Fourth Priority: Sustainability
Every priority of Chicago House’s new three-year strategic plan—housing and health navigation, housing expansion, and aging with HIV—rests on one essential cornerstone: financial sustainability. Each pillar is designed to strengthen lives and communities, but none can stand without a solid funding foundation beneath them. Our focus on organizational stability is what allows every other part of the plan to move from vision to reality.
With our planned growth, Chicago House expects to increase staff by more than a third to meet the demand for integrated housing and health services. This commitment will help maintain quality and consistency with our care model as we hire case managers, housing specialists, and health navigators who can respond to the complex needs of clients. To ensure this is sustainable, we are building a financial framework that matches the scale of our ambition.
Our team is actively diversifying revenue by leveraging both private and public funding sources. We are laying the groundwork to pursue contracts with hospitals for housing navigation and to explore reimbursement opportunities for Community Health Worker services. These initiatives will allow Chicago House to deliver support more efficiently while generating dependable income to sustain our expanding programs. At the same time, reinvesting developer revenue and growing reserves positions us to launch new housing and services with the stability to thrive.
But financial sustainability is more than generating new revenue streams. In a time when nonprofits face unprecedented challenges, reinforcing our mission is critical. Every dollar invested helps Chicago House preserve affordable housing, expand HIV-specific units, and support residents with comprehensive care. It ensures that growth strengthens the organization rather than stretches it, giving our team the resources they need to deliver exceptional service at every level.
To make this possible, Chicago House is turning to the community during our month-long Giving Tuesday campaign. Throughout November, supporters can help build a better future by making a one-time gift, setting up a recurring donation, or amplifying the campaign by sharing our work with friends and family.
“Financial sustainability is about protecting our promise,” said Michael Herman, Chief Executive Officer. “It allows us to grow with confidence while keeping our focus on the people we serve. Each investment and partnership strengthens our ability to provide stable housing and integrated care for the long term.”
With your support, Chicago House can continue to build a future where everyone we serve has a place to call home.