Austin HOPE Center First Of Its Kind, Bringing Pediatric Health Services To West Side Children

The Austin HOPE Center, a pioneering pediatric specialty and behavioral health facility, is scheduled to open in summer 2026 at 5036 W. Chicago Ave. This 25,000-square-foot center is a collaboration involving Lurie Children’s Hospital and multiple community organizations, targeting health disparities in the area. It aims to address the alarming life expectancy gap, with a 2021 city study showing Black Chicagoans living 9. 2 years less than their non-Black counterparts.

The center will provide specialty pediatric care, mental health services, and family resources, promoting health equity. Contrell Jenkins, CEO of Stone Community Development Corporation, emphasized the project’s potential to transform the community. Funding for the $22 million project includes $5 million from the Housing and Economic Development Bond, marking it as the first project financed by these funds. The center broke ground in June 2024 and will include multiple community wellness spaces. Local health initiatives, like the Sankofa Wellness Village and Collaborative Bridges Wellness Center, further support the ongoing efforts to improve health outcomes on the West Side.