721 N. LaSalle
Chicago, IL 60654
Phone: (312) 655-7435
Fax: (312) 266-7146

Facilities Operations

Sandra DeSico, Director
721 N. LaSalle, Chicago, IL 60654
Phone: (312) 655-7435
Cora Cato, Assistant
Phone: (312) 948-6746

The Facilities Operations Department is responsible for providing a safe, clean and attractive environment for all employees and clients in our Catholic Charities facilities.

Through direct management of numerous Catholic Charities sites and consultation with 140 neighborhood sites, Facilities Operations administers construction/ remodeling projects and contracts, determines square footage information for internal accounting, ensures safety compliance with OSHA, ADA and related regulatory agencies and initiates insurance and workers' compensation resulting from security incident reports.

At the St. Vincent Center on LaSalle Street, in addition to the daily operation of all of the offices, meeting rooms and public facilities, Facilities Operations and Management consistently greets over 30,000 people a month, feeds 2,600 guests a month through the Supper Program, and hosts approximately 1,400 meetings each month. The Facilities Department completes major restoration of building sites as needed, institutes general and preventive maintenance programs to ensure energy conservation standards are met, and is instrumental in planning and developing numerous capital projects. Facilities Operations oversees internal and external mail and package operations, in-house printing and duplication functions, switchboard services, housekeeping and parking lot services for staff and visitors. Facilities Operations is involved in the physical movement of personnel, furniture and programs, purchasing of building supplies and equipment. Facility security practices and procedures are also handled by the department.

In 2008, the maintenance of Catholic Charities' site at 651 W. Lake Street, Chicago, which consists of 64,000 square feet of operating spaces and houses two major agency service areas, became the responsibility of the Facilities Operations Department. These service areas provide comprehensive client services through various program that compassionately carry out Catholic Charities mission to strengthen and support individuals, families and communities based on the value and dignity of human life.