We understand the difficulties our community is facing during the coronavirus pandemic, especially the students we serve. We are committed to helping in any way we can.

Please click the links below for parent resources and to learn how you can help. If you are able, please consider donating.
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Our Mission

​We empower lives through education.
Chicago HOPES for Kids provides educational support for children living in Chicago's homeless shelters. It is our mission to provide our students with the resources and encouragement needed to succeed academically, despite the challenges of homelessness.

What We Do

Children experiencing homelessness are at risk of falling 3 to 6 months behind in school with every move. At HOPES, we provide the necessary interventions to help students reach their full potential.

 Our Partner Shelters

Currently, our programs are in 8 shelters in Chicago!
Neighborhoods Depicted On Map:

Uptown (2 sites), Rogers Park, Lakeview, South Shore, Englewood, Austin, and South Chicago

* Exact locations are not provided to ensure the safety and privacy of the families and children we serve

​Our Impact
Our Approach Makes A Difference.
  • We Provide Encouragement - Children thrive with guidance from caring adults. HOPES volunteers encourage children to be self-motivated and embrace challenge.
  • We Support Academic Success - Children experiencing homelessness are at risk of falling three-six months behind in school with every move. At HOPES, we provide the academic support needed to keep our kids on track.
  • We Engage Families - Strong families foster strong kids. We teach parents how to effectively advocate for their children in the public school system to help them better support their children's academic success long-term.

650+

Students And Families Impacted
More than 650 students and families were impacted by HOPES programs and and services.
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65%

Of Our Students Advanced 1+ Reading Level 
65% of students in our after school program grew one or more reading levels in 12 weeks during the fall 2019 semester.
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56%

Of Our Students Felt Their Reading Improved
56% of grade 3-5 students report that they feel they have improved in reading when asked an open ended question about what subjects they think they have improved on.

 ​Hear a little more about Chicago HOPES for Kids From our founder, Patricia Rivera. 

The Latest 

What's happening at HOPES?

Chicago HOPES for Kids is thrilled to announce that we have received a $20,000 local operating and $4,000 bonus grant from the Gannet Foundation, the philanthropic arm of USA Today. We are so grateful for this generous support to help us continue providing virtual and in-person programs in 2021!
Support Chicago HOPES for Kids this #Giving Tuesday by starting a fundraiser! This year we are collecting donations for winter break activity kits for our students. Learn more or make a donation by clicking this link.
Thank you to all who joined us for an evening with astronaut, STEM educator, former NFL player, and dog advocate Leland Melvin! Together, we raised over $10,000 to support HOPES remote learning programs. You can watch a recording of the event here.
Friday, May 15th - Chicago HOPES for Kids Receives $50,000 Grant Through NBC Project InnovationThe grant will support the expansion of STEM curriculum in our After-School programs located in homeless shelters across the city of Chicago. Read the full story here.
Monday, September 21 - Our founder, Patricia Rivera, was featured on NPROur founder and others weigh in on challenges students experiencing homelessness face with remote learning in NPR’s latest segment. Click here for the full audio and transcript.
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Monday, September 7 - Our AmeriCorps Member, Nakia Pinkston, was named Serve Illinois' Volunteer of the WeekNakia supports our after-school program at our partner shelter on the southeast side of Chicago and is an active part of our program’s outreach team. It is through her diligent and consistent efforts within the community that Chicago HOPES for Kids is able to participate within the community and connect families to great opportunities. Read more about Nakia here.
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Sunday, May 14 - Chicago HOPES for Kids Receives Grant from SC JohnsonChicago HOPES for Kids is pleased to announce it has received a grant from SC Johnson to support our virtual academic support program for children experiencing homelessness in Chicago during COVID-19. Read the full press release here.

Don’t Forget To Follow Us On Instagram: @chihopeforkids​

We’re always sharing pictures of our kiddos, community events, and valuable resources from COVID-19 testing sites to educational materials on inequities students continue to face with e-learning. Check out our latest posts!
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