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Who We Serve

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Facing Forward is a Chicago-based nonprofit that partners with families and individuals currently experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness. We specialize in providing long-term housing, essential resources, and personalized, family-wide support services that build stability, enhance mental and physical health, and increase access to empowering education and employment opportunities.
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According to the latest report by the Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness published in 2024, 76,375 Chicagoans experienced homelessness in 2022, including over 20,738 children. Homelessness continues to disproportionately impact Black and Latinx Chicagoans with Black Chicagoans making up 55% of the total population experiencing homelessness and Latinx Chicagoans comprising 25%.

Last year, Facing Forward served over 3,000 children and adults in 3 key program areas:

Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH)

Facing Forward’s longest-running program serves families and individuals who have experienced chronic homelessness and are living with a disability.

Our Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) program provides long-term housing paired with family-wide supportive services. Every household is matched with a dedicated case manager who walks alongside them as they work toward their goals. With personalized support and resources, clients can improve their health, strengthen life skills, and pursue education and employment opportunities that empower them for lasting success.

In addition to ending cycles of homelessness, PSH is also contributes to significant cost savings community-wide by reducing reliance on crisis services like shelters, hospitals, and jails.

611 individuals served in FY24, 260 of which were children

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Innovative Programs for Families

We know that children whose parents experience homelessness are significantly more likely to face homelessness themselves. Facing Forward’s Innovative Programs for Families take a Two-Generation, or whole-family, approach to building stability.

Many families experiencing homelessness are doubled up—staying with relatives, friends, or acquaintances in overcrowded or unstable conditions. Because federally funded housing programs are often reserved for individuals staying in shelters or on the streets, these families are frequently overlooked and left without critical support. Our pilot programs address this gap by providing rapid access to housing and targeted, age-specific services that help families establish stability and move forward with confidence.

 

First Foundations

Serving families with expectant parents and children ages three and under who are facing or at risk of homelessness.

Facing Forward’s First Foundations program quickly secures stable, affordable housing for families and provides two years of rental assistance and comprehensive case management. Through tailored services like employment assistance, age specific support for children, parenting supports, and connections to childcare and family healthcare, we help families build stability and develop the skills necessary to move from the program into stable housing of their own.

27 families/83 individuals served in FY24

 

Home Connection

Serving families with students experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

In partnership with Chicago Public Schools and University of Chicago Urban Labs, the Home Connection program provides housing-focused case management, short-term financial assistance, and up to one year of rental assistance for families with students experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

136 families/482 individuals served in FY24

 

Housing Resource Specialists

Serving individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

 

Facing Forward’s Housing Resource Specialists are part of a citywide network working within Chicago’s Coordinated Entry System to connect people experiencing homelessness with housing and support. This system ensures fair access to a shared housing waitlist, prioritizing those with the greatest need such as families with children, individuals experiencing long-term homelessness, and individuals with serious health conditions.

In addition to conducting assessments, Housing Resource Specialists provide immediate support by distributing hygiene kits and connecting individuals with essential resources for food, shelter, medical care, and employment services through trusted community partners.

1,994 assessments conducted in both English and Spanish in FY24

 

 

 

Assessments conducted at:

  • Garfield Community Service Center
  • Pacific Garden Mission
  • Franciscan Outreach
  • Center On Halsted
  • Lincoln Park Community Center
  • Heartland Alliance
  • Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Room
  • ...and more!

Our Approach

Facing Forward to End Homelessness is guided by five central models of care:

Housing First is an effective and research-backed solution for ending chronic homelessness. It stems from the fact that individuals must have basic needs, such as food and shelter, met before they build stability in other areas of their lives and address the inter-generational effects of chronic homelessness. By prioritizing housing as the first step in our client journey, we establish a solid foundation for individuals to overcome challenges and take full advantage of the wraparound supports we offer. Housing First: Places individuals in stable, long-term housing as quickly as possible without requiring “housing readiness,” allowing us to serve the city’s most vulnerable populations; Prioritizes client autonomy by actively involving clients in the housing selection process and creating an environment in which clients can set goals and engage in services that align with their needs at their own pace.
Harm Reduction is a compassionate approach to minimizing the negative impact of high-risk behaviors such as substance use. We “meet clients where they are” by building trust and creating an environment free from judgment or preconditions for support. We know that change takes time, so we celebrate and encourage every success, big and small. Reducing harm is our first and most essential goal.
Traumatic experiences are frequently both a cause and consequence of homelessness. These experiences can profoundly influence our perception of the world and our interactions with others. Facing Forward provides a safe environment for healing from trauma, where clients can feel supported in making their own choices and regaining control of their lives.
Facing Forward helps clients identify their inner strengths, external resources, and personal goals. Together, we explore practical ways for clients to leverage assets such as existing skills, supportive relationships, and community ties. This assists them in building stability and making informed choices that align with their preferences and goals.
Addressing needs and creating opportunities for children and youth allows us to end generational cycles of homelessness and promote long-term stability for entire families in our program. Case managers work hand in hand with our Family Empowerment Team to ensure children are on a solid developmental path and that young adults have equal access to academic and employment opportunities available to their peers. Through stable housing and comprehensive support, we create a foundation where families can begin to rebuild their lives—empowering adults to pursue their goals and opening doors for children to dream beyond the limits of homelessness, breaking the cycle for generations to come.
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Annual Reports

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2024 Annual Report

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2020 Annual Report

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2023 Annual Report

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2019 Annual Report

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2022 Annual Report

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2018 Annual Report

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2021 Annual Report

PDF of our FY21 Annual Report
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2017 Annual Report

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