  • 2020: Purchased the Sycamore House, a 2-unit building in Harvey, Illinois.

  • 2024: Purchased the Cypress House, a single-family home in South Holland, Illinois, dedicated to single mothers.

  • Resident Support: Since its rehabilitation in 2020, the Sycamore House has welcomed five different residents.

  • Resident Case Advocate Program: Developed and enhanced our resident case advocate program to teach self-sufficiency through professional, spiritual, and personal goals.

  • Partnerships: Established five other nonprofit partners and continue to seek more collaborations.

  • Donor Growth: Expanded our donor base from just a few individuals to over 1,000 supporters.

  • Fundraising Events: Successfully hosted five trivia event fundraisers, a Vision Breakfast, two 5K races, and two golf outings since 2020, helping to raise funds for our properties and programming.

  • Matching Campaigns: Conducted two successful $25K matching campaigns.

  • Volunteer Opportunities: Empowered dozens of volunteers to make a difference in the South Suburbs of Chicago.

  • Financial Literacy: Provided financial education to residents and additional seminars to the community in which we serve.

  • Advocacy: Raised awareness of the housing gap for hundreds of people in the South Suburbs of Chicago.

 

Who We Are

Michael Fitzgerald — Founder
Jennifer Fitzgerald — Co-Founder & Executive Director

Board of Directors
Lauren Diaz — President
Ralph Politano — Treasurer
Maggie Power— Secretary
Pamela Banks— Board Member