Pay It Forward House in Sycamore

719 Somonauk Street
Sycamore, IL 60178

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How do I secure overnight accommodations?

Admission to the House for an overnight stay requires a referral by a staff member at Kindred Hospital. Ask the receptionist at Kindred Hospital. She/he will refer you to the appropriate person for assistance.

Once your loved one is admitted to Kindred and you have the completed referral form, you must tour the House in person to make sure you are comfortable with its layout and rules. The volunteer on duty will then either offer you a room or offer to put you on the waiting list. Rooms are provided on a first-come, first-served basis from the waiting list.

How do I secure overnight accommodations?

Admission to the House for an overnight stay requires a referral by staff from the treating facility. Ask the receptionist. She/he will refer you to the appropriate person for assistance. Your patient must already be admitted for treatment to obtain a referral. You are welcome to visit Pay-It-Forward House if you are checking out a hospital prior to admission, but the referral process will only be done once the patient is in treatment in DeKalb County.

Once you have the completed referral form, you must tour the House in person to make sure you are comfortable with its layout and rules. The volunteer on duty will then either offer you a room or, if the House is full, will work with you to try to find other accommodations in the local community. Rooms are provided on a first-come, first-served basis from the waiting list.

Can I reserve a room?

Sorry, no. Plans often change unexpectedly, so rooms are provided on a first-come, first-served basis from the waiting list. This enables us to serve more people. If the House is full, we will work with you to find other accommodations.

How long can I stay?

Because our mission is to provide respite, stays are limited to three weeks when there is a waiting list. We think this will give you time to settle in, rest up, support the patient's healing and figure out other options. If there is no waiting list at the end of your three-week stay, we will extend your stay by one-week increments. If there is a waiting list, we will discuss other options available in the community with you. We will advise you when a waiting list develops.

What does it cost to spend the night?

Overnight guests are asked to contribute $5.00 per night to help cover the operating expenses of Pay-It-Forward House. This small amount does not come close to covering the cost of our operations and many guests actually contribute $20.00 - $40.00 per night. .

What are the check-in and checkout times?

Volunteers are on duty for tours, check-ins and check-outs from

11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.–Thurs.

11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Fri. & Sat.

Sunday by appointment

How will I be notified if a room becomes available while I'm on the waiting list?

The Executive Director will call you at the number you provide when you place your name on the waiting list. She will leave a message giving you until 11:00 a.m. the next day to contact her and confirm that you are coming or turn down the offer. If she does not hear from you by that deadline, the room will be offered to the next person on the waiting list.

If I have stayed in the House for three weeks, can I come back later?

You are welcome to put your name back on the waiting list.

What if I have to go home once I've gotten a room as an overnight guest?

If you need to go home to pay bills or attend to other matters during your stay, you may leave your things in your room and be absent for one (1) night. We ask that you NOT take the keys out of town with you; just leave them at the desk. If you choose to leave for longer than one night, you will need to remove your things, so another person can get some rest just like you have. We cannot hold the room for you, but you are welcome to put your name back on the waiting list if you leave.

What does the House offer if I drop by during the day?

Whether your loved one is getting a bath, doing therapy or just sleeping soundly, our House is a great place to unwind and recharge. Come enjoy complimentary:

coffee and soft drinks
homemade cookies
couches for taking naps
books to read
shower facilities
and more!

Volunteers are on duty from:

11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Thursday
11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday & Saturday

If you have dropped by for a visit and the volunteer has to leave, we will ask you to return to the Hospital at that time.

What does it cost to use the House during the day?

There is no charge for drop-in visitors, but we will happily accept any donation you choose to make.

Can I take a shower at the Pay-It-Forward House if I’m not staying overnight?

We would be happy to provide you with towels and toiletry items so you can freshen up if you wish. Just ask the volunteer on duty.

May I use my computer at the Pay-It-Forward House?

You are welcome to plug in your laptop at the House. There is a wireless network if your machine is so equipped. We also have a laptop in the family room from which guests can check their email. Parental controls are installed. Please note that using the computer for pornography or other inappropriate activities is grounds for dismissal from the Pay-It-Forward House and refusal of re-admission.

(If for some reason there is no service at the House, the volunteer on duty can tell you how to get to the Public Library where they will be happy to let you use a computer with internet access.)

Are contributions to the Pay-It-Forward House tax-deductible?

Yes! We are a 501(c)3 institution and all donations are gratefully accepted and tax-deductible to the amount allowed by law.