Independent Living

Hull House Association’s Independent Living Programs annually serve more than 100 youth between the ages of 16 and 18.  With transitional housing units located throughout Chicago, we prepare youth raised in foster care to move from dependence on social services, to independence and self-sufficiency. 

New Directions

The New Directions program provides a wide range of supportive services to youth between the ages of 19 and 20 who are wards of DCFS. The program’s primary goal is to secure housing in apartments throughout the city and nearby suburbs.

Other services include counseling, case management, and advocacy. Staff members assist clients with pursuing their educational goals and securing viable employment. In addition, the program provides life skills training, job readiness classes, tutoring, therapeutic recreation and exposure to a myriad of social and cultural activities. In addition, pregnant and parenting teens receive training and guidance to ensure they have appropriate parenting skills.

Bowling is one of our favorite activities! 
We take our clients to the bowling alley at least once a month.  We usually head over to the University of Chicago at Illinois, as they donate lane time to our clients.  Staff members attend, and clients from our other programs, including the Emerge homeless youth program, Kelley’s home and Starr House are always welcome.  View Video »

Our clients show off their musical talent in our sound room
We have a sound room located on the 4th floor of the Hull House Association’s Headquarters Office at 1030 W. Van Buren.  Our clients, and clients from our other programs, including the Emerge homeless youth program, Kelley’s home and Starr House have access to this room. View Video »

Many of our clients are talented in the areas of music, song, lyrical writing, and poetry, so we encourage our clients to use these outlets for expression of their thoughts and emotions.  Through use of our sound room and our programs, clients receive individualized therapeutic services, increase their self-esteem, learn positive coping skills, and validate their individualism.