A different kind of resolution

For many, this is the time of year that people stop and take a look at their lives and assess any changes that need to be made, and resolve to make those changes. For the guests at LPCS, this is a daily process. The 35 guests who stay here are all working towards something, for some it's overcoming small challenges like putting together a resume, for others, it's staying sober.

Make it your New Year's resolution to make the difference in the life of someone who's homeless. Start with something as simple as greeting the homeless individual on the corner--most of the time people who are homeless feel invisible.  Education and helping to inform others about the truths and realities of the homeless situation in Chicago is a first, but essential, step in change.  This could include reading up on statistics, finding out what agencies near you are doing to combat homelessness, sending out an email to someone to share your new-found knowledge, etc. If you are able to do something more, consider volunteering or donating to your local shelter.

Like you, many of the guests at LPCS are interested in making change in their lives, including losing weight, getting more organized, and figuring out their finances. One guest, when asked, responded that his New Year's resolution is "to obtain permanent housing, to persevere until this goal is obtained."  Others responded "to quit smoking and workout more."  Help guests make progress on these goals by teaching a class or leading an activity on one of these topics. Or, get to know a few of the guests personally through staying overnight—an opportunity for one on one chats!

Have a happy and safe new year!

Community helps LPCS during the holidays

LPCS would like to thank everyone who has donated a variety of needed items this winter, from hats and gloves to coats and boots, and more. Especially during this tough economy, these gifts are greatly appreciated.

If you would like to make a donation, please call ahead to arrange drop-off. To see what items are needed, take a look at our Wish List.

Happy Holidays!

Taproot Foundation helping Chicago-area non-profits

Earlier in the year, LPCS received a service grant from the Taproot Foundation to produce a new brochure. After only a few months, LPCS now has a brand new brochure which we can use to recruit volunteers. It was a great experience to work with wonderful professionals from some of Chicago's top advertising and marketing agencies. The Taproot team was very professional and on-task. They were open to our input and feedback, but also came with their own great ideas. LPCS would like to offer a big thank you to all of the volunteer professionals who worked on the project. Thank you for taking time out of your busy lives to help LPCS!

For more information on the Taproot Foundation, including how to volunteer or apply for a service grant, visit their website.

International Volunteer Day!

December 5th is International Volunteer Day! LPCS would like to thank all of our volunteers for the work that they do. Everything that volunteers do, from organizing donations to staying overnight, helps make LPCS programs possible. The Lincoln Park Community Shelter was founded by volunteers and to this day is volunteer driven. Thank you LPCS volunteers!

Thanksgiving at LPCS

On this Thanksgiving Day, we here at LPCS would like to offer up thanks to all of our volunteers, board members, and the surrounding community for all that they do for the Lincoln Park Community Shelter and its guests. Every time you make a meal, teach a class, or simply drop off a donation of books or clothes, you are touching someone's life who is need. For that reason, LPCS would like to thank all of our supporters. You make this community what it is.

LPCS at night

On Thursday night, September 10th, I did my first overnight volunteer shift at the Lincoln
Park Community Shelter. It was a fascinating experience and I could go on about it for hours.

The dinner prepared by volunteers smelled great. Chili for dinner, with apple crisp for
dessert. The first game of football season was on that night. Watching a great game between the
Steelers and the Titans with about a dozen of the guests was like watching it with anyone
else. We even stayed up a bit past "lights out" in order to see the end of the game. They
thanked me for letting them stay up to watch it, but I told them that it was more fun to
watch a game with company than by myself. It was a good time.

One guest asked if he could stay up a bit later to take his new clothes out of their packaging (removing tags, paper wrapping, etc) because he would need them in the morning. He had purchased the clothes with his first social security check. He had a bunch of stuff; it took him about an hour.

The shelter typically runs at full capacity (35 beds)and currently has 24 male and 11 female
"guests." It is a very clean and professionally run facility. I'm pretty sure that if any of us would meet the guests on the street that we would not be able to identify most of them as homeless. If you want to learn more about LPCS or get on the email list, visit http://www.lpcsonline.org/. It's a great organization.

--Gil Matar, LPCS Board Member

Thousands of bras collected for the needy

Check out this article about a man who collects bras form homeless girls and women: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-bras-city-zone-02oct02,0,3810524.story Last winter, LPCS recieved a donation of bras from him!

