The Cara Program was founded in 1991 by entrepreneur and philanthropist Tom Owens.

Now almost two decades later, The Cara Program has evolved as not only a best-in-class job training and placement provider for individuals affected by homelessness and poverty, but also a vehicle for true life transformation. 

Since its inception, we have placed over 2,700 individuals into quality, permanent employment (at one-year job retention rates of 75%), catalyzing the same number of families to stop the transfer of poverty from one generation to the next.  In addition, The Cara Program boasts two social enterprises - one in neighborhood beautification and the other in property preservation* - that achieve a triple bottom line: over $2 million in revenue annually, more than 250 transitional jobs per year for the hardest to employ, and, over 50 permanent jobs created within our own growing business. 

Click here for a quick overview of who we are.

*Our second social enterprise, Cleanslate Property Services, is a joint venture between The Cara Program and Mercy Housing Lakefront, the largest subsidized housing provider in Chicago.