A Sunny Home Meets an Urgent Need and Provides a Model for Success
A historic Glenview bungalow is finding new purpose and fulfilling an urgent community need. In early March, the property, recently christened as Henley House, welcomed its first young Harbour residents.
“Opening Henley House is a wonderful opportunity,” said The Harbour’s executive director, Melody Rose. “About a year ago, we lost the funding to support one of our two Youth in Transition residences. It was quite a blow. The Youth in Transition Program is a long-standing and much-needed initiative. It provides 2 years of safe housing, and critical case management services to youth experiencing homelessness ages 17 to 24.”
"We were pressed to find a single-family home in a highly competitive market. Orchard Village, a Skokie non-profit that supports people with developmental disabilities, had been operating the bungalow as a congregate home for adult men and decided to sell. Realtors, who are also longtime Harbour supporters, stepped in. They purchased the property specifically to lease it back to us. This was a classic win-win situation. We couldn’t be more grateful.”
Expanding Safety and Shelter
The residence immediately adds five beds to the Youth in Transition program. Two large rooms serve as doubles, joined by a more traditional single and space for overnight staff. The house may not be featured in next month’s Architectural Digest, but the spacious, sun-drenched interior is perfect to meet The Harbour’s needs. With a sturdy brick structure, built-in bookshelves, and a few modern features like solar panels, it blends vintage character with up-to-date convenience.
And, as the old real estate mantra goes, location, location, location. Situated near Harlem, the house is easily accessible by both bus lines and the Metra, giving residents better access to jobs and educational opportunities than many suburban sites can offer. In a region where it’s increasingly difficult to find landlords willing to rent single-family homes to agencies rather than individuals, Henley checks all the boxes.​
A Space for Residents to Make Their Own
Navigating Economic Uncertainty
Henley House reflects a very intentional strategy. After losing funding for one Youth in Transition residence, Harbour leadership restructured funding resources so that no program relies on a single grant. With only two federal grants in the portfolio, the organization is somewhat insulated from the turmoil currently rocking other housing providers, although we are closely monitoring the private funding environment.
The Glenview expansion represents a model The Harbour hopes to replicate. Leasing allows the economy of increasing beds without having to construct a new building or dramatically expand staff. It’s the same mindset behind host homes and other low-infrastructure solutions. The organization can meet a grossly underserved need for youth housing in the region while staying nimble in an unpredictable funding landscape.​
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“My hope for The Harbour,” Melody explained, “is that we continue to build on youth and staff engagement as we create a culture for each house and shape the organization for what it needs to be today. I see our ability to open a second Youth in Transition house as incredible momentum during this very challenging time. We have the opportunity to go beyond being a service provider. We can become leaders in youth housing.”
The Spirit of Youth Leadership
A shelter offers safety. A voice ignites change. At The Harbour, we are committed to both. We provide youth with a refuge from danger, and we help them build the confidence to care for themselves and, with time and practice, become mentors and guides for others. Our Youth Leadership Award is a testament to that vision.
We are proud to honor Saraya Miller as the 2026 recipient. Saraya’s courage to be their own advocate inspired them to become a voice for others.
“When I first met Saraya,” explained Executive Director Melody Rose, “They were a Harbour resident who wanted to discuss an issue directly with me—and I was glad they did. When a young person has feedback or wants to share something about themselves, I want to listen. I love seeing that kind of confidence, and I was truly impressed by the thoughtfulness Saraya brought to our conversation.”
“At the end of our talk,” Saraya recalls, “Melody suggested that I could be an asset to The Harbour’s new Youth Advisory Board (YAB). I applied for membership and was accepted. Today, I serve as the YAB consultant. I also have a new job and my own apartment—life is going really well.”
A Passion for Advocacy
The YAB is an opportunity for current residents and graduates of The Harbour programs to explore their potential for leadership and advocacy. The YAB’s 10 participants are a voice of experience. They contribute their perspectives on our mission to support homeless youth and their ideas about how we can fulfill that commitment more effectively.
“I love being part of the YAB,” Saraya says. “It’s inspiring to collaborate with other youth, learn about their needs and interests, and explore how they want to support The Harbour. Our current project focuses on creating resource flyers for people in need on the South Side of Chicago. One of our members pointed out that it’s often easier to find housing, food, and other critical resources on the North Side, so we’re compiling a list of South Side nonprofits to help improve access in those neighborhoods.”
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I’ve always cared about community organizing and standing up for other young people. Receiving the Youth Leadership Award makes me feel like I’ve truly earned the title of activist. It’s also a moment for me to reflect on everyone I’m working with and realize that we’re all in this together. I really feel like I’m part of something bigger.”
An Inclusive Approach
Saraya’s approach to leadership is one that many older, more experienced people in the corner office could learn from. “A leader,” they said, “is someone who listens to everyone’s viewpoints and organizes them effectively. In the YAB, we make decisions together about which activities to pursue—everyone’s voice matters. Being a leader isn’t about telling people what to do; it’s about bringing people together. When someone disagrees, we want to hear their perspective. The YAB has those conversations often, and if we can’t reach a solution during a meeting, we’ll put a pin in the discussion and revisit it next time—or sometimes take a vote.”
"If there is a closed-minded person in the group, it's important to show them options and possibilities. Everybody's at a different place in life. You need to be still and give people the chance to learn while you're working with them. They say it takes a village to raise a child, and I think that applies to almost everything. If you're just telling people what to do and not hearing their opinions, that's not really a leader. That's an entirely different role.”
Inspiration From Mentors and Guides
Saraya is quick to recognize the leaders who have guided them along the way. “Jane Shea Mannard, The Harbour’s Community Outreach Coordinator, and M. Nelson at Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness have made a huge impact,” Saraya says. “They’ve opened so many doors for me and helped me figure out what I want to do with my life. On March 12, Jane Shea and I are attending the National Summit on Youth Homelessness and Hill Day in Washington, D.C.”
“I’ll meet other young people who are organizing or doing work similar to mine. One session I’m especially interested in focuses on LGBTQ youth who have experienced homelessness and PTSD. I’ve faced some of those same challenges, and I’m really looking forward to learning from others and sharing my own experiences.”
Looking to the Future
Saraya has a full plate. In addition to there work with The Harbour, they volunteer with the Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness and works for Bash Kids Club, an afterschool program for students at Hamilton Elementary. The program is energetic and hands
on, offering group activities, snacks, and meaningful community connections. “We stay with the kids until their parents pick them up,” Saraya says. “It’s really nice because I get to connect with them one-on-one.”
Looking ahead, Saraya hopes to return to school to pursue their passion for social work and community organizing. “I want to eventually start my own nonprofit,” they explain. “Right now, I’m figuring out which classes and degree will best help me get there.”
The arts are another constant inspiration for Saraya. They hope to reinvigorate their creative side through painting and poetry—two mediums that help them express themself and recharge. “I love connecting with people and doing this work,” Saraya says. “Advocacy makes me feel grounded. It ties me to my ancestors, my heritage, and my identity. No matter where my career takes me, I’ll always be fighting for my community and for what’s right.”
We’re confident the Youth Leadership Award marks only the beginning of what will be an exciting, impactful journey. Congratulations, Saraya!
