What follows is an original poem and reflection by Zarria, a member of the Center for Housing and Health Board of Directors and a rising leader with lived experience in the housing sector. This holiday season, make a gift to AIDS Foundation Chicago to support housing and health.
The Center for Housing and Health (CHH) is a subsidiary of AIDS Foundation Chicago (AFC). Operating as a separate 501(c)3 while sharing some core administrative functions, CHH supports a core tenet of AFC’s mission: ending homelessness. We are grateful to Zarria for sharing her words, experience, and leadership with the Center for Housing and Health, to shape our work and advocate for others.
What Makes A Home?
A place that's filled with love.
A place that makes you full of joy.
A place that feels safe and sounds so peaceful.
A place to heal.
A place to be free.
A place that shields.
A place that survives.
A place that comforts you.
A place to share memories.
A place to hold treasures.
A place that is familiar to trust.
A place that doesn’t discriminate.
A home is a place that is amongst all these things and more. A home is more than a key to a door. A home is everything you can imagine and what you make it to be. Everyone has a right to housing and we should all be allowed to live equally.
A home is our hearts and our hearts make it a better home.
My Housing Experience
For me, the housing opportunity I received through CHH has been a huge blessing. I’ve had the greatest chance of my life being able to change me and my children’s lives for the better. I needed to escape from a bad situation and receiving housing allowed me to get away. The support and guidance I have gotten along this journey has helped open my eyes. I have met some of the kindest people while being in this program. It has given me a chance to develop so many leadership skills as well as allowed me to get to know myself better. I have had the pleasure of working alongside housing peers, developing a trusting relationship with my case manager, taking part in advancing career opportunities, and creating a greater life. This experience has been truly remarkable for me. Without the help of CHH, I’m not sure how things would have turned out for me. I am grateful to be under an organization that truly cares about my success, health, and housing opportunities.
