Addressing Housing Inequity in the Communities We Serve
Homelessness disproportionately affects marginalized communities, and in our region this reality is stark. In FY25, 61% of the clients BEDS Plus assists are Black, a clear reflection of systemic inequities that limit access to safe, stable housing. As housing advocate Matthew Desmond says, “Eviction is a cause, not just a condition, of poverty.”
Regional data confirms these ongoing challenges: Black residents in Cook County are about 5.5 times more likely to experience homelessness than white residents, and in the latest Point in Time Count, 57% of those experiencing homelessness identified as Black or African American, with many households and students lacking stable housing. (Read the Cook County Housing Policy Brief)
Homelessness in suburban Cook County has also continued to rise, increasing by over 12% in the past 2 years, highlighting that need extends beyond Chicago’s city limits. (See the Suburban Cook County Homelessness Report)
BEDS Plus is actively meeting this growing need. Our services alone have increased by 36% in the last year. We continue to address systemic barriers that keep families and individuals at risk, working every day to advance long‑term equity in our community.