New Website!

Has it been awhile since you visited LPCS' website? Well now is the time to revisit it! LPCS' website recently received a face lift and is now new and improved. Check out our upcoming events! Read stories about guests, graduates, volunteers, and funders on the "Faces of LPCS" tab. New quick and easy access to the volunteer calenders! Check it out at http://www.lpcsonline.org/ and let us know what you think!

"Homeless find hope in working on TV show"

Check out this interesting article that was sent to us by one of our volunteers!
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/10/06/homeless.tv/index.html

Tweet Tweet!

Follow LPCS on Twitter! http://twitter.com/LincolnParkCS

“Stuffing, A Prelude to the Holidays”

Join LPCS and S.H.E. for an evening of art, music, and theater! "Stuffing, A Prelude to the Holidays" will be on Saturday, November 21st from 5pm till Midnight, and will be held at Gallery 1028 (1028 N. Hooker St.). "Stuffing" is an Evening of Theater, Art, Music, Dancing, Food, Drinks, Fundraising, Raffle, Silent Auction & Great Prizes! LPCS will recieve 50% of the proceeds from the evening's festivities.

Tickets are available now! Tickets are only $20 until November 6th, $25 after November 6th and $30 at the door! To purchase tickets, visit: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/85687

For more information, visit: http://www.lpcsonline.org/.

To learn more about S.H.E., visit thier website at: http://www.sheproductions.org/

Running with a Conscience

This Sunday 45,000 runners will hit the pavement for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. We at the Lincoln Park Community Shelter want to wish all of them good luck (especially Dan – our DePaul social work intern)! As the runners pass through the neighborhoods of Chicago, we hope that they will keep in mind the approximately 21,000 individuals that go homeless every night, living within those neighborhoods. Help us fight homelessness in the Lincoln Park neighborhood by donating to our mission. For other ways to help LPCS combat homelessness please visit our website to learn more.

Taste of Fall was a success!

A Taste of Fall 2009 was held on Thursday, September 24th, 6:30-10:30pm at Goose Island's Wrigleyville location. Guests enjoyed beer and appetizers paired to bring out the best in each other, while listening to live music. VIP ticket holders enjoyed an interactive Goose Island “Beer Academy” session with specially paired cheeses by Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine. A great time was had by all! In all, the event raised almost $8,000 for LPCS' programs!

What LPCS means to me...

To me, LPCS is my second home.

I started volunteering at LPCS almost three years ago and ever since I've considered both the staff and guests to be apart of my life, as they've made a niche for me in theirs. I started off as an overnight volunteer, but after realizing that I wanted to do more, the LPCS staff helped me find a way to include me in their daily community. I've fallen in love with the mission, the people, and the facility itself over the years, and without the shelter I don't know if I would be the same person. But as much as they've helped me, what keeps me coming back is the way they help the people that truly need it. They make it their priority to not only give the basic necessities to individuals who have fallen on rough times, but to go above and beyond. They empower individuals by giving them the tools and skills to escape homelessness, but they also give them the compassion and respect that everyone deserves but rarely recieves when going through such harsh times. LPCS not only gave me, my second home but also showed me that my small acts make a large impact. And for that I will always be blessed.

This is what LPCS means to me... what does it mean to you?

Taste of Fall Next Thursday!

Tickets are still available for next week's Taste of Fall! Come eat some good food, drink some beer, and help out a great cause! We have two amazing exclusive auction items up for grabs: a tour and tasting for you and 11 of your nearest and dearest at Goose Island's brewery, followed by flights and appetizers at the Wrigleyville pub. You can also bid for your chance to win tours and tastings for 12 at Chicago's own Metropolitan Brewery and Koval Distillery. Neither of these opportunities are available to the public! For tickets and more information, visit: www.lpcsonline.org

Service at any age

Every day volunteers come to LPCS to work at our front desk, make meals, teach classes, and stay overnight. It is wonderful to see the community coming together to make a difference--at any age. Our youngest volunteer this month was four-years old. She helped make dinner with her family and some friends. Our oldest volunteer this month was in her 70s. She came along to make dinner with her daughter and son-in-law. These are just two examples of people making a difference in everyday life. No matter how old you are there is always some place that you can volunteer at, including LPCS.

