Director of State Legislative Policy, Equity, and Transformation Niya Kelly was a guest on The Chicago Community Trust, speaking about addressing systemic barriers to housing and support for people experiencing homelessness. Listen to the full episode: www.cct.org/trusttalks/

Thanks to @chicagotribune.com for sharing @chicagohomeless.bsky.social & CFTEH‘s letter. No one wants people to have to sleep in parks or under viaducts or anywhere else unsheltered. Let’s come together around the solution - new revenue for permanent housing & service.

CCH condemns the killing of Silverio Villegas González at the hands of federal agents. We will continue our work to counter dangerous federal overreach and protect our communities. Villegas Gonzalez’s family and loved ones are in our thoughts. chicagohomeless.org/cch-statemen...

The Edrika Fulford Mutual Aid Fund reopens Oct 16 at 10 am! 400 applications will be accepted online or by phone, entered into a lottery & undergo review. Applying does not guarantee funding. 💻 chicagohomeless.org/MAF 📞📞 (312) 641-4148 (Mon-Fri, 10am - 2pm)

Do you, a neighbor, or loved one need help expunging or clearing a record? Join CCH and Uprising Theater on Sunday, September 28, 2025 between 10am - 6pm at Uprising Theater (2905 N Milwaukee) for a FREE sealing and expungement clinic. Sign-up here: uniqo.de/expunge

With a possibility of a National Guard deployment in Chicago, advocates are concerned about how that might affect people experiencing homelessness. Doug Schenkelberg, executive director of @chicagohomeless.bsky.social, talks about the rights unsheltered people have. to.wttw.com/4nv75a4

We prepared this Know Your Rights card in partnership with All Chicago to support the unsheltered on the coming weeks. We also created a phone line to answer question and help direct people to resources. We are going to do all we can to protect people in this moment of threat.

🚨 Information Card: Know Your Rights as an Unsheltered Person - Federal Enforcement in Chicago // Conozca sus derechos como persona experimentando falta de vivienda: Aplicación de la ley federal en Chicago chicagohomeless.org/outreach/

@chicagohomeless.bsky.social and our partners are doing everything we can to ensure the safety of those experiencing homelessness

We are aware of reports that the Trump Administration may deploy federal troops to Chicago soon. We know that this may directly impact Chicagoans experiencing homelessness and many people—including us—are concerned and afraid of what might happen.

A President who wanted to solve homelessness would draw a straight line between this news & more unhoused people. Then they would find ways to increase rental assistance, stabilize rent costs & increase supply. That would be solution oriented. www.redfin.com/news/rental-...

Help us improve outcomes for justice-impacted individuals! The Restoring Rights and Opportunities Coalition of IL wants to learn about the resources people receive exiting prison. If you were incarcerated in IDOC, please complete our survey: bit.ly/GateMoneySurvey @cabrinigreenlegal.bsky.social

August is National Make-A-Will Month! CCH partners with FreeWill, an online tool to help you write your will within 20 minutes, protecting your legacy and providing peace of mind for your loved ones at no cost to you. Get started: www.freewill.com/chicagohomel...

Chicago Public School (CPS) students return to class next Mon, Aug 18! All students & an accompanying adult can ride the CTA free on the first day of school. Our Law Project helps students experiencing homelessness access school & critical supports. Learn more: bit.ly/CCHEdRights

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is reviewing its policy that protects the educational rights of students experiencing homelessness, and they want your input! Learn more about areas we believe need improvement and take the survey: bit.ly/STLSsurvey

The Park District announced that an encampment along the riverbank in Legion Park will be shut down in September after a fire broke out there earlier this week. (1/4) blockclubchicago.org/2025/07/30/n...

"Homelessness is a housing problem,” CCH Executive Director Doug Schenkelberg said on @wttw.bsky.social's Chicago Tonight. “Between stagnant wages and unaffordable housing, many people are one to two paychecks away from experiencing homelessness.”

Sun-Times columnist @neilsteinberg.bsky.social‪ shares a thoughtful reflection on Trump’s Executive Order on homelessness: "It’s like we’re cycling through vulnerable communities, one by one, to see who can be demonized and oppressed next."

It’s not too late to double your impact - all gifts made from 4 - 6pm will be matched (up to $3,000). Give now: www.hopeforhomesday.org/organization... #HopeforHomesDay

Today is Hope for Homes Day! CCH joins 35 Illinois nonprofits in this fundraising effort aimed at supporting our shared mission of preventing and ending homelessness. Give now: www.hopeforhomesday.org/organization...

We are deeply alarmed by the passage of the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill,” signed into law by President Trump last week. The bill includes devastating cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, assistance that millions of low-income Americans rely on to survive.

Congratulations to the Horizons program participants and CCH staff who made last week’s beautiful Showcase possible. Horizons is a creative writing program dedicated to helping participants find their creative voices through poetry, expressive writing, and storytelling.

The Illinois General Assembly has concluded its spring legislative session. CCH is proud to share key legislative victories achieved through the efforts of our Policy, Law Project, and Organizing teams, alongside grassroots leaders. Learn more: bit.ly/cchimpact

Join us TODAY, June 12, at 4pm at Ida B Wells & Michigan to say we reject ICE’s escalations in Illinois and across the country. ICE is tearing apart families and kidnapping our community members, and we won’t stand for it!

52 Illinois lawmakers urged Congress to reject Medicaid cuts that would harm patient access and care. Legislators highlighted the importance of Medicare to the economy and public health of communities across Illinois. Read more: bit.ly/ProtectMedicaidIL

📢We’re Hiring! 📢 Join CCH as our Community Engagement Manager and play a crucial role in building stronger connections with our supporters and concerned citizens. Learn more and apply: chicagocoalitiontoendhomelessness.applytojob.com/apply/lt80aX...

