On Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day, AIDS Foundation Chicago (AFC) and the Center for Housing and Health (CHH), along with advocates and grassroots leaders, would like to honor and remember our neighbors who have died houseless. We mourn their lives and the potential and creativity lost in our communities every time we lose a life to homelessness. At the same time, we stand firm in our commitment to honor them through the continued fight to end homelessness in the City of Chicago and across Illinois. What we know is when homelessness is addressed, unhoused members of our community can and do thrive! Pause here to read Keisha’s story. 

Commemorated in 1990, National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day takes place each year on December 21st, the longest night of the year. Vigils, memorial services, and events to honor those we’ve lost take place all over the country and are often organized by the National Coalition for the Homeless and local organizations. 

According to a report from the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, there are an estimated 68,440 people experiencing homelessness in Chicago. This number reflects people who are living on the street, sleeping on trains, staying in shelters, and are doubled-up (doubled-up is temporarily staying with others). AFC and CHH both provide services for people experiencing homelessness and housing instability who are living with HIV or other chronic conditions through direct client services, and programs like the Flexible Housing Pool 

To honor those we’ve lost in 2023, we encourage you to demand change through your vote in the upcoming primary elections.  By voting for the Bring Chicago Home initiative on March 19, you can support creating a dedicated revenue stream for affordable housing rooted in what is known as a permanent supportive housing model. Permanent supportive housing ensures that participants receive housing in addition to wraparound services needed to facilitate long-term housing stability. 

AFC and CHH are proud to support Bring Chicago Home, which would create this dedicated revenue stream for ending homelessness in the city of Chicago by increasing the real estate transfer tax (RETT) on properties selling for over $1 million. Between now and March 19, 2024, if you’re interested in supporting the work of Bring Chicago Home, you can contact Dominique Chew, Housing Policy & Advocacy Manager at [email protected] or Justine Allenbach, Senior Program Manager of Special Projects at [email protected]