For more than 150 years, Metropolitan Family Services has provided the resources and counsel needed to help families and individuals overcome life’s obstacles and grow stronger.
Since our founding in 1857 as the Chicago Relief and Aid Society, our organization has helped families get through the devastating hardships of poverty, world wars, epidemics and natural disasters.
Through our 150-year history, we have reached out to help the young and old, unemployed and working poor, long-time citizens and new immigrants and those worn out by changing economics, troubled relationships, inadequate education and mental health issues. We’ve supported them with financial aid, counseling, education and legal services. But most of all, we have bolstered the strength that lies within each person, provided hope for a brighter future and helped individuals and families reclaim their dignity and purpose.
Today Metropolitan Family Services assists hundreds of thousands of people through human services and public policy advocacy. Our mission remains largely the same as it was 150 years ago: to help Chicago-area families realize their amazing strength.
Key Milestones in our History
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1857 - The Chicago Relief and Aid Society is founded and incorporated by the Illinois State legislature.
1860 - Norman B. Judd, one of the founders of the Chicago Relief and Aid Society, secures Abraham Lincoln’s nomination for president.
1871 - Chicago Mayor Mason appoints the Chicago Relief and Aid Society to administer all relief, nearly $10 million in money and goods, to victims of the Great Chicago Fire.
1888 - The Chicago Relief and Aid Society and Chicago Charity Organization merge, bringing a greater focus on poverty prevention to the organization.
1894 - The Chicago Bureau of Charities is established in response to the economically devastating Panic of 1893.
1905 - The Bureau of Justice and the Protective Agency for Women and Children merge to form the Chicago Legal Aid Society, providing equal justice before the law.
1907 - The Chicago Tribune turns over the land and operation of its fresh air camp along the Fox River, Camp Algonquin, to the Chicago Relief and Aid Society.
1908 - Hull House leases the Mary Crane Nursery to the Chicago Relief and Aid Society to provide therapy for young tuberculosis victims.
1909 - The Chicago Relief and Aid Society and the Chicago Bureau of Charities merge to form United Charities of Chicago.
1911 - The Mothers Pension law is passed in Illinois, the first of its kind in the U.S. and was modeled in part after the former Bureau of Charities’ Small Pension Funds to help widowed mothers.
1915 - United Charities employees assist with relief efforts when the passenger ship “The Eastland” capsizes in the Chicago River and 845 lives are lost.
1919 - The Chicago Legal Aid Society becomes part of United Charities. The renamed Legal Aid Bureau begins providing free legal service for civil law cases.
1930 - United Charities serves more than 20,000 people each month during the Great Depression.
1934 - United Charities helps establish the Community Fund of Chicago, now the United Way.
1935 - United Charities leader Joel D. Hunter serves on an official advisory council established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to help shape what would become the Social Security Act.
1935 - The Family Service Bureau is established by United Charities to provide counseling and psychiatric services.
1948 - United Charities joins in a community - wide effort to help the growing number of war refugees find work and provides relief and relocation services.
1950 - The Family Service Bureau begins helping unwed mothers and their children through the Women’s Service Division.
1953 - United Charities create the Service for the Aged to help this growing segment of the population.
1954 - The first of 14 annual Riverview Rambles, a major fundraiser organized by United Charities’ Women’s Auxiliary, is held at Riverview amusement park.
1959 - The Family Service Leagues are established in DuPage County and launch the Treasure House resale shop to support United Charities.
1966 - United Charities establishes a suburban office in Palos Heights to serve southwest Cook County.
1972 - United Charities establish its Social Policy department to advocate for families at all levels of government.
1976 - Consumer Credit Counseling Services is created to help families and individuals gain control over financial problems.
1982 - Social Policy activities help lead to the passage of the Domestic Violence Act.
1985 - United Charities begins serving families in Southeast Chicago from a desk in Our Lady of Guadalupe Church.
1987 - Family Services of DuPage, established in 1930, becomes an affiliate of United Charities.
1988 - United Charities’ social policy advocacy efforts help lead to the passage of The Elder Abuse Act.
1988 - MFS opens its Midway Center.
1995 - United Charities changes its name to Metropolitan Family Services to better reflect the work and scope of the broad community it serves.
1996 - Family Counseling Services of Evanston/Skokie become part of Metropolitan Family Services.
1997 - Metropolitan Family Services expands its services to include child abuse and early education programs when Child Abuse Prevention Services (CAPS) becomes part of the organization.
2000 - Metropolitan’s joins in the Monsignor John Egan Campaign for Payday Loan Reform to advocate for protection for borrowers. The landmark Payday Loan Reform Act will become law in 2005.
2002 - The first Make a Child Smile fundraising event is held. This annual volunteer event contributes tens of thousands of dollars to MFS programs.
2003 - MFS launches the Young Fatherhood Initiative through its new South Chicago Center to strengthen the relationship between fathers and their children.
2004 - Chicago Mayor Richard Daley attends the grand opening of the Midway Children’s Center which provides daycare services to low - income working families.
2004 - Doors open at MFS’ new North Chicago Center.
2005 - As part of a United Way coalition, Metropolitan Family Services provides support and counseling to relocated families and victims of Hurricane Katrina.
2006 - Metropolitan moves to its current headquarters at One North Dearborn and continues to serve more than 50,000 individuals and families.
2007 - Metropolitan celebrates its 150th anniversary and convenes the Inaugural Summit on the Metropolitan Family, bringing together 300 prominent leaders to inspire new solutions to challenges facing families.
2008 - Metropolitan’s opens its new North Children’s Center, providing affordable, quality daycare services to area families.
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