The Howard Area Community Center (Howard Area) was established in 1967 in Chicago’s Roger’s Park neighborhood as an outreach initiative of St. Jerome 's Church. Its primary mission was to provide for the emergency needs of local residents by serving as a distribution center for food and clothing. It also served as a meeting center for neighborhood block clubs and as a welcoming center for immigrants who used the area as a port of entry to the United States.

1970s
The once volunteer-staffed storefront operation grew larger and provided more services:

• Case management
• Summer camp for youth
• Adult education
  

The agency became an independent, community based not-for-profit corporation which successfully sought funding from individuals, corporations, foundations, United Way and governmental sources.

1980s
We expanded into our current headquarters on Paulina Street, doubled in staff and funding. We opened:

• Our Eleanor Wester Dental Clinic
• An on-site early childhood center

1990s
The agency experienced steady growth, providing new services, including:

• A Head Start Center
• A home visiting project that supports families with children birth to three
• After-school programs in nearby public schools
  
• An alternative high school
• Special programs to prevent domestic violence and assist individuals with HIV/AIDS

2000s
We further expanded our services:

• A state-of-the-art Employment Resource Center
  
• Our capital campaign resulted in the purchase and development of a new $5 million Family Center Campus that serves over 250 families with children birth to age five.
  
• A state-of-the-art Computer Clubhouse for youth
  
• We expanded the Howard Area Leadership Academy (alternative high school) facilities, adding a 3,500 square foot modular building that added two classrooms and a science lab. This expansion allowed enrollment to increase from 86 to 126.

The Howard Area Community Center now operates five core programs at seven locations in Rogers Park, serving people of all ages. Clients benefit from our uniquely dedicated staff, who provide the leadership and mentoring essential to overcoming obstacles and achieving self-sufficiency.

As a leader among Chicago human services agencies, we offer several exclusive initiatives including one of the city's only Early Head Start programs and a proprietary curriculum guiding ex-offenders as they seek employment. The organization was also selected as one of only four Chicago-area centers to host the Computer Clubhouse, where young people explore digital creativity while learning cutting-edge technology.