Surraya Foundation
From survivor to
self-sufficient.
Surraya Foundation runs Chicago's only trauma-informed career training program built specifically for women survivors of domestic violence. Free tuition. Free childcare. Free transportation. A credential. A paycheck. A way out — for good.
Enrolling Now
A complete pipeline — from shelter to career.
The Education & Employment Program at Surraya Foundation is the only program of its kind in Chicago: fully free, trauma-informed, and built entirely around the realities of women who are rebuilding from domestic violence.
Students receive tuition, books, transportation, on-site licensed childcare, professional work attire, and a daily hot meal — all at no cost. Every instructor is trauma-informed certified. Every employer partner has signed our hiring pledge.
The Education & Employment Program provides completely free credentialed job training to women survivors of domestic violence in the Chicago metro area. Each year, more than 140 women enter our program.
Students receive tuition, books, transportation, on-site licensed childcare, professional work attire, and a daily hot meal — all at no cost. The program also offers trauma-informed instruction, career coaching, a women-only learning environment, and direct placement with our 28 Chicago employer partners.
Our focus is simple: give every survivor equal access to a credential and a steady paycheck. Economic independence is what makes leaving permanent. 73% of our graduates are working within 90 days — at an average starting salary of $23,000.
Ten things she gets — all free.
Every survivor enrolled at Surraya Foundation receives the full package. We remove every barrier between her and the certificate.
Pick a credential. We cover the rest.
All programs are accredited, locally hiring, and short enough to finish in one season.
A safe place to learn.
Our Rogers Park training center is women-only, trauma-informed, and built around the rhythm of real survivors' lives — including the kids.
All photos taken with full participant consent.View full gallery →
Built around the kids.
No survivor has to choose between her childcare and her credential. We designed the schedule around real life — drop-off at 7:30, pickup at 5:00, and everything in between covered.
Most training programs fail survivors not because the content is wrong — but because the timing is. A 9am start with no childcare is a barrier. An assignment deadline with no laptop is a barrier. We've removed every one.
What last year's class actually did.
Verified by our independent CPA audit — not projected, not estimated.
Diana's path — in 14 weeks.
Class of 2025
28 Chicago employers hiring our grads.
Healthcare, accounting, transportation, IT — every partner has signed our trauma-informed hiring pledge.
How to enroll.
If you or someone you know is leaving an abusive situation in the Chicago area, here's the path in. No paperwork required to start the conversation. No documentation needed to enroll. Just call.
We never share that you contacted us — with your partner, your landlord, your employer, or anyone. Our advocate team is trained in safety planning. You don't have to leave to start the conversation.
Verified, audited, accountable.
12 years in Chicago. 2,400+ women served. Every dollar tracked.
Three ways to show up.
We need three things to graduate the next 142 women: donors, mentors, and employers.
About the program.
For survivors thinking about applying, and for donors wanting to know how it really works.
Help Women Rebuild Their Lives.
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Causes
- Emergency & Transitional Housing
- Counseling & Mental Health Support
- Legal Assistance
- Education & Employment Support
- Healthcare Access
Contact Us
- info@suzysplace.org
- 6425 N Rockwell St, Chicago, Illinois 60645, US
- 773-983-7555