For more information on volunteering at LPCS, visit: http://www.lpcsonline.org/volunteer-opps

Make Breakfast at LPCS

Are you a morning person? Do you like to cook? LPCS has recently decided to offer a hot breakfast to our guests every morning. If you are interested in volunteering to make breakfast let us know! Volunteers purchase, prepare, and serve the food. In the past, volunteers have made everything from oatmeal and bagels to pancakes and egg bakes. Weekday breakfast is served at 7:30 a.m. and weekend breakfast is served at 9:30am. To find out more information, and to see what dates are avaiable, please visit http://www.lpcsonline.org/volunteer-calendars. To sign up, please email Suzanne at lpcsinfo@lpcsonline.org!

Taste of Fall September 24th!

Compassion Still Burns In Lincoln Park

This past Saturday, I attended a memorial service for a man who was instrumental in the early days of the Lincoln Park Community Shelter. Jim Northcutt lived for several years on a bench at Clark and Deming streets. His story made national headlines in 1986 after he and his belongings were set on fire while he slept there, a sign of the times in the mid-80s when homelessness was emerging as a national crisis, and communities were struggling with how to respond. Lincoln Park residents, including those who founded the LPCS, were outraged, and redoubled their efforts to establish a safe haven – a shelter – that was community-supported.

Jim was a sporadic guest at the LPCS in our early years. He spoke little and seemed wary of the assistance we were providing, but was always cordial and allowed a few people to get closer to him. He left an impression, as those gathered on Saturday to remember him told stories of simple interactions and lives changed forever as a result. The mystery of Jim reminded everyone who encountered him that each homeless man and woman had a story, a history, and a family who loved them.

Jim had been an engineer with the CTA until he descended further into depression and mental illness, eventually losing his apartment and touch with his family in the late 60s. His sister Gail finally located him in 1986 when she recognized his description in an article in the Wall Street Journal, chronicling the fire and his unwitting role in a national debate about how to address the growing problem of homelessness. Via a long chain of social workers and priests, Gail helped to get Jim medical attention and temporary housing, and some sense of reconnection before he passed away in 1988 from leukemia.

A year later, the Northcutt family dedicated a drinking fountain to Jim’s memory. The fountain still stands near the North Pond gazebo in Lincoln Park, and is inscribed “All you who are thirsty, come to the water!” (Isaiah 55:1) They gather every five years to celebrate his memory and the reunion they were able to establish before he passed. I was honored to be included in this year’s tribute, and am so inspired by the stories I heard from Jim’s family and long-time Lincoln Park residents who remember him.

Unknowingly, Jim’s journey helped to fan the spark of awareness and compassion that many Lincoln Park residents were feeling in the mid-1980s, prompting them to come together to form the LPCS. Although Jim died many years ago, his memory lives strong in this community, proving that the fire of compassion is still burning strong in Lincoln Park!

--Erin Ryan, LPCS Executive Director

Volunteer Coordinator position open at LPCS!

LPCS is looking for a talented and friendly individual to join our team this fall as the Volunteer Coordinator. The Volunteer Coordinator works to recruit, train, and manage the thousands of volunteers we have each year. This is an Americorps*VISTA position, which means that it is a volunteer position that comes with a stipend provided by Americorps. For more information on the position, please visit our website: http://lpcsonline.org/staff.html. We'll be accepting applications through August 14th.

Social Networking--the LPCS version

The concept of Social Networking as a means of communication is nothing new to the Lincoln Park Community Shelter. . . but, not necessarily by its 21st century definition. As I reflect on my years of involvement with LPCS, much of our support has come from the “old fashioned” networking of friend to friend, family member to family member, work colleague to work colleague and so on and so on. Through these interactions, hundreds of people have learned about the LPCS’ efforts face-to-face in the way people might share information today via social media such as Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn and Twitter.

The benefit of this storytelling, be it “live” or electronic, has been immeasurable and it needs to continue. But, we also believe there are even bigger, better and more in-depth stories to tell our supporters and potential supporters. To this end, the Marketing and Communications Committee has developed a comprehensive communications plan that we have started to implement.

Among the highlights of this integrated plan is the refinement of our key messages, revamping of our website (look for our new site in the coming months!) and printed brochure as well as added participation in community events. In addition, if you haven’t noticed, LPCS is on Facebook, MySpace, and LinkedIn. We even have an LPCS group on LinkedIn. We also have an e-newsletter (to sign up to recieve the e-news visit http://www.lpcsonline.org/)

Keeping you well-informed about our activities is very important to us. We would welcome your comments on what and how you see “news” about the LPCS in the time ahead.

