About Humboldt Park Social Services
Humboldt Park Social Services (HPSS) has served the neediest persons in the Logan Square & Humboldt Park communities since 1989. Incorporated as a non-profit community service agency by its sponsoring organization, Humboldt Park United Methodist Church of Chicago, HPSS serves approximately 1,800 people each year with a range of programs.
The history of this community service organization has been written on the pages of the hundreds of lives that have been turned around for the better, leaving behind years of homelessness and hopelessness, and moving forward into healthy, productive and independent living. A large share of the credit for this success is due to the staff of HPSS. These dedicated and talented persons have learned to accomplish so much with so little physical resources. This front line of staff and volunteers is backed up by a working board of directors, hundreds of donating churches and individuals, committed principal funders, and cooperative networking agencies.
HPSS faces the future challenge of eliminating homelessness in our community with the confidence built on this solid track record of service.
Population
Client demographics for 2008
In 2008, Humboldt Park Social Services, through the Center for Changing Lives served:
- 1364 individuals accessed the Center 5724 times.
- Those 1364 individuals were part of 998 households.
- Over 21,002 meals were served through the soup kitchen, approximately 67 clients per day.
- Number of clients served includes those served through Employment Services, Housing Services, Case Management, Rep Payee, Reentry Services, Warming Center and Interim Housing program.
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors of Humboldt Park Social Services symbolizes the connectional ministry of the United Methodist Church under whose auspices it was founded. Support from different boards of the Church and individual churches have been essential to the agency’s existence. United Methodist churches connect with each other, combining their financial and human resources to serve people who are homeless, hungry, living in poverty, suffering from addictions and/or mental illness, and who are victims of domestic and street violence.
Individual United Methodists connect with the agency in many different ways. Many make up the membership of the Board of Trustees. We would like you to meet them:
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Deborah McCoy, President of the Board of Directors
brings a wealth of experience to the board as an active participant in the Logan Square community for over 25 years. She is a member of the Church of the Advent Episcopal Church, and has served as an officer of the Logan Square Neighborhood Association (LSNA) and the Independent Voters of Illinois - Independent Precinct Organization (IVI-IPO).
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John Prueitt, Treasurer of the Board
is an executive with a major utility corporation. Fiscal responsibility is of major importance to our connection with the United Methodist Church of Park Ridge.
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Joe Moreno, Director of Development for the Board
is the Sales and Marketing Director for a large printing corporation. Joe brings a wealth of volunteer, political, and social justice experience to the Board.
Edith Juanita Brown
Edith(Juanita) Brown, is an attorney who has practiced civil law in DuPage County for the past twenty eight years. She bring experience from serving on other not-for -profit boards over the years. Currently she is a member of the Bensenville Home Society Board of Lifelink, Corporation. Juanita is a long time member of the St. Thomas United Methodist Church in Glen Ellyn, where is serves on the Mission Outreach Committee, is a certified Lay Speaker and most recently represented the church as Lay Member to the Northern Illinois Annual Conference.
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Helen Jackson
is the perfect example of what HPSS’ spirit and love can do for a damaged soul. Her faith has brought her to this board. She is a very active member of the church and volunteers her time at La Posada. She provides the client’s perspective and reminds us why we do what we do.
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Harry Nicol
is President of the United Methodist Foundation of the Northern Illinois Conference in Chicago, Illinois. Harry brings to the board a long term interest in the needs of vulnerable children and their families and a commitment to the importance of philanthropy.
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Pastor Fernando Siaba
is the pastor of Humboldt Park United Methodist Church. A nearby property owner recently paid him the high compliment of turning the agency around in the eyes of the neighborhood. In 2000 Pastor Siaba undertook to change HPSS into a more professionally run organization and has since been overseeing this transition. His quiet serenity and leadership are inspirations to clients, staff, and Board members.
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David Thorpe
is the ‘HPSS PR’ man to Methodist Churches throughout the conference. He connects the agency with the United Methodist Church’s Volunteers in Mission program, in which volunteer work teams contribute thousands of dollars of construction and repair work. He also works on the technology and development committees.
Daniel Viana
- works as Youth Advisor and Sunday School Teacher at Humboldt Park UMC and directs the Praise/Worship Team as well. Daniel is also a newly appointed "Church Planter" by the Bishop of the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church serving at Resurrection UMC upon its relocation to the North Austin community in Chicago.
