All Chicago has released Expedited Housing Housing Initiative: Lessons Learned, which reflects on the EHI initiative, areas for improvement and opportunities for the future. The COVID-19 crisis that began in March 2020 demanded action to safeguard people from the risks of the pandemic. The Expedited Housing Initiative (EHI) was established to support households experiencing homelessness at highest risk of COVID-19 complications and ensure that they could safely socially distance. EHI was a collaborative effort between All Chicago, the Chicago Department of Public Health, and the Chicago Continuum of Care. All Chicago coordinated and managed EHI while in operation from October 2020 through December 2022. Numerous social service agency partners delivered direct services.
EHI leveraged an unprecedented reduction of barriers and an increase in federal funding. This allowed Chicago to test leading national practices to speed progress toward ending homelessness in Chicago. This report analyzes the qualitative and quantitative data, providing important information that can be incorporated into policies, system implementation, and programmatic standards, both embedding success and creating a foundation for continued learning and additional improvements.
