May 23, 2024 -- Facing Forward to End Homelessness was honored to welcome representatives from the White House and the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) for a firsthand look at our work within the community.

The visit began at an Accelerated Moving Event (AME), where Facing Forward partnered with All Chicago and other community organizations to provide immediate housing, furniture, and essential resources for 25 families experiencing homelessness, primarily from the Auburn-Gresham neighborhood on Chicago’s south side. Facing Forward Housing Resource Specialists provided bilingual support in English and Spanish, ensuring participants received tailored assistance in their preferred language.

Following the event, the group visited Facing Forward’s Humboldt Park headquarters where they were joined by Facing Forward staff members and a Facing Forward program participant. The visit was an invaluable opportunity for us to showcase our successes, speak about our challenges, and explore how federal policies can better support local initiatives. Members from the delegation gained insights into our supportive housing programs, innovative approaches to addressing family homelessness, and the tangible impact our work has in the lives of our Chicago neighbors.

Facing Forward would like to thank visiting officials Robert Gordon, Deputy Director of Economic Mobility at the White House; Beverley Ebersold, Director of National Initiatives at USICH; and Jeff Olivet, Executive Director at USICH; for their time and ongoing commitment to addressing homelessness. Their presence and partnership are powerful reminders of the impact we can make by collaborating in pursuit of a shared vision.