About Us

The Primo Way

Primo Center is Chicago’s largest provider of services and shelter for homeless children and families, and what sets it apart is its comprehensive, family-centered approach.

Mission

Primo Center empowers families experiencing homelessness to become productive, responsible, and independent members of their communities. We achieve this by providing safe housing, integrated health and wellness services, early childhood education, and trauma-informed care that supports the entire family.

Vision

We envision a Chicago where no child grows up without a stable home, where every family has access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive, and where cycles of poverty and homelessness are broken for good.

Primo goes beyond housing — integrating healthcare and education to create a holistic model of care.

toddler
group photo
little girl
mom and son
Housing

Supportive housing that helps families rebuild stability and move toward independence.

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Healthcare

Integrating physical and mental health care into every family’s plan.

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Education

Early learning and home visiting to after-school tutoring, our programs build brighter futures.

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DID YOU KNOW

Over 80% of Primo families are led by single mothers.

Many of these single mothers are survivors of domestic violence, making Primo’s specialized, compassionate care vital. Families receive trauma-informed support that addresses not only immediate shelter needs but also long-term stability through therapy, parenting support, and school-based advocacy.

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mom and son

Our Need

Family homelessness in Chicago is a crisis that goes far beyond the absence of shelter. Parents face unemployment, untreated trauma, and overwhelming financial stress, while children—particularly those under five—suffer developmental delays, health concerns, and educational setbacks. Without holistic support, families risk falling into repeated cycles of instability. Primo Center addresses this urgent need through a proven wraparound model that combines safe housing with behavioral health, maternal and early childhood programs, and supportive services that reduce trauma, strengthen families, and build long-term independence.

Our History
December 12, 1977
A Vision for Urban Families Begins

Urban Family and Community Centers was officially registered with the Illinois Secretary of State, marking the beginning of a mission to strengthen families in Chicago’s urban neighborhoods. The organization was founded on the belief that every family deserves access to supportive services and pathways to self-sufficiency.

November 28, 1978
Expanding Faith-Based Community Service

Christian Community Services was incorporated as a separate nonprofit dedicated to serving Chicago’s most vulnerable residents through compassion, faith, and practical support. This organization played a vital role in addressing poverty, housing instability, and family needs across the city’s South and West Sides.

July 1, 1999
Two Missions Unite for Greater Impact

The Urban Center at Saint Barnabas and Christian Community Services merged to form a stronger, unified organization—Urban Family and Community Centers. This merger combined decades of neighborhood engagement and social service experience, expanding the organization’s reach and deepening its commitment to helping families thrive.

March 7, 2005
A New Chapter as Primo Center for Women and Children

Reflecting its renewed focus on empowering women and families experiencing homelessness, the organization changed its name to Primo Center for Women and Children. This transformation honored both our founder Bishop Quintin E. Primo, Jr. and the legacy of service while embracing a modern, trauma-informed approach to breaking the cycle of homelessness and poverty.

November 2025
Transforming to Meet the Needs of Chicago’s Homeless

Primo is in a transformational phase. Under the leadership of CEO Felicia Blakley, Primo has secured and will renovate an abandoned, historic building, 7756 S. Morgan, into a new interim shelter for mothers and their children. It will also serve as administrative headquarters beginning in 2027. In addition, the organizational infrastructure is getting a makeover. The team has recently migrated from G-Drive to Microsoft 365. Primo continues to look at all systems and processes to ensure efficiency, productivity and quality reporting. All capacity building efforts focus on providing children, parents and individuals with effective services for optimal impact. 

The aspen leaf

The aspen leaf in Primo Center’s logo is more than a design—it’s a symbol of resilience, connection, and growth. Like aspen trees—whose shared roots help each other withstand any storm—our strength comes from community. At Primo Center, we believe that with support and hope, families can heal, rebuild, and thrive together.

DID YOU KNOW

The majority of families who leave Primo Center successfully transition into stable housing and remain housed, ending their homelessness.

Today - we operate 350+ shelter beds in the Englewood and Austin neighborhoods and 91 units of permanent supportive housing across Chicagoland, serving hundreds of families each year.

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