Who We Are
Mission
Chicago Hopes (Heightening Opportunity for Educational Success) provides one-on-one shelter based tutoring and personal development programs to students in homeless shelters.
History
In 2006, the manager of the Chicago Public Schools Homeless Education Program (HEP), Patricia Rivera, added AmeriCorps VISTA staff as a response to the lack of services for homeless youth. The goal was to create a after-school tutoring program based in the shelters that serve families with children throughout Chicago.
In the fall of 2006, Chicago HOPES began in two shelters: Cornerstone Community Outreach (Uptown) and Maria Shelter (Englewood). In the spring of 2007, we expanded to include Ubuntu Community Center (Brighten Park) and Thelma’s Place (Ashburn). In the spring of 2008, we implemented programs at Great Hope Family Center (Little Village) and Tab South I (Gresham). Ultimately, our goal is to continue expanding until we are finally established in all shelters that house women and children.
