Right now, the people who provide those services are working in very cramped offices, and many workers are sharing office space and computers. Moving to a new facility would help workers be more efficient and free up more space for the homeless.

Hesed House recently purchased an abandoned building across South River Street where it will soon house its social services. "The idea is to build a one stop shop," Dowd explains. Of course, renovating an old building is expensive and Hesed House, like most non-profit organizations, operates on a tight budget. So the organization ran a help wanted ad to find someone to design the space... and waited for a response. Four architects came back with bids. Dowd says three of them were expensive and all about the same price.

But then the board of directors met with Jonathan Bieritz, president of JB Architecture Group Inc. in Naperville. "I've been aware of Hesed House as long as I can remember," Bieritz says. He grew up in Aurora and now lives in Sugar Grove with his wife and three children. Interestingly, even as a young boy, Bieritz knew he wanted to do something with houses. He graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1982 with a bachelor's degree in architecture. But beyond that, he credits his parents for teaching him good values and giving him a sense of community and responsibility.

Bieritz says this "chance to give back" came at just the right time. He offered to do the entire Hesed House renovation project for free—a donation of time and talents worth about $20,000. Dowd remembers the moment Bieritz made his generous offer. "There were six of us in the room interviewing him when he said it," says Dowd. "My recollection is the room just got silent for a while. We wanted to look professional. So we told him we would get back to him," he says with a smile.

Bieritz downplays his contribution. "This is a humbling experience to work with people who don't have anything. I like working on the big ones, but everyone needs a place to sleep," he says.

Dowd says the non-profit group is grateful to have the help. "In this business you get used to begging for stuff and pleading for stuff. It's very rare that someone comes up and offers to give you tens of thousands of dollars in services," adds Dowd. So what will be done with that money? The exterior facade of the building will get a face lift. Bieritz says it hasn't been touched in decades. It will also be made more energy efficient. Inside, an open, common space will be surrounded by offices for social services. The entire project will be 36,000 square feet. Construction could start as early as next month and Hesed House hopes to begin moving into the building in 2009.

The group says its members... and the many people it serves... will change even more lives because Bieritz is helping them build their dreams for the future.