Community Impact Meets Business Innovation: The UP House Approach

When Tangela Thornton founded Unlimited Potential NFP, Inc., her dream was to do more than provide emergency shelter. She envisioned a place where young women facing housing instability, especially those aging out of foster care, could rebuild—not just survive. The result is The UP House, the nation’s first Youth Homeless Prevention Campus, opened on a sprawling 7-acre, 149,000 sq. ft. facility just outside Chicago.

The UP House Experience

The UP House is a game-changer for youth in crisis. Beyond providing safe and stable housing, the campus offers life skills coaching, education, job training, and emotional wellness resources—everything needed for long-term independence. Residents benefit from college and GED classes, trade certifications, counseling, and community support in a nurturing, non-institutional environment. It’s a model that emphasizes dignity, hope, and real opportunity.

Breaking the Cycle—One Young Woman at a Time

Tangela Thornton’s approach is both compassionate and practical. She knows that true transformation happens when young people feel respected and empowered. Her leadership ensures every resident leaves not just with a roof, but with a future: skills, self-worth, and a supportive network to help them thrive long after they graduate from the program.

Setting a National Standard

The impact of The UP House has not gone unnoticed. With new campuses already planned for 2025 and 2026, Tangela’s vision is expanding. Her work is now a model for communities across the nation, demonstrating what’s possible when we invest in the potential of every young person. Thornton says it best: “Every young person deserves the opportunity to thrive.”

Why The UP House Model Works

• Provides youth with stability and a sense of belonging
• Focuses on education and practical job skills
• Offers supportive counseling and mentorship
• Builds a network of community allies
• Empowers young women to envision and achieve long-term goals

At Unlimited Potential NFP, Inc., the mission goes far beyond housing. It’s about unlocking futures, building community, and rewriting the story of youth homelessness—one empowered young woman at a time.