--Peg Wander, VP LPCS Board of Directors

Guest and Graduate Photo Show!

The Lincoln Park Community Shelter is fortunate enough to have the support of many other organizations within the Lincoln Park area. One of those organizations is the Chicago Photography Center. The Chicago Photography Center (CPC) is a volunteer driven organization that holds classes that teach people a variety of photography skills. They also have an outreach program which LPCS has been lucky to be a part of. Twice a month, volunteers from CPC take guests out in Chicago and shares their expertise about getting the perfect photo. The photography class is a favorite among our guests with several of them continuing to participate even after they graduate from our program.

Several months ago, CPC decided to give our guests a once in a lifetime opportunity by helping them put on a gallery opening, where our guests are able to display the work they have produced while in the class. For the last three months, LPCS guests and graduates have been editing their photos, mounting them for display, and learning the ins and outs of a gallery opening. This Friday, July 25th, at 6:30pm the Chicago Photography Center will open the Satellite Show featuring their outreach efforts to LPCS and Deborah’s Place, a women’s shelter on north side of Chicago. The exhibit will be on display through the month of August. We encourage you to stop by the Center to see all the hard work and effort our guests have put into their work! The Chicago Photography Center is located at 3301 N. Lincoln Ave. If you have any questions email Suzanne Powers at lpcsinfo@lpcsonline.org.

My enlightening experience at LPCS

My perception of the homeless and homeless shelters has changed dramatically since I started volunteering at LPCS in August. It was kind of a revelation to meet such a wide range of people classified as "homeless." There are history buffs, yoga fanatics -- people with whom I can easily relate. Before stepping into LPCS, I thought shelters looked kind of like POW camps, with dark, vast sleeping areas full of creaky twin beds. I'd never heard of extended-stay shelters, in which guests take a wide range of classes to get their lives back on track.

As a front-desk volunteer, there is a lot of sitting around and talking to guests/employees/cooks. For me, it's a nice way to wind down after a day of work. I've made some good friends during my time at LPCS, and I'm hoping to get more involved as long as my schedule allows it.

-- Emile Dawisha

Chicago Cubs visit LPCS

Cubs closing pitcher, Kevin Gregg serving dinner to LPCS guests.

Last night, guests of the LPCS recieved a special treat: Chicago Cubs closing pitcher Kevin Gregg. Gregg and his wife Nicole, Christina Lee, wife of Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee, and several Cubs staffers served dinner to the guests of LPCS. Gregg stayed after dinner to sign t-shirts that the Cubs provided for all of the guests. A great time was had by all!

LPCS in the Community

Each summer, Chicago neighborhood associations host a variety of street festivals and Lincoln Park has some of the best! Proceeds from most of these festivals go back into the community. The LPCS has been the lucky beneficiary of some of these funds. To thank them for their support, LPCS likes to provide volunteers for the festivals. This summer, LPCS will be helping out at four festivals.

Come help LPCS bring the community together by volunteering for one of these fabulous festivals! LPCS has offered to provide a certain number of volunteers for each of these festivals. We are currently looking for volunteers for:

Sheffield Gard Walk:

Saturday 7/18: 2:00-4:00 (3 volunteers)
Sunday 7/19: 2:00-4:00 (3 volunteers)

The Taste of Lincoln:

Saturday 7/25: 6:30-9:30pm (3 volunteers)

Sunday 7/26: 11:45am-3:30pm (3 volunteers)

New! Lincoln Park Arts & Music Festival:

Saturday 8/8: 6:30-10pm (10 volunteers)

Sunday 8/9: 5:45-9pm (10 volunteers)

If these times don't work for you, there are other shifts available. To sign up for these, or any other shifts, please contact Suzanne Powers at lpcsinfo@lpcsonline.org.

