Author: Hank Sartin

Agency Emergency Fund reactivated

February 7, 2022

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic presents deep challenges across society – including those who work to address homelessness.

In December, Paul Hamann, President and CEO of The Night Ministry, sent a message to The Night Ministry’s Board noting the seriousness of the situation. “For nearly two years, direct service organizations have continued to provide life-saving services to the most vulnerable in our city, and this sector is not immune to the multiple pressures of ongoing pandemic, staffing shortages, burnout and fatigue,” he wrote. In addition, agencies continue to face unusual expenses related to the pandemic, such as the cost of PPE.

In response, All Chicago is partnering with Chicago Funders Together to End Homelessness (CFTEH) to reactivate the Chicago COVID-19 Homeless System Agency Emergency Fund. In 2020, this fund provided emergency assistance to All Chicago’s partner agencies, focused on immediate and unanticipated needs during the early stages of the pandemic.

The effort was sparked by Hamann’s message, which was circulated to a variety of organizations and people. Northern Trust responded with the idea of reactivating the Agency Emergency Fund. The Chicago-based financial firm committed to funding a new round of grants to support homeless system agencies and reached out to other potential funders. In a matter of weeks, CFTEH mobilized more than $850,000 in funds, from donors including the Cuore e Mani Foundation, the Waterton Philanthropic Fund, Denis Pierce, the Pierce Family Foundation, The Chicago Community Trust, The Owens Foundation, the Chicago Community COVID-19 Response Fund, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois.

The reactivated fund, managed by All Chicago, will distribute grants ranging between $10,000 to $15,000. Flexible funding can support costs related to temporary housing, outreach, transportation, food, supplies, facility modification or expansion, technology, staffing, or other demonstrated costs related to the pandemic.

Join us on October 7th for Breakfast with All Chicago!

October 1, 2020

Breakfast with All Chicago

Wednesday, October 7, 2020
9:00 am
VIRTUAL

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our first virtual Breakfast with All Chicago!

If you missed the live event on October 7th, you can still view the recording over on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/d1PJaFiuKck

Follow along with our Virtual Program Booklet!

If you would like to support the Breakfast, you can make your donation here.

Mayor Lightfoot to Deliver Special Remarks on October 7th

We are thrilled to announce that Mayor Lori Lightfoot will join the lineup of speakers at Breakfast with All Chicago in just two weeks. On Wednesday, October 7th, Mayor Lightfoot will deliver special remarks about the work being done in Chicago and announce a new initiative to reduce homelessness in the city. Join us to hear about her administration’s priorities. You won’t want to miss it!

About Mayor Lori Lightfoot

Lori E. Lightfoot is the 56th Mayor of Chicago. Since assuming office following her historic election, Mayor Lightfoot has undertaken an ambitious agenda of expanding opportunity and inclusive economic growth across Chicago’s neighborhoods and communities, with early accomplishments including landmark ethics and good governance reforms, worker protection legislation, and closing a record $838 million budget gap, as well as key investments in education, public safety and financial stability. Mayor Lightfoot also placed Chicago on the path to a $15 minimum wage by 2021.

Help us honor our two award winners who are making a difference ending homelessness in Chicago:

Peter Vilim
Norman H. Stone Award

Chicago Homelessness and Health Response Group for Equity (CHHRGE)
System Impact Award

Breakfast with All Chicago is made possible through the generous support of our sponsors

Presenting Sponsors

Knight Family Foundation

Platinum Sponsors

Jim & Kay Mabie

Gold Sponsors

Denis & Martha Pierce

Lisa Stone Pritzker Family

Silver Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors

GF Foundation

Leasing & Management Co.

Mark and Tracey Hennessy

Judi Haberman Stern

Alan and Joan Stone Charitable Fund

Friend Sponsors

Joel & Lori Haberman

Dr. Richard & Valerie Nierenberg & Family

In memory of Paul & Lola Vranas

Supporter Sponsors

Conroy Family

Linda Kallas

*Sponsorships are available starting at $1,000 and provide a variety of benefits. Contact Melissa Anson at manson@allchicago.org or 312-379-0301 ext. 127 for more information.

