Our mission is to end homelessness in suburban Cook County.
We believe this is possible through cross-sector collaboration, data-driven decision making, and removing barriers to housing.
The Alliance began in 1997 as the Task Force on Homelessness. In 2004, the Task Force formally incorporated and updated its name to reflect the proactive, regional focus of our work. In 2005, the Alliance hired its first full-time staff member and secured nonprofit 501c(3) status.
Today, the Alliance has a staff of 19, over 40 member agencies, brings in approximately $24 million annually from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and is at the forefront of the region’s innovative efforts to house and support people who are experiencing homelessness.
The Alliance to End Homelessness in Suburban Cook County leads the Cook County Continuum of Care (IL-511), and is responsible for the planning and coordination of homeless services and housing options for all of Cook County outside the city of Chicago. This large region includes 130 suburbs, 30 townships, 573 square miles, and is home to approximately 2.5 million people.
Humans have lived, gathered and traded in this region for some 15,000 years, and this is the traditional homeland of at least 30 indigenous groups of people. We honor the history and contributions of Native peoples in this region, and we recognize a legacy of broken treaties and covenants, and the need to strive to make right with all our relations.
