By: Ashmar Mandou

City of Chicago officials joined the La Casa Norte team to break ground on La Casa Norte’s North Hotel, a City-supported non-congregate shelter designed to serve young adults experiencing homelessness Wednesday morning. Mayor Brandon Johnson, Alderperson Jessie Fuentes, Department of Housing Commissioner Lissette Castañeda, Department of Family and Support Services Commissioner Angela Green, the team at La Casa Norte, and members of the Humboldt Park community were all in attendance for the groundbreaking ceremony. “La Casa Norte’s North Hotel will help support Chicago’s shelter system while ensuring disadvantaged youth have access to critical support resources. By supporting the rehabilitation of this space, our administration is investing in stability and opportunity for some of the most vulnerable members of our communities”, said Mayor Brandon Johnson.

La Casa Norte acquired the former North Hotel at 1622 N. California Avenue and will work to rehabilitate the space into an expansive shelter serving unhoused youth ages 18-24. The facility will include 40 rooms, with each unit comprising a private bedroom, en-suite bathroom, and mini kitchenette to promote privacy, dignity, and safety. “La Casa Norte’s North Hotel will be the life-giving sanctuary that my most vulnerable former students could have benefitted from. I am grateful to have La Casa Norte’s North Hotel situated between so many amenities that make this community strong and vibrant,” said Ald. Fuentes. “Youth come to La Casa Norte in crisis, unsure of what the future holds,” said Jose M. Muñoz, CEO of La Casa Norte. “The North Hotel youth non-congregate shelter gives them a space of their own to heal, and a team dedicated to helping them dream again. This is the future of how we end youth homelessness.”

The North Hotel will operate 24/7 and provide a comprehensive array of services supporting youth in their transition toward long-term housing stability, self-sufficiency, and independence. The project will convert vacant ground-floor retail space into a community and service area where residents can access workforce development, career planning, physical and mental health care, family reunification assistance, and other resources. The project is being supported by $4.09 million through the Chicago Neighborhood Recovery Program.  Residents have already begun to move into the building, while rehabilitation of the main floor is underway and expected to be completed as soon as the end of the 2027 year.