Responding to the COVID-19 Outbreak

March 16, 2020
All Chicago will be updating this page as more information becomes available.
Find the Chicago COVID-19 Homeless System Agency Emergency Fund here.
Join our weekly webinar with DFSS – now every Friday at 1:00pm here.
Join our Chicago CoC Slack channel here.
See our Homeless System FAQs here.

Illustration of the novel coronavirusIntroduction to Using This Webpage

The contents of this site are for informational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

The purpose of this webpage is to consolidate and organize information about Coronavirus that is relevant to housing service providers and others in Chicago that serve people experiencing homelessness. Due to the rapidly evolving situation, much of this information is in the form of links to other sources. If you have feedback about this webpage, please contact CoCprograms@allchicago.org.

All Chicago is currently working with the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) and Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) to monitor and provide guidance for housing service providers on the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). As additional information is released we will share it as soon as possible.

Get the Most Up to Date Info

All Chicago Updates – Sign up for the All Chicago Program Newsletter, where we will be sending COVID-19 and other updates. 

Email Alert List – Get updates from the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH)

Updates from the City of Chicago

Situation Summary from the Center for Disease Control (CDC)

Special Report from the Chicago Homelessness and Health Response Group for Equity (CHHRGE)

Frequently Asked Questions for Homeless Service Providers – To be periodically updated by All Chicago

 

People Experiencing Homelessness and the Coronavirus

National Homelessness Information
National Healthcare for the Homeless Council, Resource links
An extensive list of links. Take a moment to review and find the most relevant to your organization.

Disease Risks and Homelessness, HUD Exchange
Links to resources from relevant federal agencies issuing guidance from subject matter experts on lessons learned from previous response efforts to infectious diseases.

Emergency Shelters Guidance

Interim Guidance for Homeless Shelters, CDC
CDC’s guidance for shelters to plan, prepare, and respond to COVID-19. This guidance is based on what is currently known about COVID-19 and will be updated as new information becomes available.

Preventing and Managing Spread of Disease within Shelters, HUD Toolkit
This document focuses on developing and implementing sanitation guidelines within the emergency shelter system of a CoC to prevent and address the spread of infectious disease.

Outreach and Drop-In Guidance

Preventing and Managing the Spread of Infectious Diseases within Encampments, HUD Toolkit
This document outlines the steps for CoCs to consider when working with local stakeholders to develop and implement sanitation guidelines for homeless encampments that can prevent infectious disease spread.

Housing Providers and Other Agencies Guidance

Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection Recommendations, from CDC
This guidance provides recommendations on the cleaning and disinfection of rooms or areas of rooms where someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 has been. It is aimed at limiting the survival of novel coronavirus in key environments. These recommendations will be updated if additional information becomes available. These guidelines are focused on community, non-healthcare facilities (e.g., schools, institutions of higher education, offices, daycare centers, businesses, community centers) that do and do not house persons overnight.

Coronavirus Disease: What Supportive Housing Providers Need to Know, from CSH
CSH has pulled together information from a variety of sources, considering the material from the vantage point of supportive housing providers, to help your agency best support your residents, your staff and your community.

Affordable Housing Providers and the Coronavirus, LeadingAge a 501©3 focused on issues of aging.
While targeted to affordable housing for older adults, the site highlights how practitioners can take steps now to develop preparedness and response plans to protect against infection.

Interim Guidance on Housing Inspections, All Chicago
The Chicago CoC has developed guidance regarding housing inspections in emergency situations.

Interim Recordkeeping Standard Operating Guidance, All Chicago
This provides guidance for housing providers on documentation and recordkeeping standards during emergency situations. See a sample protocol document here.

For Agencies, Staff, and Community Members

Symptoms and Prevention

Symptoms of the coronavirus are fever, shortness of breath and coughing. These symptoms can be associated with number of illnesses including influenza (flu).

The following are basic preventative actions to help stop the spread of COVID-19:

  • Regular hand washing with soap and water. 
  • “Social distancing” to help slow the spread of infection. 
  • Avoid touching the eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Cover your mouth and nose when you cough. 

Grant Funds and Eligible Costs

Chicago COVID-19 Homeless System Agency Emergency Fund, All Chicago
Philanthropic partners and the Illinois Department of Human Services have provided funding for agencies to respond to the challenges of the COVID-19 outbreak. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Using CoC Program Funds for Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response, HUD Exchange
Continuum of Care (CoC) Program grant funds can be a useful resource to support communities’ public health outbreak preparedness and response efforts.

