Minnesota roots · Chicago focused
From Surviving Systems to Building Stable, Purpose-Driven Lives
Living Waters Youth, Inc. is a community-based nonprofit organization committed to supporting young adults and families impacted by foster care, housing instability, homelessness, juvenile justice and other systems of vulnerability.
Founded from lived experience and strengthened through years of direct service, Living Waters Youth provides housing navigation, stabilization support, systems navigation, mentorship, workforce development, peer support, healing resources and pathways toward long-term independence.
Our work began in Minnesota and has expanded into Chicago, where we are building a focused model for young adults transitioning from foster care and other systems, with a strong emphasis on Chicago’s West Side.
Rooted in lived experience. Grounded in community. Focused on stability, opportunity and long-term independence.
Who we serve
Young adults ages 18 to 30 moving out of systems and into adulthood
Leaving a system does not mean the barriers disappear. We work with young adults who may be:
- Transitioning out of foster care or the DCFS system
- Former foster-care youth or foster-care alumni
- Experiencing homelessness or housing instability
- At risk of homelessness
- Transitioning from juvenile justice or probation
- Reentering the community after incarceration
- Experiencing trauma, grief or other barriers to stability
- Navigating employment, education, financial or independent-living challenges
What we do
Six connected areas of support
Each area links to the work behind it. Some services are delivered directly; others are accessed through partners we connect participants to.
Housing Stability
Housing search and placement, tenancy support, landlord coordination, homelessness prevention and housing retention.
Learn more →Systems Navigation
Mentorship and trauma-informed support navigating child welfare, juvenile justice, education and employment systems.
Learn more →Peer Support & Mentorship
Connection, encouragement and accountability from people who understand the transition.
Learn more →Workforce & Economic Mobility
Employment, training, apprenticeship and education pathways, plus financial literacy.
Learn more →Healing & Wellness
Trauma-informed support, grief resources and connections to licensed clinical providers.
Learn more →Community Connection
Events, alumni community and relationships that make stability sustainable.
Learn more →The pathway
We are not simply a referral organization. We are building a coordinated pathway.
Young adults rarely need one thing. They need several supports working together at the same time. Living Waters builds and coordinates that ecosystem, delivering some supports directly and connecting participants to partners for others.
- Housing
- Case Management
- Systems Navigation
- Peer Support
- Mental Health
- Workforce Development
- Financial Literacy
- Transportation
- Community
- Leadership
Chicago
Living Waters Youth – Chicago
Our Chicago work focuses on building a coordinated support system for young adults transitioning from foster care and other systems.
Through Surviving the System – Chicago, Living Waters is developing relationships with DCFS, foster-care alumni and family-advocacy organizations, housing providers, workforce partners, community organizations and other systems that impact the lives of young adults.
Our goal is simple: young people should not have to navigate housing, employment, mental health, transportation, financial stability and other major life transitions alone.
Explore Living Waters Youth – ChicagoOur impact
Where we’ve been, and where we’re going
- 2013
- Living Waters Youth, Inc. was founded
- 10+
- Young girls cared for in our North Minneapolis foster home
- Chicago
- Expanded with a West Side focus
- 45 units
- Housing development currently being pursued
The 45-unit housing development is a vision currently being developed and pursued. It is not built, funded or operational.
We are not simply asking young people to survive the transition into adulthood. We are building the pathways that help them thrive.