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Mission AND VISION

MISSION:
LPCS brings communities together to empower individuals facing homelessness and poverty to secure stable housing and make sustainable life changes.

CORE VALUES:

  • Empathy: We model compassion and understanding for all members of the LPCS community.
  • Equity: We achieve justice and celebrate diversity by providing inclusive, strength-based services.
  • Integrity: We foster a culture of respect, honesty and fairness.
  • Accountability: We commit to each other and those we serve in the delivery of client-centered services in a safe and motivating environment.

VISION:
We work on the basis of accountability. LPCS staff, Guests, volunteers, stakeholders, and donors are a micro-community with common interests and goals that hold each responsible to the other.

Together, we work within Lincoln Park Community Services and with the larger community to ensure our members receive the support, respect, and understanding they need to empower their lives.

  • We will provide a holistic continuum of services that removes barriers and increases self-sufficiency.
  • We will be a leader and innovator in creating solutions to homelessness in our community.
  • We believe that every person in our community has a stake in and can contribute to ending homelessness.

LPCS is primarily privately funded, supported largely by community donations. Truly a community-based organization, LPCS has always been operated by the pool of more than 1,700 volunteers each year who serve our community in a variety of ways.

Please visit our staff page to contact us directly. To learn more about our stakeholders, view our Board of Directors or Associate Board member list.

History

'80s

In 1985, the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless estimated that 25,000 people would be homeless in Chicago. Concerned neighbors in the Lincoln Park area of Chicago got together to discuss a way to help homeless people in their community.

A partnership was formed with four neighboring churches: the Church of Our Savior Episcopal Church, Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church, St. Clement Catholic Church and St. Paul’s United Church of Christ.

On February 12, Lincoln Park Community Services opened its doors to a handful of people experincing homelessness.

1986 - Meal program - started by Jane Broughton

1989 - Summer meal program - begins

'90s

1991 - Shower and laundry program - is implemented

1996 - Barbara Beckman becomes 1st Executive Director

1997 - On Track program - is established to address the root causes of homelessnes

1999 - Year-round services begin!

'00s

2004 - $1.4 million capital campaign is launched for facility renovation

2006 - Renovation begins

2007 - New facility opens, servicing Interim Housing Community guests 24/7

'10s

2010 - 50% of guests find permanent housing

2011 - Permanent Supportive Housing Program begins

2013 - First Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) units filled - all 15!

2015 - On February 12, LPCS celebrated - 30 YEARS OF SERVICE

2016 - 82% of guests secured employment

76% of On Track participants transitioned into permanent housing

Added 2 more PSH units to a total of 17

2017 - 100% of FY2017 graduates remained housed

100% of PSH residents maintained housing

50 guests residing in the Interim Housing Program moved into stable housing in 2017 - that's nearly 1 each week!

85% of graduates left employed

2018 - 97% of graduates remained housed after one year

30 guests residing in the Interim Housing Program moved into stable housing

Embarked on a $4 million capital campaign

Broke ground at our new site located at 1521 N. Sedgwick!

Volunteers completed 20,272 hours of service



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2019

March - Rodrigo Carrillo becomes 1st Latino Executive Director

June - LPCS and staff moved into brand new facility

July - the first three tenants leased to LPCS Permanent Supportive Housing are Graduates

September - Ribbon cutting event at our new facility

November - LPCS operates at full capacity serving 83 guests at two locations

Impact

We strive to make a difference in as many lives as possible. See how well we’re doing in our Annual Reports.

2019 Report
2018 Report
2017 Report
Community Health Care Report

Homelessness in Chicago

In 2016, the City of Chicago released a report stating that on January 26th, 2016, 5,889 individuals are homeless in the limits of Chicago. 21% of these were not staying in shelters.

Homelessness effects individuals and families across all genders, ethnicities, and age. Not all are unemployed, they simply can’t afford Chicago’s rents. Many are veterans. Many are victims of domestic violence.

All need the support and love from the communities they live and work in.

That’s where we step in.

Facts Behind the Faces

Chicago Coalition for the Homeless’s report provides national, state, and local statistics and data about affordable housing, family status of homeless households, living wage jobs, tax inequality, un- and under-employment, the poverty rate, and other exacerbating factors that feed into and exacerbate homelessness. Facts Behind the Faces

PIT Survey

The City of Chicago’s point-in-time count and survey of Chicago’s homeless population in January 2017. City of Chicago Homeless Survey

Homeless FAQ

Chicago Coalition for the Homeless FAQ page about current status of Chicago’s homeless population and on going effort to address the issue. FAQ