Add Blue & Yellow to Go Green

LPCS is on the move with the “Blue & Yellow Project” to go green. The new Blue & Yellow Policy was recently implemented to encourage the participation of guests, staff & volunteers to conserve resources and recycle materials within the facility. The timing comes perfectly as the city of Chicago begins the Blue Cart Recycling Program in Lincoln Park at the end of June. Whether it’s printing double-sided pages, buying food items in bulk or simply discarding recyclables into separate bins, it will take both individual and collective efforts to do its part towards great environmental contributions. There are hopes for continued environmental awareness and interest, including Environmental Track Activities for guests. If you have any environmental conscious suggestions for LPCS, they are more than welcome! You can email suggestions to lpcsinfo@lpcsonline.org. Thanks for LPCS go green!

Carrie Underwood at Ravinia!

LPCS has 75, count 'em 75, tickets to the sold-out Carrie Underwood show at Ravinia on Sunday, August 30th. If you are interested in going to the show, and helping out LPCS a little bit, click here to purchase tickets. Tickets are $40 for lawn seats, with a portion of the ticket price directly benefiting the Lincoln Park Community Shelter!

Metamorphosis Party 2009

Thanks to everyone who attended Friday night's event! Nearly 200 people gathered to support the LPCS on a beautiful June evening, enjoyed fabulous food, drink, and music, and raised more than $71,000 to support our programs! This year's special appeal was to fund Graduate Services. Watch below to hear Graduates, in their own words, describe the importance of these services, and why they stay connected to LPCS. To make a special gift to Graduate Services at LPCS, click here, and enter "Graduates" in the designation field.

Life as a Case Management Intern

Coming out of college as an undergraduate, I went right into graduate school to get my masters in clinical social work at the University of Chicago. I was placed at the Lincoln Park Community Shelter for my first year field placement, and I couldn’t have asked for a more supportive, clinical learning, eye-opening experience. Although my interest lies in medical social work, I had the great opportunity to work with a diverse range of homeless individuals who all have touched me in some way. I learned from all thirteen guests I personally worked with, and feel that I helped made positive life changes for a group of them. As I am leaving LPCS, I feel confident and assured that I’ve made small to large impacts on some of the guests of LPCS. As an intern I was able to not only use my clinical skills that I was simultaneously learning in class during our meetings, but I learned a lot about outside agencies where our guests receive substance abuse counseling, mental health treatment, job training classes, etc. Overall I’ve loved being an intern at LPCS; the staff, guests, and volunteers all made my experience worthwhile.

--Emily Klauder, LPCS Case Management Intern

Get Your Tickets Now!

It's not too late to purchase tickets to this year's Metamorphosis Party! Join us for a fun evening with signature martinis, a cigar bar, delectible food, and fabulous auction items! For more information, and to purchase tickets, click here. Ticket prices increase after May 31st so get your tickets early!

Amazing Amazon

Did you know that you can help LPCS just by shopping with Amazon.com? It's simple. Go to Amazon.com and click on the Amazon.com logo on the right hand side of the page and start shopping. It's that easy! LPCS will recieve a portion of the profits of any sales made through the link on our website (this includes sales through 3rd party sellers). The more items that are ordered, the more money LPCS will earn. Don't forget, the holidays are just around the corner! And don't forget too that LPCS also has an Amazon.com wishlist. Search LPCS in the wishlists section and you will find us--but don't forget to access Amazon.com through the LPCS website or through the links in this newsletter! Happy shopping!

Transitions by email

Did you know that LPCS has a print newsletter that goes out several times a year? Transitions highlights the work that LPCS is doing in the community. Typically each issue spotlights a guest or graduate, as well as providing any updates on programs or events. In an effort to be a greener organization, Transitions is now available by email! To sign up to recieve Transitions by mail or email, contact Heather Reynolds at hreynolds@lpcsonline.org. Be sure to specify which version you would like to sign up for! Happy reading!

Thank You

"I did not want to leave on Saturday without thanking you for helping me find my way back. When I first came to LPCS, I didn't know how I'd get back on my feet again, I was not sure witch way to turn or where to go, but somehow you helped me find it.
I learned things I never knew I'd have to learn, but I did, and that has now added something to the way I see life. I truly understand what being homeless is, and how we all affect each other's life.
I didn't expect, that it would take 5 months to complete my journey at LPCS, but again, it did, and I'm grateful for the guidance and understanding you have given me so that I could move on, and start a new life journey.
I'll never forget any of you, or the time I spent here. Thank you, for being in my life, and helping me change my life."
--Peggy, LPCS Graduate

Thea graduates!

