Our Initiatives
Learn how we’re working together to solve homelessness in Chicago.
Grantmaking
In addition to informing our partners’ own grantmaking strategies, CFTEH also leads efforts to align and pool funding. Our two primary pooled grantmaking efforts are the Housing Justice Fund and our Public/Private Partnerships. The Housing Justice Fund focuses on building community power, deepening public and political will, and changing narratives about homelessness. Our Public/Private Partnerships are focused on supporting public sector capacity and expertise as well as regional coordination and planning efforts. Since we began grantmaking in 2022, CFTEH has raised and awarded nearly $6M through our pooled grantmaking efforts.
GRANT PROGRAMS
Photo credit: Jane Addams Senior Caucus
Advocacy
Homelessness is the result of systemic racism, housing discrimination, and the lack of affordable housing options. To end it, we must effect change at the systems level. CFTEH supports the adoption of laws and policies that make it possible for all Chicagoans to have a safe, stable place to call home.
CASE STUDY
Partnerships
Photo credit: Red Line Service
No one sector alone can end homelessness: it takes the dedication and commitment of entities across the Chicago region coming together with common goals. That’s why CFTEH brings philanthropy, community partners, people with lived expertise, and government together to maximize impact and advance change.
PARTNERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS
Programming
CFTEH creates opportunities for our funder partners to build their knowledge on topics related to homelessness in the Chicago region. Broadly, our education focuses on key topics such as housing justice, racial equity, funder advocacy, and trust-based philanthropy.
Housing Justice Huddles
Opportunities for CFTEH funders and community partners to learn about topics at the intersection of housing justice.
Open to all.
Speakers typically include community partners, funders, and people with lived expertise.
Sample topics:
Re-entry, older adults, new arrivals.
Funder Briefings
Exclusive opportunities for funder partners to learn about innovative initiatives that hold potential to advance housing justice.
Open to CFTEH funder partners only.
Speakers typically include community organizations, partners, and occasionally funders.
Sample topics:
Bring Chicago Home, Reclaiming Chicago, the Chicago Continuum of Care Racial Equity Line of Action, and Urban Labs on Guaranteed Income.
Special gatherings to share information about current projects, solicit input, or spark discussion.
Open to a curated list of advocates, service providers, and funders based on the goals of meeting.
Sample topics:
Home Illinois Briefing with the Illinois Office to Prevent and End Homelessness to share data and progress towards the state's plan to end homelessness and foreshadow the next state plan.
The Mayor's Roundtable on Homelessness aimed at understanding the Mayor's priorities for ending homelessness, identifying the community’s priorities, and reaching alignment.
Chief Homelessness Officer Meet and Greet for Housing Justice Fund grantee partners, funders, and other key stakeholders to meet key government leaders within the Mayor’s Office and city departments.