Mission + History
Mission: The Harbour empowers young people, ages 12-24, to build stable, independent, and fulfilling lives by providing safe housing and holistic support. We meet them where they are and build on what they bring.
History: Youth homelessness is not new, affecting over 12,000 young people across Cook County, regardless of resources, location, or identity. From the first young woman we took in during a cold winter night in 1971, we knew we had a responsibility to help young people when they needed it most.
Five decades later, our mission guides us to provide emergency housing and services to youth experiencing homelessness to promote their safety, stability and personal growth. Every day we empower young people to be self-sufficient through safe housing and support services to prevent homelessness. Since our inception, more than 5,600 youth have found shelter, safety, and support in moments of crisis.
FY26 Board of Directors
From Left to Right:
Simon Ager-O'Shea; Euretha Edwards; Tana Francellno; Shelley Gates:
Susan Gordon; Savio Lobo; Lesley Prestegaard; Martha Spatz:
Alyson Stewart; Megan Stock; Dave Studenmund; Liz Toussaint:
Melody Rose - Executive Director (Not pictured)
Staff
More than 40 individuals work around the clock to ensure our young people are cared for. They hold bachelor and master’s degrees, have obtained industry certifications and licenses, and demonstrate passion and dedication in all they do. These case managers and direct caregivers are the backbone of our agency, strong mentors and collaborators who engage with our young people every day and help them grow and thrive.
Partners
The Harbour is part of a larger community of organizations dedicated to the safety, health and well-being of young women in Chicago’s northern suburbs. We team up with other agencies, local government and public service to ensure those at highest risk in our neighborhoods receive the help they need. We’re even able to refer individuals to other programs when one of our six facilities in north and northwest Cook County isn’t a good fit.
Financials
Thousands of youth have benefited from the shelter and support available at The Harbour. We continually strive to serve as many young people as possible. Our program service expense ratio for the 2025 fiscal year is 75%. This ratio exceeds the standards set by the Better Business Bureau.
Read our annual report to learn more!
