The 160-year-old Lawrence Hall non-profit organization will start the rehab process on their Lakewood LGBTQ+ home in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood at the end of October. The mission for this affirming home is to improve outcomes for queer/trans youth ages 14-17 with the hope of reunification with their families or for them to find a forever-home through adoption.

Lawrence Hall will hold a groundbreaking ceremony to kick off the renovations with their participants, community and supporters.

“Lawrence Hall has been a leader in providing affirming care to our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex and agender or asexual young adults in care for many years,” said Lawrence Hall Director of Strategic Initiatives and LGBTQ Employee and Youth Advocate Renee Lehocky.

To build on Lawrence Hall’s Avers Home success, they decided to open Lakewood Home, which will be a community home placement for LGBTQ+ youth in Illinois ages 14-17 that is contracted with Illinois DCFS. It will be holistic, inclusive and grounded in eight core thematic areas that address housing, mental health, education and employment, policies and protections, foster care experiences, intersectionality, access to resources and best practices. The goal is to provide a safe and supportive space for LGBTQ+ youth who have distinct challenges due to systemic discrimination and a lack of affirming support.

The soon-to-be renovated Edgewater home will be a place where six LGBTQ+ young people who have completed treatment or DCFS determines need a community placement can move into when they would otherwise still be in residential treatment settings or shelters due to Illinois DCFS’ lack of viable placement options.

by Carrie Maxwell

October 8, 2026