Center Of Concern

Center Of Concern, a Des Plaines, Illinois-based nonprofit tax-exempt organization established in 2007, operates as a federal grant recipient (92% of recent awards) delivering homelessness intervention, senior services, and tax assistance to low-income populations across five federal agencies.

Center Of Concern's federal footprint concentrates heavily in HUD homelessness and housing programs. The Department of Housing and Urban Development's Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development funds 18 awards (50% of the portfolio) under the Continuum of Care Program (CFDA 14.267), supporting permanent supportive housing, rapid rehousing, transitional housing, and supportive services alongside homelessness prevention. Recent CoC recipients include a $215,483 Project Grant effective July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, a $215,483 award from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, and a $178,117 sub-grant award effective July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025, where Center Of Concern partnered with Cook County to deliver housing search and placement, case management, landlord mediation, and legal assistance. The Department of the Treasury's Internal Revenue Service funds nine awards (25% of the portfolio) across two grant programs. Under the Tax Counseling for the Elderly Program (CFDA not specified), Center Of Concern trains volunteers and provides free tax counseling and return preparation to taxpayers aged 60 and older, with recurring Cooperative Agreements in October 2024, October 2023, and October 2022. Under the Low Income Taxpayer Clinics Program (CFDA 21.008), Center Of Concern provides tax representation before the IRS and other tribunals, educational activities, and advocacy for low-income taxpayers and those with limited English proficiency whose incomes do not exceed 250% of federal poverty guidelines; a $255,412 Project Grant ran from January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023, and a $113,000 award covered January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024.

Center Of Concern also holds four awards from the Corporation for National and Community Service's Office of Grants Management (11% of portfolio) under the AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Companion Program (CFDA 94.016), funding volunteers aged 55 and older to provide supportive services to vulnerable adults including companionship, transportation assistance, respite care, and light household chores. A $913,246 Project Grant awarded September 9, 2025 covers the 2025-26 and 2026-27 program years with performance extending through June 30, 2028, incorporating statutory and budgetary cost-sharing requirements. HUD's Assistant Secretary for Housing Federal Housing Commissioner funds two awards under the Comprehensive Housing Counseling Program (CFDA not specified), supporting pre-purchase counseling, foreclosure prevention, and outreach to homeowners and those facing homelessness; awards dated October 1, 2024 and October 1, 2023 are among recent recipients. A single award from the Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reflects limited non-core activity.

The organization obligated $7.7 million across 36 awards since 2004, with activity averaging four to six awards per year across 2022–2025. Three awards face ultimate completion within the next twenty-four months, presenting recompete exposure in HUD CoC and IRS tax counseling programs. Center Of Concern subcontracts minimally (8% of awards), receiving a sub-grant under Cook County's Building Healthy Communities initiative (November 2, 2022) for suburban Cook County community health worker services and performing housing services and case management as a sub-grantee under HUD CoC sub-awards (July 16, 2024 and October 1, 2025). The organization's customer concentration—HUD and Treasury account for 75% of awards—reflects specialization in federally funded social services rather than diversified federal procurement.