In the last issue of Transitions (LPCS's print newsletter), you may have read a story about Thea. We wanted to update you on where Thea is today. On March 30th, Thea was finally able to move into her very own one-bedroom apartment! Thea is very grateful for all of the help she received while at LPCS. She has promised to come back and volunteer once she gets settled in. Congratulations, Thea!

Celebrate Our Volunteers!

National Volunteer Week was created in 1974 when President Richard Nixon signed an executive order to establish the week as an annual celebration of volunteering. Running from April 19-25, 2009, Volunteer Appreciation Week is a way to formally recognize all of the amazing work that volunteers do. LPCS would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to all of our wonderful volunteers. LPCS has been volunteer led since its inception and we appreciate the continuing support that we recieve each year from volunteers!

What LPCS means to me...

LPCS is a place where homeless people can feel safe, comfortable and secure. With the compassionate support of their case managers and other staff, they have the opportunity to change their lives around in a dramatic way so they can walk out of here to live in permanent housing, as fully integrated members of society. LPCS acts as a catalyst for change, which is ultimately directed by the guests, who are responsible for making all the important decisions of their lives. LPCS gives people their lives back.
--Murray Manus, LPCS Case Manager

What LPCS means to me...

It means that even in these "most uncertain times" there are still people (places) that have caring, understanding, and concern for those who are in need, and are willing to step up and take action.
--Cheryl Lifschultz, LPCS receptionist

Guests Speak Out

Did you know that each month, LPCS features artwork and poetry from its guests on the website? The website showcases the creative expressions of the individuals here at the Lincoln Park Community Shelter. Guests have submitted art ranging from poetry to drawings, creative-nonfiction to photography. Guests have chosen to share this work with the larger LPCS community as a way of expressing their unique and diverse perspectives. Above is a sample from last month's featured work. To view all of this month's Guests Speak Out work, visit http://www.lpcsonline.org/art.

What LPCS means to me...

To me, LPCS is a place where I can engage with the community. I am privileged to listen to many unique stories, from those of guests and community clients, to the stories of my fellow staff and our volunteers. Each story gives me hope and motivation to overcome the big and small trials that life throws at me.

LPCS also provides me an opportunity to work in a place where I feel like my efforts make a difference: whether it is providing an ear to listen, giving a friendly smile first thing in the morning, or helping someone find employment and housing.
--Abby Lane, Interim Housing Manager

Working with LPCS Volunteers

I think that I am one of the luckiest people I know. I get to go to work every day and know that I am making a difference in someone's life. And on top of that, I get to work with volunteers! LPCS volunteers are some of the most dedicated people I have had the chance to work with. Everyone is so passionate and committed to helping out. In the past few months, we have had more and more people come to us and want to volunteer. They all have different reasons, but many of them have said that they want to volunteer because they feel lucky that they still have thier jobs and want to help out those who have been affected by the bad economy. It has been moving to see the outpouring of support. People may not be able to support us financially, but they are more than willing to spend some of thier time with our guests.

--Heather Reynolds, Volunteer & Community Relations Coordinator

Join us for some fun next week!

Don't forget to join us at our first family-friendly Happy Hour event coming up on Thursday, February 26th at Minnies, from 6:30pm-9:30pm! Minnies is located at 1969 N Halsted St (Halsted and Armitage). Everything is "mini" in proportions at Minnies! Join us for a minature evening of cheeseburgers, pulled pork, and veggie pizzas, and more! Ticket prices are $20 for kids 15 and younger and $30 for everyone else. Ticket price includes food, beer, wine, soda, and fun! Tickets can be purchased at the door. Party-goers will have the chance to win $25 gift cards for Minnie's and the Gap. LPCS will recieve a portion of each ticket sold.

We aren't the only ones who love Minnies! The First Lady brought Sasha and Malia to Minnies shortly before the election--it was even mentioned in People Magazine! For more information on Minnies, take a look at thier website: http://www.minnies.com/obama/

Can't join us at Minnies? Then join us on Tuesday, February 24th at Wendy's in Lincoln Park for a Community Night in support of the LPCS! LPCS will recieve 15% of the profits between 5pm and 8pm. So stop on by, bring your family, and enjoy a Frosty! Wendy's is located at 2312 N. Ashland St.

What does LPCS mean to me?

LPCS means a wonderful opportunity to those in need of re-establishing their lives for the better. Through the support and guidance of the staff at LPCS, individuals are able to better their goals, seek outside professional help, greater their self-esteem, make their future more promising, and build a cohort of peers along the way.