Eligible ESG Costs for Infectious Disease Preparedness, HUD Exchange
A brief guide to Emergency Service Grant usage related to infectious disease preparedness. ESG Program recipients may use ESG Street Outreach and Emergency Shelter funds for essential supplies and services to reduce the spread of infectious disease in their programs.

Educational Materials for Staff and Residents

“Get the Facts” flyer from the Chicago Dept. of Family and Supportive Services

Handouts and Posters on COVID-19 facts, what to do if you’re sick, etc., from the CDC

Instructional Videos on stopping the spread of germs, what older adults need to know, etc. from the CDC

All Chicago’s Role in COVID-19 Response

All Chicago has created a COVID-19 Response Team and is actively working to support our many partner agencies during this challenging and quickly changing time. We are focused on the following three main areas currently:

  1. Promoting Cross-Provider Communication
  2. Securing Financial Resources to Help Agencies Respond to COVID-19
  3. Distilling Guidance from Sources

Catch up on Past Webinars:
All Chicago is hosting weekly webinars for all homeless services providers at 1:00pm every Friday to share COVID related information. See below to catch up on past webinars:
Week 1, 3/16/2020: Summary, Slides, Recording
Week 2, 3/23/2020: Summary, Slides, Recording
Week 3, 3/30/2020: Summary, Slides, Recording
Week 4, 4/6/2020: Summary, Slides, Recording

2020 Census and All Chicago

March 4, 2020

The 2020 Census will begin soon in our community, and All Chicago will be working over the next few months to ensure that Continuum of Care members and partner agencies are informed and able to promote an accurate count of all people, especially those individuals currently experiencing homelessness. An accurate count is vitally important for Illinois, as it informs billions of dollars in federal funding and congressional representation. To support this effort and to promote outreach to hard-to-count populations, All Chicago is working in coordination with YWCA of Chicago to implement an awareness campaign to people currently, or formerly, experiencing homelessness and encourage their participation in the 2020 Census. This will include:

  • Coordination of efforts and resources with our partner agencies around direct outreach to unsheltered people leading up to the end of March;
  • Email campaign to agencies and their staff detailing census processes and how to support their clients’ engagement with the census; and
  • Supporting the U.S. Census Bureau with data about homeless outreach.

What Housing Providers Need to Know

Agencies should educate their staff on the Census process so they can communicate it with their program participants. Here’s what they need to know:

  1. Individuals in Permanent Housing: Starting mid-March, households across the community will receive a letter from the U.S. Census Bureau with instructions on how to complete the census. Following these instructions, Permanent Housing residents can complete the census online at my2020census.gov, by telephone, or by mail. Each letter has a specific code corresponding to a specific address that residents will need to enter when prompted. For assistance completing the survey in languages besides English, your residents can visit this page for instructions in thirteen additional languages.
  • Individuals currently experiencing unsheltered homelessness, or who are in site-based projects like Emergency Shelters and Transitional Housing: The Census includes two separate processes for people in these situations, occurring between March 30 and April 1. A detailed outline of the entire 2020 Census process is available here.
    • During this time period, U.S. Census Bureau staff will visit site-based housing projects, drop-in centers, and other places offering services to administer the survey to individuals using a shortened paper form.
    • Additionally, on the evening of March 31, U.S. Census Bureau staff will canvass the city, inviting individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness to respond to the Census. Participation is voluntary, and all information is confidential.

The Census is Hiring!

The U.S. Census Bureau is still hiring people for temporary Census positions, visit 2020census.gov/jobs to learn more about the available opportunities. All positions offer competitive pay, flexibility, and provide paid training. People of lived experience are especially encouraged to apply.

HUD Awards $115 Million to Combat Homelessness in Illinois

February 3, 2020

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced on Friday, January 31st, $115 million in funding to combat homelessness in Illinois. The Chicago Continuum of Care received over $72 million in funding for 2020. At a press conference to announce the funding, All Chicago President and CEO, Carolyn Ross, joined Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Catholic Charities of Chicago CEO, Kathleen Donahue, and Waukegan, North Chicago/Lake County, Continuum of Care Program Coordinator, Brenda O’Connell.