• Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Custom
Spotlight on citywide collaboratives addressing homelessnessSpotlight on citywide collaboratives addressing homelessnessSpotlight on citywide collaboratives addressing homelessnessSpotlight on citywide collaboratives addressing homelessness
  • Our Focus
  • Our Process
  • Who We Are
Close Search Box
Search
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Strategic Collaborations
  • Spotlight on citywide collaboratives addressing homelessness
June 6, 2014
Cityscape of Chicago

Spotlight on citywide collaboratives addressing homelessness

In addition to ongoing grantmaking, Polk Bros. Foundation has played a key role in a number of collaborative, citywide efforts that bring together key public, private, nonprofit and philanthropic partners to address systemic initiatives that can have a broad impact on Chicago.

In 2002, when a collaborative effort launched with the ambitious goal of ending homelessness in Chicago within 10 years, Polk Bros. Foundation took an early place at the planning table, an effort which led to the community-driven development and implementation of Getting Housed, Staying Housed, Chicago’s groundbreaking 10-year Plan to End Homelessness. As a result, the bulk of Chicago’s resources have shifted from prioritizing the temporary fix of emergency shelters to the permanent solution of a “housing first” strategy, which places people quickly into housing and then links them to needed services, such as addiction and mental health treatment.

Polk Bros. Foundation was a private funding partner with the City of Chicago for the development of Plan 2.0, A Home For Everyone, Chicago’s next phase of planning to end homelessness. With participation from more than 500 stakeholders, including 150 people who have experienced homelessness, Plan 2.0 was released in 2012. Cutting edge thinking led to seven strategic priorities: the crisis response system, access to stable and affordable housing, youth homelessness, employment, advocacy and civic engagement, cross- systems integration, and capacity building.

While this work will continue to face challenges brought on by the complexity of issues homelessness encompasses, as well as continued fallout from the economic downturn, it is beginning to see results.

According to the 2014 Point-in-Time Count, since 2005 Chicago has seen an overall 6% decrease in the number of people experiencing homelessness and a 44% decrease in the number of unsheltered people. This progress is due in large part to Chicago’s homelessness service providers, many of which are grantees of the Foundation, and their unyielding work over the last decade.

 

Share

Related posts

Equitable Recovery Blog Header
March 22, 2021

Our second round of increased FY21 grantmaking ($2.155MM) invests in how Chicagoans are shaping our city’s future


Read more
Equitable Recovery Blog Header
November 23, 2020

Announcing the first $2.05 million of our increased FY21 grantmaking for Chicago’s equitable recovery


Read more
Sunrise over Chicago
March 18, 2020

A joint message from local foundations to the Chicago region’s nonprofit community | COVID-19


Read more

Search

Close Search Box

Categories

  • Arts Access and Learning
  • Education
  • Enhanced Capacity
  • Featured News
  • Health
  • News
  • Strategic Collaborations
  • Strong Communities
  • Strong Families
  • Uncategorized

About Polk Bros. Foundation

Polk Bros. Foundation is a private independent foundation dedicated to building and strengthening Chicago's families and communities, especially those most affected by poverty. The Foundation focuses its work at the intersection of Chicago's most pressing issues to address the complex roots and devastating effects of poverty, challenge inequity, and ensure that all Chicagoans have the opportunity to reach their full potential. Learn more.

Media Contact

Tracy Kremer
tkremer@polkbrosfdn.org
312.445.2659

Newsletter

Archived Issues

Latest posts

  • Equitable Recovery Blog Header0
    Our second round of increased FY21 grantmaking ($2.155MM) invests in how Chicagoans are shaping our city’s future
    March 22, 2021
  • Belmont Cragin Mass Vax Site0
    Chicagoland’s Vaccine Corps Partnership formed to help counter distrust of COVID-19 vaccines
    March 22, 2021

Follow Us on Twitter

Polk Bros. Fdn
Polk Bros. Fdn @PolkBrosFdn
3 days ago
OPPORTUNITY | Complete an LOI for Chicago’s Cultural Treasures by 11pm on 4/13. This effort (one of our #EquitableRecovery grants) will fund orgs focused on art from BIPOC traditions, leadership & culture in Chicago.

https://t.co/nW18YC6UPj
View on Twitter
0
0
Polk Bros. Fdn
Polk Bros. Fdn @PolkBrosFdn
2 weeks ago
"The public health community has been thinking seriously about the concept of trust since before the first vaccine was even approved for distribution," writes @PolkBrosFdn's Divya Mohan Little.

Read about a partnership that is giving Divya hope.
https://t.co/WDPnz5CPZG
View on Twitter
0
1
Polk Bros Foundation Logo

Polk Bros. Foundation
20 West Kinzie Street, Suite 1110
Chicago, IL 60654-5815
312.527.4684 │ info@polkbrosfdn.org

Quick Links

  • Grants Portal
  • Grantmaking Guidelines
  • Financial Statements
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Newsletter

Stay Connected

© 2018 Polk Bros. Foundation | All Rights Reserved | Site Map
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Custom