--Emily Klauder, Case Management Intern

Merriment at Moxie and Minnies

On Thursday, January 22nd, supporters of LPCS came together at Moxie in Wrigleyville for a fun evening of food and drinks. Revelers enjoyed lobster rangoon, chicken satay, bruschetta, stuffed mushrooms, red pepper hummus and more, while sipping on beer, wine, and cocktails. LPCS recieved 30% of the ticket sales for the night.

Did you miss the event at Moxie? Well, we have another fun family-friendly Happy Hour event coming up on Thursday, February 26th at Minnies, located at Halsted and Armitage. Everything is "mini" in proportions at Minnies! Join us for a minature evening of cheeseburgers, pulled pork, and veggie pizzas. Ticket price is $30 and includes food, beer, wine, soda, and fun! Tickets can be purchased at the door. Party-goers will have the chance to win a $25 gift card to return to Minnie's! LPCS will recieve $10 from each ticket sold. We aren't the only ones who love Minnies! The First Lady brought Sasha and Malia to Minnies shortly before the election--it was even mentioned in People Magazine! For more information on Minnies, take a look at thier website: http://www.minnies.com/obama/

After working in homeless services for many years, I’ve come to see that homelessness is truly cyclical. Too many of our guests are trapped in a cycle of underemployment and precarious housing – 40% of guests last year had been homeless several times in their adult lives. Our programs are designed to break that cycle for good, by providing access to the resources that help overcome the barriers of poor health, low-paying jobs, and costly housing. In fact, more than 80% of those who graduate our programs – after connecting with health care and job training – remain stable in housing they can afford for more than six months.

We’re so encouraged by this statistic that this year we will start to measure the success of our graduates past the six-month mark, ensuring that they are able to maintain employment and housing for a year or more. Many LPCS graduates stay in contact with our staff for years after leaving our facility, maintaining some level of case management with our staff, attending groups or classes, or just stopping by for dinner; some even become volunteers. In fact, we’re able to stay in contact with 94% of graduates, a task made easier because of the strength of the relationships that are built while they are here. Each month, we make an effort to keep in touch with graduates through a printed newsletter, and simple phone calls or emails to check in. In doing this, we maintain a strong connection that continues to support people as they strike out on their own.

This outreach creates a new, positive “cycle” – one that gives back to current LPCS guests. You may remember the story of Dan, who was profiled in this newsletter about four years ago. At the time, he was working hard to stay sober, addressing some health concerns, and fighting for custody of his baby daughter, Jennifer. Skilled in the construction trades, he was unable to do heavy work until he received knee surgery, but couldn’t wait to pay the legal bills. He humbled himself and took a cash-paying job passing out flyers at intersections and around neighborhoods. Once healthy enough, Dan took off running, contracting himself out for small renovation jobs and building a base of customers. When he moved out of the LPCS into his own apartment, he had a room waiting for Jennifer.

Today, Dan owns his own booming construction business, and has done several jobs at LPCS! He helped to paint the entire facility during our renovation, donating his time and many supplies. He was married in 2007, and shortly thereafter he and his wife Tracy bought a house in Orland Park. Jennifer will turn five in June, and they are even expecting a new addition to their family soon!

Dan’s success is inspirational, of course, but even more so is his desire to give back to LPCS. He leads bi-weekly recovery groups for current guests. His hard work and good fortune have truly come full circle – as he is now in a position to hire our guests – to pass out flyers for his business, or as skilled laborers.

At LPCS, it is our goal to change the cycle of homelessness – from the hopeless cycle of poverty to the hopeful cycle of receiving and giving back, continuing to strengthen our community and the network of support that our guests and graduates need to become – and stay – successful.

Welcome to Voices from LPCS!

Welcome to the new and fun way to learn more about LPCS, its guests and supporters, our community, and other burning thoughts. Each week you will have the opportunity to learn about the goings on at LPCS and hear from a different LPCS voice. Enjoy!


Please join us on Thursday, January 22nd from 6pm-9pm at Moxie in Wrigleyville for a fun Happy Hour Fundraiser. Tickets are $30 and are available at the door. Moxie is located at 3517 N Clark St. See you there! For more information, visit our website: http://www.lpcsonline.org/.