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Leaders from organizations that are addressing housing insecurity attend a recent ribbon-cutting ceremony in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood.
BCBSIL Meets with Organizations Addressing Housing Insecurity Across Illinois
Jan. 23, 2025
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois gathered this month with organizations that are working to provide housing stability to some of the most vulnerable populations in Illinois. The meeting at the Inner-City Muslim Action Network in Chicago’s Englewood community was near a development that provides transitional housing units for homeless members and justice-involved individuals.
In 2024, BCBSIL announced a commitment to invest $12 million over five years in organizations addressing homelessness throughout the state.
Since then, BCBSIL has selected the initial programs and partners it is supporting and provided $2 million in 2024 and will provide $3.5 million in 2025 to advance their work. In addition to IMAN, other groups in attendance included:
- LifeHouse Group, which is building a recovery home for adult men with a substance use disorder diagnosis.
- South Suburban Women’s Health Initiative, which offers apartment housing for pregnant mothers and their children in Homewood.
- The Safer Foundation, which places individuals transitioning out of incarceration into apartments within Chicago’s city limits.
- TMH Behavioral Services, which is opening a transitional living program on Chicago’s South Side for young female adults ages 18 to 24 who are transitioning from DCFS services to independent living.
“Studies have shown that people who have secure housing have the potential for more healthy lives,” says Nancy Wohlhart, Medicaid president at BCBSIL. “These organizations have demonstrated that they are working to address social determinants of health through their pioneering efforts in homelessness and providing housing security.”
"Empowerment Estates, LifeHouse Group's latest initiative in the south suburbs of Cook County, provides a powerful new tool in our efforts to support individuals on their recovery journey,” says Daniel Walsh, LifeHouse Group CEO. “Separate from our 170-bed recovery home and our outpatient services, Empowerment Estates will provide smaller, more tailored residential options for individuals in recovery, and this grant from BCBSIL will allow our clients to enjoy independence and control in their living environment while providing access to community resources."
“IMAN is profoundly grateful for our partnership with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois around the intersection of health and housing toward the vision of building and sustaining thriving communities,” says Rami Nashashibi, Ph.D., IMAN executive director. “This type of alignment provides hope and possibility in the face of some daunting and persistent challenges.”
Their efforts aim to help open around 50 new housing units in early 2025, with an eye on additional downstate developments later in the year.