Arlo Chicago | Every Stay Gives Back

YOUR POSITIVE IMPACT

Impact Since October 2025

$ 10

provides public transportation to and from a medical appointment

100 %

donated to Deborah’s Place

.50 ¢

cents per night funds Deborah’s Place

Charity Mission

Open doors of opportunity for women experiencing homelessness in Chicago by providing housing, healing, and hope through supportive housing, comprehensive services, and community connection, empowering women to achieve their goals and live their fullest. 

 

Why is it important?

Deborah’s Place is a cornerstone of compassion in Chicago, dedicated to breaking the cycle of homelessness for women through housing, healing, and opportunity. Founded in 1985 by a group of volunteers who were moved by the growing number of women experiencing homelessness, the organization began as a safe overnight refuge and has since evolved into a comprehensive network of permanent supportive housing, interim housing, and community-based services. Rooted in dignity and respect, Deborah’s Place empowers women to rebuild their lives through case management, education, employment training, and health programs. Its impact is profound, providing not just shelter, but stability, self-worth, and a path toward independence for thousands of women who have faced trauma, poverty, and systemic barriers. By offering a safe place to heal and thrive, Deborah’s Place continues to be a vital force in restoring hope and transforming futures across Chicago.

How do they do it?

Deborah’s Place uses a unique model that weaves together supportive housing with a menu of voluntary, evidence-based services. They deliver these services in an intentional environment that recognizes each woman’s strengths and abilities and fosters a sense of belonging and community. The Deborah’s Place model has evolved over 35 years, using external research and internal data to develop and deliver effective programs and services. They know that women who experience chronic homelessness can overcome complex barriers to housing, health and stability when they have what they need to be successful, access to affordable and appropriate housing, adequate healthcare, regular income and positive social support. 

At Deborah’s Place, every woman’s story is met with empathy, understanding, and respect, the principles that form the foundation of their harm reduction and trauma-informed care approach. Recognizing that homelessness is often intertwined with trauma, mental health challenges, and substance use, the organization focuses on healing rather than punishment, creating a safe and judgment-free space where women can move toward stability at their own pace. Through harm reduction, staff members honor each individual’s autonomy and journey, helping women reduce risks while building trust and self-awareness. Their trauma-informed care model ensures that every interaction, whether in counseling, housing, or community activities, acknowledges the impact of past trauma and prioritizes emotional safety, empowerment, and choice. In its supportive housing programs, Deborah’s Place provides a holistic ecosystem of care. Residents receive on-site case management, mental and physical health support, life-skills coaching, and employment and education assistance, allowing them to regain independence within a stable, long-term environment. Using motivational interviewing, staff engage women in collaborative, compassionate dialogue that helps them identify their goals, build confidence, and take active steps toward positive change. This person-centered practice, grounded in listening and affirmation, strengthens each woman’s belief in her ability to rebuild her life. Together, these approaches form a continuum of care that honors the complexity of healing and ensures that every woman who walks through Deborah’s Place finds not only shelter, but a community that sees, supports, and believes in her.

How you can #TravelKindly:

  • Reserve a stay at Arlo Chicago where every stay gives back. Each stay includes a donation to Deborah’s Place. Reserve Now. 
  • Founded in 1985 by dedicated volunteers, Deborah’s Place in Chicago continues to rely on community members as an essential part of its mission to empower women. Volunteers help strengthen the organization’s vital connection to the community by sharing their time, talents, and compassion. With a variety of opportunities across their Chicago programs, Deborah’s Place works to match each volunteer’s unique interests and skills. Inquire about opportunities and fill out a request form here.
  • In addition to monetary support, your donations of necessary items (gifts in-kind) provide their residents resources to turn housing into home. When you donate quality items to Deborah’s Place, you facilitate independence, well-being, and dignity for women in Chicago who’ve experienced homelessness. A comprehensive list of in-need items can be found here
  • Make a difference by fulfilling an item from their Amazon Wishlist: 
  • Residential Services Wishlist

About Arlo Chicago

In downtown Chicago, Arlo Chicago cultivates a modern, artful refuge right in the heart of the Loop, just steps from Millennium Park, the Magnificent Mile, and the Lake Michigan waterfront. The building’s design nods to the city’s architectural legacy (even repurposing the 1916 Atlantic Bank building) while interior touches of warmth, clean lines, and locally inspired accents invite a feeling of communal belonging.Kind Travelers can walk, bike, or ride the “L” to major museums, gardens, the Chicago Riverwalk, and nearby music and theater venues. Each guest room balances compact efficiency with comfort, including smart amenities, high ceilings, well-designed bathrooms and the hotel offers fitness facilities to support active days in the city.

A stay at Arlo Chicago also gives you the opportunity to support Deborah’s Place’s mission of uplifting women experiencing homelessness by means such as fundraising, giving programs, food donation, or awareness campaigns. This kind of collaboration, where a hospitality institution acts as a neighbor-ally, amplifies the reach of Deborah’s Place and helps bridge the gap between travelers’ values and meaningful local impact.

Learn more about the partners

Arlo Chicago Deborah’s Place

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