Home of the Sparrow is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit agency that provides transitional shelter to homeless women and children in Northern Illinois.  As of 2011, Home of the Sparrow has 2 shelters, 5 transitional apartments, and 4 Sparrow's Nest Thrift Stores.

The Sparrow's Nest Thrift Stores are a nontraditional funding source for Home of the Sparrow.  All of the net proceeds made from the four Sparrow's Nest Thrift Stores goes to help the women and children in the transitional apartments.

Each year, more than 100 homeless women and children reside in Home of the Sparrow's shelters located in McHenry and Crystal Lake.  At any given time, up to 65% of residents are children. Although McHenry County is the agency's focus, we also provide services to those from the entire Northern Illinois area. Since Home of the Sparrow's program began in 1986, over 2,400 women have reached out to Home of the Sparrow, seeking help and hope and ultimately, lives of independence and self-sufficiency. Each year, we also provide women in crisis situations with information on additional advocacy services and prevention programs within our community.

The doors of Home of the Sparrow are always open. Utilizing all resources available, we strive to meet the needs of as many women and children as possible and keep our waiting list at a minimum.