Family Support Program

The Family Support Program (FSP) provides a permanent home for 18 families, including 30 children. The program works intensively with both the parents and the kids to stabilize their lives and help them break the cycle of poverty. Adults receive mental health services, case management, and career counseling from on-site professionals. Chicago House has also developed structured programs to address some of the kids’ most common and persistent needs, including programming for youth for college preparatory and vocational. In addition to services for adults, Chicago House has also developed structured programs to address some of the kids’ most common and persistent needs, from activities for toddlers to college prep and vocational training for older youth.

Paul came to Chicago House in 2005 completely closed to being tutored or mentored himself. He insisted that he was not going to college and probably wouldn’t even make it through high school. “No one in my family ever graduated from high school. Why should I?” However, we were able to encourage him to help with the children’s summer camp. He served as an intern and began to see the connection between education and economic success…and slowly his attitude began to change. Paul successfully became the first person in his family to graduate high school, and is now in his second year of community college. His sister has followed in his footsteps, and is currently enrolled at Robert Morris College.

For more information on the Family Support Program, please contact Dan Sesztak at 773-248-5200 x300.