Alliance to End Homelessness in Suburban Cook County
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Strategic Planning and Community Engagement
Nationwide, homeless advocacy groups have identified the potential to end homelessness by preventing it when possible and rapidly re-housing people who do become homeless. The Alliance acts as the planning body responsible for translating this national momentum into workable strategies for our county. Ending homelessness requires a community-wide effort, and the Alliance is committed to engaging stakeholders from every sector to be a part of the solution to homelessness.
Housing and Service Coordination
The Alliance acts as an umbrella organization for three Community Based Service Areas (CBSAs) in the north, west, and south regions of suburban Cook County. Each CBSA meets monthly to build partnerships and engage local stakeholders. Each area offers a variety of services and housing options to families and individuals experiencing homelessness. These grassroots networks come together to plan for a countywide strategy to prevent and end homelessness.
Project Review and Prioritization
In coordinating the annual application to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for homeless assistance grants, the Alliance brings in approximately $24.4 million per year to support 45 homeless programs in the region. The Alliance is responsible for reviewing the effectiveness of these programs, building their capacity, planning for future programs, and recommending funding priorities to HUD. By linking our project review process directly to our strategic planning goals, the Alliance plays a critical role in serving the priority needs of individuals and families experiencing homelessness in suburban Cook County.
Homeless Data Management
As we evaluate new and existing programs' effectiveness in ending homelessness, we rely heavily on data from a Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). Implementing HMIS is a federal requirement for every Continuum of Care, but more importantly, it offers us an opportunity to document homeless needs, pinpoint how well our programs address them, and identify where we can improve. The Alliance collects point-in-time homeless data each year with a full sheltered and unsheltered homeless count. These data are critical to setting priorities for future funding and informing our strategic planning efforts.
Where we work
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We act on the feedback we receive, We share the feedback we received with the people we serve
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Alliance to End Homelessness in Suburban Cook County
Board of directorsas of 06/11/2024
Kerry Thomas
HCHV Clinical Manager, Hines VA Hospital
Term: 2023 - 2024
Jessica Lucas
Director, Community Impact, United Way of Metro Chicago
Term: 2023 - 2024
Hugh Brady
NAMI and Housing Task Force
Dennis Condon
Community Representative
Bryan Dunlap
Sertoma Star Services
Carol Gsell
Anew
Hollis Hutchins
Community Representative
Sonia Ivanov
Northwest Compass
Khen Nickele
Community Representative
Millicent Ntiamoah
Catholic Charities
Chris O'Hara
Community Representative
Troy O'Quin
CEDA
Tina Rounds
BEDS Plus Care
Christi Wessel
Office of State Representative Michelle Mussman
Sue Wiemer
Turnstone Development
Monique Williams
Community Representative
Giana Baker
Chicago Area Fair Housing Alliance
Carl Wolf
Respond Now
Angela Brooks
CSH
Sharon Cargile
Community Representative
Yvette Holcomb-Evans
AccentCare
Luticia Fiorito
WINGS Program
Robin Futrell
Bethel Family Resources
Jessica Lucas
United Way of Metro Chicago
Dorease Lee
Regional Youth Action Board
Michael Mallory
Connections for the Homeless
Evelyn Mensah
African American Christian Foundation
Ebony Scott- Anderson
UChicago Inclusive Economies Lab
Abigail Stone
Community Representative
Kerry Thomas
Hines VA Hospital
Nadia Underhill
Thresholds
David Young
Housing Action Illinois
Lourdes Becerra
Access to Care
Chante Gamby
Cook County Health
Willie Hegg
Connections of IL
Craig Osmond
Community Representative
May Salman
Together We Cope
Romiesha Tucker
Housing Forward
Naesha Moore-Tyler
Healthcare Alternative Systems
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.
Equity strategies
Last updated: 05/23/2024GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.