Renaissance Social Services

Getting an apartment is not always simple when someone is moving through homelessness or housing instability.

Identification, income requirements, credit checks, application fees, deposits, health barriers, trauma, and missing documents can all slow down the process.

Housing support helps people navigate those barriers and move toward lasting stability.

Why I Do This Work. Sandra Robinson, Director of Philanthropy at Renaissance Social Services.

We asked: what's a moment from your work you'll never forget?

She told us about the night a participant stood up at one of our events to share his story.

He was a father who had overcome tremendous personal obstacles to protect and raise his daughter. Renaissance helped him get stable housing and provided support services. He made sure she had food, school, safety, and a home.

When he finished speaking, he broke down in tears.

The room gave him a standing ovation. The only participant Sandra has ever seen receive one.

"The obstacles our participants overcome is mind-boggling."

This is why we do this work. 🧡

Want to stay closer to the work happening at Renaissance?

Our monthly newsletter shares real stories, housing impact, upcoming events, and ways to support solutions to homelessness in Chicago.

It is a simple way to see what your support helps make possible.

Subscribe through the link in bio.

Stable housing affects more than where someone sleeps.

It supports rest, safety, medication, appointments, food access, mental health, and the ability to keep moving forward.

Housing stability is health stability.

Why I Do This Work. Denise Long, Housing Resource Specialist, Hospital Engagement Program at Renaissance Social Services. 🧡

We asked: what's a moment from your work you'll never forget?

"A client thanked me and told me she appreciated my spirit because she felt the sincerity. She said that people help technically but they lack the warmth that homeless individuals so often never receive."

"I made a difference."

"Three words. Mean Everything."

Follow to meet more of our team. 🧡

None of this happens without you. To everyone who donated, shared our posts, volunteered, or showed up for Chicago - thank you. You are why 3,800+ Chicagoans found stability in 2025. 🧡

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Renaissance Pickleball Social.

It was a great evening of friendly competition, community, and support for housing solutions in Chicago.

We’re grateful to everyone who played, attended, sponsored, donated, and helped make the event possible.

Two years ago, Emelin and her children had no stable place to call home. Today, they are thriving. 💙
This is what supportive housing makes possible, not just a roof, but a real life.

Read Emelin's full story at the link in bio.

We asked our Chief Philanthropy Officer, John Pfeiffer : What does it mean to you when a participant gets stable housing?

His response - “When a participant gets housed, it signals to me that our society is working. That we care enough. That the nonprofit sector has a coordinated response ready for somebody who is vulnerable and unhoused. To me, there is nothing more fundamental than stable housing. It is the bedrock upon which our lives are built, and most of us take it for granted. I’d like to thank all of Renaissance’s supporters for their compassion and recognize the power of their collective investment to lift up thousands of individuals and families in need each year. It’s deeply inspiring.”

If your organization shares that belief, we would love to connect. Please reach out to us at [email protected]