Evany Turk Promoted to Director of Residential Housing Program
CHICAGO, IL—Today, Chicago House announced that Evany Turk has been promoted to director of the Residential Housing Program.
As director, Turk will be responsible for overseeing the agency’s permanent supportive housing programs, including the Supportive Living, Independent Living, and Family Support Programs. Her work with Chicago House began in 2006, when Turk was responsible for the management of the Medication Adherence Program.
In the years that followed, Turk served in various capacities in organizations serving those impacted by HIV. She worked as a community program coordinator at the University of Chicago where she developed curriculum for HIV/AIDS prevention groups and coordinated a drop-in center for homeless/street-based youth. At AIDS ARMS, Inc. in Dallas, she managed a community center for people living with HIV/AIDS. For the last four years, she served as a national field organizer with the Positive Women’s Network out of Oakland, California, where Turk led strategic communication campaigns promoting national policy agenda priorities and led HIV prevention and general health campaigns targeting vulnerable population throughout the country.
“I hope to continue to create opportunities for those impacted by HIV who call Chicago House home and show that the agency is available as a resource for those who live in our residential programs,” said Turk. “By providing stable housing for those impacted by HIV through the agency’s residential programs, individuals will continue to be linked to wraparound care, including case management, health support, and employment resources.”
Turk returned to Chicago House as the Independent Living and Family Support Programs Manager in 2021. In her work with the Family Support and Independent Living Programs, Turk oversaw community building and wraparound care for individuals impacted by HIV and their families, including children. Chief Program Officer Judith Perloff, LCSW, said, “Evany is a fierce advocate and national speaker on the rights and needs of those affected by HIV and is sought out as an adviser on national policy agenda items as they relate to HIV. Evany will bring a wealth of experience and skill to the director position as well as a vision for how to better serve our residential housing clients.”
Turk’s experience and expertise will lend to the continued success of residential programs within the agency. Learn more about her work: The Bridges Program at The Family Support Program, and Family Support Program: From Resident to Manager.
About Chicago House
Chicago House and Social Service Agency has been on the forefront of reducing barriers for those affected by HIV/AIDS since the early years of the epidemic. Founded in 1985, Chicago House was the first HIV housing provider in the Midwest. It now serves nearly 3,000 individuals and families annually through expanded programming designed to holistically support individuals impacted by HIV/AIDS through housing, health, employment services, and the TransLife Care Program.