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Serving DuPage County

Families Helping Families of Illinois

Guiding families to self-sufficiency in DuPage County

Families Helping Families of Illinois

Guiding families to self-sufficiency in DuPage County

Families Helping Families of Illinois

Guiding families to self-sufficiency in DuPage County

Families Helping Families of Illinois

Guiding families to self-sufficiency in DuPage County

Families Helping Families of Illinois

Guiding families to self-sufficiency in DuPage County

Families Helping Families of Illinois logo

A Home, A Hope, A Future

Empowering Change, Inspiring Hope

Families Helping Families of Illinois is a grassroots organization started in 1994 that helps families facing homelessness in DuPage County. Families Helping Families provides apartments and supportive services to families while they work to reclaim their lives.

J's Determination

The children of Families Helping Families’ moms are like so many other kids: when they have a goal in mind, nothing will get in their way.

This is “J”, the son of a former FHF mom. At 2 years old, he was a wonderful little guy who loved climbing and exploring.

When J’s mom found him attempting to “escape” using the balcony, she knew something had to be done. She tightly secured the lock on the door and watched J, wanting to be certain he couldn’t open it. But J had other plans. He worked tirelessly, pushing and pulling, using toys as tools. Finally, with his 2-year-old ingenuity, he opened the lock. He would have walked out on the balcony alone if his mom had not been watching.

Something had to be done. The mentors called a handyman who quickly understood that no reachable lock would stop this little boy. He installed a new, heavier lock at a point several feet higher than the first.

When J attempted to reach up to the new lock, his mom and both mentors watched, admiring his unwavering determination. But he had finally met his match, and he wasn’t happy about it. He did try pulling a chair over to the door, but his mom put a stop to that.

J’s a young man now. His mentors think of him often, never doubting that he will continue to meet each challenge with the same determination he used to get out on the balcony. He has a very promising future ahead.

Congratulations Graduate!

“Dear FHF, I cannot express enough how much your continued support has meant to me over these past four years. I never imagined that I could not only graduate debt-free with a degree in finance but am starting my new job at an excellent firm in a few weeks!

I could not have accomplished it all without you.  Thank you for believing in me.”

Our Bruce Terlep Memorial Education Fund helps FHF moms and their children go to college. To donate click below and select “Credit my gift to the Bruce Terlep Memorial Education Fund” on the form.

Benefit - Save the Date!

Get ready for an evening of impact and inspiration! Our annual Benefit Dinner is coming this October, and you absolutely won’t want to miss it. This is our biggest event of the year, and your support helps us continue our vital work in the community. Save the date, share the love, and prepare for a night that truly makes a difference. More details and official invitations will be sentout closer to the event. To become a sponsor or donate items for our raffles, please contact Sue using the link below.

Donate a Car

Our families need safe cars to get to school and work. Donating your old car would allow a family facing homelessness a new start.

​Even with the tax law changes, your donation is still tax deductible at full value since these vehicles are given directly to our clients, not sold.

(AND don’t forget gift cards for gas stations help our clients to fill their tanks!)

Mail physical cards to:
Families Helping Families
P.O. Box 8, Naperville, IL 60566

FHF accepting donation from Naperville Rotary

We are incredibly grateful to the Rotary Club of Naperville for their generous support of Families Helping Families! This investment is more than funding—it provides hope, opportunity, and a reminder that our community believes every family deserves the chance to thrive. Thank you, Rotarians, for believing in our mission and in the families we serve. Together, we are creating brighter futures—one family at a time!

FHF Is Serving Even More Families in 2026!

To learn more about FHF, please watch our video that features our clients sharing their journeys in their own words.

FHF mentor playing trucks with child
FHF client Linda A at move-in with her mentor
FHF mentor with new family 2026
FHF mentor with new family 2026

Volunteers Change Lives

Mentors are the heart and soul of FHF!

Are you looking to meet wonderful people and get more involved in the Naperville community?

Vounteer with Families Helping Families of Illinois (FHF) to help homeless families in our community. FHF has served more than 175 homeless families through a proven program that helps our clients – mostly single moms – as they work toward self-sufficiency. Our clients receive safe housing in Naperville and the support of mentors who serve as life consultants. That’s where you come in.

Mentors work in pairs and receive training and lots of support!

    • Mentor in teams of two.
    • Mentor with a friend, or we can pair you.
    • The commitment is about 1-2 hours per week.

Sponsor

Fuel our mission by becoming a sponsor of our benefit dinner. Sponsors enjoy promotion of their business and complimentary event tickets.

Donate

Every dollar and any item you donate helps a family in need and is tax deductible.

Volunteer

Discover various opportunities to get involved and support those who need it most.

A Small Gift, A Big Impact

Appeals & Donations

Items collected for the FHF Resource Closet

Stock the Resource Closet

Did you know that everyday needs like toilet paper, toothpaste, and soap cannot be obtained using SNAP (food stamps)? Our Resource Closet stocks these everyday items for FHF families that strain already tight budgets. Donating to our Closet helps ensure that our families have access to these basic needs.

Download the list of items needed (Word Document)
quarters needed for laundry

Quarter Drive

Our families use pay washers and dryers that only accept quarters. Each load costs $1.50 to wash and $1.25 to dry – over $10 per week. That is a lot of money for our families who live on very limited budgets.

Would your group, classroom, troop, etc. consider doing a Quarter Drive for this critical need? Every quarter counts!

Use the QR code to donate today!

FHF donation QR code

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Who We Are

Community of diverse people

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