Chicago
Surviving the System – Chicago
Building Pathways from Foster Care to Stability, Independence and Community
Living Waters Youth operates across Minnesota and Chicago with locally responsive programming. Our model has roots in Minnesota, and Chicago is a major current operating location, with a focused commitment to young adults ages 18 to 30 who are transitioning from foster care and other systems.
Living Waters Youth – Chicago is focused primarily on the West Side of Chicago and is building a coordinated network of housing, supportive services, community resources, workforce opportunities, peer support and systems navigation.
Our goal is not simply to provide another program.
Our goal is to help young adults successfully navigate the transition from systems into adulthood with the relationships, resources, housing opportunities and support they need to build stable lives.
Who we serve
Young adults ages 18 to 30 in Chicago
- Young adults aging out of DCFS or foster care
- Foster-care alumni
- Young adults experiencing housing instability
- Young adults at risk of homelessness
- Young adults transitioning from juvenile justice or probation
- Young adults reentering the community
- Young adults experiencing trauma, grief or other barriers to stability
The Chicago model
Nine coordinated components
Housing Pathways
DCFS & Foster-Care Transition Support
Case Management
Peer Support
Mental Health & Healing
Workforce Development
Financial Literacy
Household & Move-In Support
Transportation & Resource Navigation
Housing development
A larger housing vision
Living Waters is developing a larger housing vision for young adults transitioning from foster care.
Our development work includes pursuing a 45-unit housing development designed to create additional housing opportunities for young adults who need stable, supportive pathways into adulthood.
The project is part of our long-term strategy to address the shortage of appropriate housing options while creating a stronger continuum between housing, supportive services and community.
This development is not complete, financed or accepting residents.
Relationship building
Who we are building relationships with
These relationships are actively being developed. They are not presented as finalized contracts or formal partnerships.
- DCFS
- Foster-care advocacy organizations
- Housing providers
- FYI-related housing systems
- Chicago Continuum of Care partners
- Workforce organizations
- Financial-literacy partners
- Clinical and mental-health providers
- Community organizations
- Philanthropic partners
- Housing-development and community-development partners
We want young adults leaving systems to know that leaving the system does not mean leaving support.