Illinois' Homeless Prevention Program provides rental and utility assistance, along with case management, to ppl at risk of homelessness. More than 90% of participants remain in their homes! Contact your legislators to urge them to support this program: bit.ly./KeepTheirHomes

See the Cubs ⚾️, support CCH! Ticket prices increase after May 15th, so grab them now! act.chicagohomeless.org/a/ab-cubs-2025

Our 2024 Year in Review is here! This year, our campaigns, policy work, and community outreach helped meet the immediate needs of people facing poverty, while also working on long-term solutions. Read our annual report: adobe.ly/4iJV39U

Every Chicagoan deserves a safe, affordable home. Mayor Johnson’s Office of Homelessness is building a plan to end homelessness. Let them know that you support effective solutions that make an impact for Chicagoans experiencing or at risk of homelessness: survey.alchemer.com/s3/8206619/C...

Support CCH and let the world know that housing is a human right! Check out our new merch—sweatshirts, tees, and beanies—all union-made with Raygun. Order here → rayguncustom.com/collections/ch….

📢 TAKE ACTION: CHA’s waitlist doesn’t truly prioritize people experiencing homelessness, veterans, or survivors of DV, despite having a “preference” on paper. Tell CHA to fix this. Submit a comment by next Wednesday: act.chicagohomeless.org/a/cha

Organizations, please join us in rejecting presidential attacks on nonprofits by signing here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

The Trump administration may propose slashing Section 8 housing, shifting limited funds to state block grants. Over 2.3M people—including 55K+ Chicagoans—could be impacted and at risk of losing housing. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/17/u...

📢 CCH will hold its 3-day Community Organizing Training next month, May 21-23, at the CCH offices (70 E Lake St). Grow (or dust off) your organizing skills! Fill out the interest form by May 7: act.chicagohomeless.org/a/community-...

Join Grassroots Leader Shay at CCH Lobby Day in Springfield. We talked to legislators, advocating for HB 1429 and increased funding for homelessness prevention. Show your support for HB1429 to decriminalize homelessness in Illinois: chicagohomeless.org/hb1429/

📢 HB 2682 passed unanimously out of the IL House! Huge thanks to bill sponsor, Rep. Lilian Jiménez! This CCH-backed bill would make it easier for survivors of domestic violence to access the ‘Family Violence Exclusion’ and connect survivors to needed support to keep them safe.

TAKE ACTION - to stop Illinois municipalities from criminalizing homelessness. Support HB1429 by calling or emailing your legislator today: chicagohomeless.org/hb1429

Applications are open for families to enroll preschool-age children in Chicago Public Schools pre-K programs for the next school year. CPS promises priority placement for children in families experiencing homelessness. Learn more and get help applying at bit.ly/PreschoolApril8

Join our Associate Board for the 3rd Annual Karaoke Fundraiser to support CCH! 🎤✨ Grab the mic, cheer on friends, and help protect vital resources for people experiencing homelessness! Fri, April 4, 6 pm The Getaway (4530 N Lincoln Ave) Sign up: act.chicagohomeless.org/a/karaoke-2025

Excited to dig into @brian-goldstone.bsky.social’s important new book and happy to see @chicagohomeless.bsky.social’s Homeless Data Project highlighted.

📢 HB 1429 was voted out of committee this morning! The next step is a full house vote. Thank you to the 862 ppl who filed a Witness Slip, Merridith Montgomery, Continuum of Care ED from United Way of Will County, for testifying, and Rep Olickal for sponsoring the bill!

Applications for our college scholarship program for students impacted by homelessness are due April 11th! Learn more and apply at chicagohomeless.org/need-help/college-scholarships/

CCH is partnering with @housingactionil.bsky.social and other advocates to pass HB1429, which would prohibit municipalities from adopting fines and other criminal penalties for people experiencing homelessness. Take action by filing a witness slip as a PROPONENT: chicagohomeless.org/take-action/...

CCH educates people experiencing homelessness on their voting rights and works to make voting more accessible for all. Read more about our work in @citybureau.bsky.social's article, “How Chicago Organizers Helped Unhoused Neighbors Vote”. www.citybureau.org/newswire/202...

NLIHC released today its annual report, "The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Homes." The report finds that the lowest-income renters in the U.S. face a shortage of 7.1 million affordable and available rental homes. Download "The Gap:" https://nlihc.org/gap Key insights 🧵

🏡There are only 34 affordable & available rental homes for every 100 extremely low-income renter households in Illinois. We need more investment in vital HUD programs, not cuts. 📄 Learn more & read The Gap report: housingactionil.org/blog/2025/03...

📣 Join today's Day of Action: Tell IL legislators to stand up to DOGE & oppose cuts to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development programs & and staff! HUD is essential to our communities. Let’s make sure Congress hears us: housingactionil.salsalabs.org/2025federala...

"Rents in Chicago are rising faster than incomes, squeezing thousands of families," reports Amy Qin for WBEZ Chicago. Learn about Letonia Robinson & her kids' struggle to find an affordable home & see through interactive maps how this is a familiar story in Chicagoland: www.wbez.org/interactive/...

“We choose how we treat our most vulnerable neighbors. Illinois can build a more just and effective approach to homelessness that addresses systemic failures, or we can choose to criminalize people for surviving them.” @chicagohomeless.bsky.social & @housingactionil.bsky.social