February 2021
Latest News
Chicago Volunteer Expo
Come Visit HOW Virtually
Chicago's annual Volunteer Expo is going virtual this year and we hope to "see" you there! The Volunteer Expo will be hosted on Zoom and broken into two hour time blocks from 10AM to 4PM. Attendees will have the opportunity to speak with representatives from local nonprofits to learn about current and upcoming volunteer opportunities. HOW's volunteer program has shifted dramatically to ensure the agency is promoting a safe and healthy environment for all. With this in mind, we are still seeking passionate individuals looking to volunteer in a variety of capacities. Come say hello and learn more about ways you can make a difference by attending the virtual Volunteer Expo.

Unable to make it? No worries! HOW's volunteer webpage outlines our current volunteer engagement opportunities.
New Blog
Black History Month
February is Black History Month, a time of learning and commemoration. Together as a nation we celebrate by honoring African American heroes and the movements and cultural contributions born from their brilliance. However, HOW's CEO Britt Shawver argues that Black History Month must also serve as a time of honest reflection and critical examination of racism's role in the inequities present in society today. In her most recent blog post, Britt highlights how race is undeniably connected to a person's heath and housing status. Read Britt's full post here.
HOW UPDATES
Client Profile - S. Hinton
Making Success Her Story
From the moment Ms. Hinton joined HOW, she inspired those around her with her positivity and eagerness to succeed. Despite the challenges of her past, she was determined to build a life of joy and comfort for herself and her children. After a period of homelessness, Ms. Hinton was connected to HOW and quickly received an apartment for her and her one year-old daughter. After settling in, she began working with her case manager to make her dreams a reality. She decided to enroll at the local community college as a first step in pursuit of her goal of becoming a nurse. With the stability of a home, Ms. Hinton steadily worked her way through college, securing her Associate's degree and a Bachelor's in Nursing, all while raising her family!! Today, she continues to thrive, balancing school and motherhood as she works her way towards her Master's in Public Health.

You can read more about Ms. Hinton's journey here!
HOW's Vocabulary Corner
This month HOW launched its new Vocabulary Corner series on LinkedIn and Facebook. As a housing nonprofit we know there are many acronyms and an abundance of complicated jargon in the housing and social services sectors. That's why each week we will be sharing a top-of-mind acronym or term to help you stay informed and in the know! You can keep track of weekly posts by following HOW on LinkedIn. HOW's latest post was about the HEARTH Act.
ADVOCACY and LEARNING
The Supportive Housing Providers Association is launching a campaign to ask Governor Pritzker to create a state-sponsored Illinois Interagency Council on Ending Homelessness. This agency, if founded, would be tasked with creating a more cohesive, unified approach to ending homelessness that harnesses the power of all the state's organizations, agencies, and solutions. You can sign-on to this request and learn more here!
The Illinois Coalition for Fair Housing is asking looking for support for their proposed amendment of the Illinois Human Rights Act which aims to eliminate income discrimination. According to the Coalition, "Despite the fair housing rights provided in the Illinois Human Rights Act, many Illinoisans face housing discrimination that locks them out of opportunities due to the exclusion of source of income (SOI) protections." Click here to find more information about the proposed amendment, and here to find out how to take action.
Ways to Support HOW's Work

Monthly donors provide reliable funds to sustain families as they rebuild their lives after housing instability or homelessness.

There are many ways to leave a meaningful, lasting legacy of impact to address homelessness in Chicago.

Major Donors at HOW provide crucial support to help fund the agency's most innovative new projects and programming.
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Empowering individuals and families to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness.

Since 1983, HOW has been a leader in permanent solutions to homelessness. Through prevention strategies; expanded, affordable, supportive housing; and individualized support services we have helped thousands take back their lives.