Allen Swilley: Executive Director
Waukegan, IL – Human services leader Allen Swilley has been selected as Executive Director of PADS Lake County, an agency that helps individuals and families reach their full potential by providing a comprehensive approach to reducing homelessness.
Throughout his career, from homeless services to the achievement gap, Swilley has worked to create equitable and just environments for marginalized populations and interventions that create lasting impact. He believes that homelessness can be irradicated if communities and stakeholders choose to address its root causes and that Lake County has the resources and community will to change the landscape of homelessness.
Swilley comes to PADS Lake County from Thrive Chicago where he managed the Barack Obama Foundation’s My Brother’s Keeper Chicago (MBK), a collective-impact initiative that improves outcomes for boys and young men of color by convening a cross-section of stakeholders to solve Chicago’s complex social problems. Prior to Thrive Chicago, Swilley was Director of Interim Housing and Outreach at DuPage Pads. Previously, he was Director of Shelter Operations, Outreach and Case Management for Connections for the Homeless.
Through holistic services, PADS Lake County (PADS) seeks to help the community create sturdy foundations in stable homes so that they can build brighter futures for themselves and contribute to their community. Today, as the only emergency shelter system in Lake County, PADS operates 15 emergency shelter sites, its Day Resource Center with numerous programs within it, as well as a number of scattered site long-term supportive housing units. PADS also provides a multiplicity of services with a vision and mission of placing all of Lake County’s homeless on a secure path to sustained independence. For more information, visit https://www.padslakecounty.org
