Bring Chicago Home aims to restructure the Real Estate Transfer Tax (RETT), a one-time tax on properties when they are sold to create a substantial and legally dedicated revenue stream to provide permanent affordable housing for people experiencing homelessness.

In February of 2024, Michael Reese Health Trust committed $500,000 to support the coalition to Bring Chicago Home.

“In a city where over 68,000 people experience homelessness in a year, we know a dedicated source of public funding is a necessary component to solving homelessness in Chicago,” said Blair Harvey, MSW, Chief Program Officer at Michael Reese. “Advocates, service providers, community, labor and faith-based organizations and funders have spent decades working to move the needle on homelessness. Michael Reese sees the affordable housing ballot resolution as a culmination of these efforts and a defining moment for Chicago.”

Learn more about our commitment to Bring Chicago Home.

In 2020, Michael Reese commissioned a report to understand the funding landscape for domestic violence services in Illinois and to make recommendations of how to increase or better allocate that funding. Written by The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence, “Meeting the Needs of Survivors: Reimagining Domestic Violence in Illinois” takes a hard look at how funders, including federal, state and city governments, philanthropy and private donors, could modify funding restrictions in ways that will improve outcomes for survivors and their families. The report outlines the current state of funding and makes recommendations for changes. It also describes innovative models of domestic violence services across the country that Illinois could replicate.