Second Priority: Housing Expansion

Stable housing is one of the most powerful tools in the fight against HIV. National data show that people with stable housing are far more likely to achieve viral suppression (90.8%) compared to those who are unstably housed (77.3%). At Chicago House, the outcomes are even stronger as 95% of our residents retain housing and 92% maintain an undetectable viral load. 

That’s why Priority 2 of our Strategic Plan—Housing Expansion—is centered on increasing the number of permanent supportive housing units available for individuals and families living with or at risk of HIV. 

We are already putting this into action. In 2024, Chicago House preserved 66 HIV-dedicated units in North Lawndale and celebrated the opening of Englewood Family Homes in West Englewood. Both communities—like East Garfield Park, where our next major housing development is underway with a 24-unit development—have been identified by the Chicago Department of Public Health as priority areas with some of the lowest life expectancies in the city. (see map below) By expanding housing in these neighborhoods, we are addressing health inequities where the need is greatest. 

Our approach blends property management with wraparound support services like case management, mental health counseling, and employment assistance. This integrated model keeps people housed and helps them thrive. 

As homelessness continues to affect more than 68,000 Chicagoans each year, and with new threats from the federal administration of criminalizing unhoused individuals, Chicago House is stepping up to meet the moment. By expanding housing in the neighborhoods hit hardest by health inequities and HIV, we are ensuring that our residents have more than a roof over their heads and the foundation to live longer, healthier lives.