LEAP: Lorentzen Education and Advocacy Program

PADS and Hesed House founder Sister Rose Marie Lorentzen imbued PADS with a tradition of asking the tough questions:  Why are people homeless?  Why are people hungry?  Why are the services of PADS necessary?

If we provide shelter, should we not also ask why people are homeless?  If we provide food, should we not also ask why so many are hungry?  If we operate a medical clinic, should we not ask so many Americans cannot afford even the most basic health care?

PADS mobilizes its 5,000 volunteers and numerous supporters to advocate for a more just society.  Through letter writing, telephone, fax, and email campaigns as well as group trips to Springfield and Washington D.C. PADS volunteers can help to alleviate the root causes that create a need for Hesed House.

Of special pride is “Charlies Bill”, Illinois’ Education of Homeless Children and Youth Law, an Illinois law originating at Hesed House that guarantees homeless children the right to an education and removes the major barriers to receiving that education. Passed by the Illinois legislature in 1994, it was enacted into federal legislation in 2004.