Aging out of foster care leaves our youth in a situation in which they are vulnerable to homelessness.

Young people join TLP because they want to lead the normal, healthy, productive life they were denied through no fault of their own. They often come to TLP lacking the basic life skills that we take for granted, like how to budget finances, apply for a job, grocery shop, or even do the laundry. TLP teaches these and other vital, foundational lessons.

TLP residents are part of the fabric of the community. They attend local schools and are active members of the workforce as servers, store clerks, grocery workers, and more. TLP is effective in part because of strong accountability and personal responsibility measures. Shelter’s qualified and state-accredited staff closely monitors all participants and enforces strict behavioral requirements. TLP residents are also expected to meet certain personal responsibility milestones on the road to independence. A focus on residents’ social and emotional well-being helps build self-esteem and self-worth. 

In many cases, TLP is the last opportunity for these young people to learn healthy choices, resist gangs, crime and drugs while living off the streets, and to build productive lives with promising futures.

With Shelter’s help, they gain the knowledge to sustain their independence and flourish as adults.

• Call us at 847.255.8060
• Email us at shelter@shelter-inc.org
• Complete our online Information Request Form

Shelter’s TLP is licensed through the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and is one of only 23 programs of its kind in the state.