Mission & History
“If I can make it out of homelessness,
I can do anything.”
José P. | LCN client
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La Casa Norte's mission is to serve youth and families confronting homelessness. We provide access to stable housing and deliver comprehensive services that act as a catalyst to transform lives and communities.
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La Casa Norte dreams of a world where all people have dignity, communities thrive and everyone belongs.
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La Casa Norte began operations in 2002 as a two-person team working from a small West Side storefront. Now in our 23rd year and with a staff of 92, we are one of Chicago’s largest youth-focused social service agencies.
Through years of development and recalibration, La Casa Norte has honed a Housing First, Continuum of Care service model that is bilingual, trauma-informed, culturally competent, and impactful. We deliver a coordinated network of youth drop-ins, emergency shelters, and supportive housing programs (short term, transitional, and permanent) – all supplemented with 1:1 case management and holistic services.
By alleviating the immediate stressors of housing and food insecurity, clients are able to dedicate the emotional bandwidth needed to successfully pursue academic goals, increase employability, develop financial literacy, address mental health, and plan for the future. These are, in their totality, life-long lessons that position clients to not only secure permanent housing and stable employment, but to thrive there.