CCH builds community power and advances racial equity through organizing, advocacy, legal assistance, and education to prevent and end homelessness because housing is a human right.
Our Work
CCH builds power and makes change through community education, strategic campaigns, and policy initiatives that target root causes of homelessness across Chicago and Illinois.
For Shelter Care and Other Chicago-Based Services: Call 311
Issues We Take On
Housing Justice
CCH organizes for fair and equitable access to affordable, permanent, and suitable housing, aiming to address systemic disparities, eliminate discrimination, and advocate for policies that ensure housing for all.
Learn MoreYouth Homelessness
An estimated 12,000 unaccompanied youth experience homelessness in Chicago each year. Guided by research and community wisdom, we understand the benefit of housing solutions that meet the developmental, social, and emotional needs of young people.
Learn MoreEducational Rights
Students experiencing homelessness face barriers to enrollment, school resources, and academic success. CCH leads efforts to ensure that unstably housed children and youth have equal access to a public education.
Learn MorePublic Benefits
Equitable access to public benefits and quality health care can be a matter of basic survival. Our staff help people experiencing homelessness access critical supports while advocating for improvements to benefit programs.
Learn MoreCivil Rights
People who experience homelessness are often discriminated against and criminalized. Through advocacy, outreach, and impact litigation, CCH works to protect the civil rights of those without a permanent place to call home.
Learn MoreRacial Equity
CCH takes a comprehensive approach to addressing systemic inequities. We work to eradicate racist systems and advocate for public policies that support fair and just outcomes for people impacted by homelessness.
Learn MoreReentry
Because many formerly incarcerated people face homelessness during their reentry to the community, CCH works to address barriers to housing and jobs for those impacted by the criminal legal system.
Learn MoreHow We Do It
Policy & Budget Advocacy
We partner with advocacy organizations, service providers, and people with lived experience to drive local and statewide policy initiatives to address homelessness and increase funding for human services.
Learn MoreOrganizing
Community organizers mobilize both grassroots leaders and service providers to develop, lead, and implement advocacy campaigns and policy solutions in Chicago and across Illinois.
Learn MoreLegal Aid
CCH’s Law Project is the only legal aid program in Illinois exclusively focused on the needs of people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Learn MoreCommunity Education & Outreach
We meet people impacted by homelessness where they are—providing advocacy, information, and resources to those who need it.
Learn MoreData and Research
CCH conducts research and data analysis to identify community needs, craft policy solutions, and evaluate the impact of our shared advocacy. We strive to develop directly-impacted people to be leaders in this work.
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