Michael Reese Health Trust

Advocate Health Care is broadening its South Side presence with a $1 billion investment to expand outpatient care and build a new hospital. This initiative is set to bring improved medical facilities and enhanced access to care for underserved communities, and address long-standing #healthinequities, including Chicago's 30-year life expectancy gap between the South and North sides. “We’re going to build a new model of care that is designed to prevent and better manage those common conditions that contribute to those shorter life expectancies,” Advocate’s President Dia Nichols said Tuesday. “A new model that keeps people out of the hospital, that meets them upstream before they become patients in the hospital.” For many, the lack of a reliable, nearby primary care clinic leads to routine hospital visits—an expensive and often unnecessary option. Expanding access to preventive care reduces hospital admissions, lowers health care costs, and improves patient health outcomes. Learn more about Advocate’s commitment to improving healthcare access:  https://bit.ly/41F2JFJ

Michael Reese Health Trust is officially on Winter Break! Our offices will be closed from December 18, 2024, to January 3, 2025. As we reflect on an impactful year, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to our partners. Your dedication and passion drive the progress we see in advancing health in our communities. 💙 We look forward to reconnecting in the new year and continuing this vital work together. Wishing you a joyful and peaceful holiday season! 🕎❄️ Stay connected in the new year 📩: https://lnkd.in/g7KCzS2b

The number of Chicagoans experiencing #homelessness — including those staying in city shelters, living on the streets, or temporarily “doubled-up” with friends or relatives—has risen by approximately 12%, according to the Chicago Coalition to end Homelessness. Chicago is set to spend 21% more in 2025 to directly fight homelessness than it did this year. This increase comes as city, state, and county officials work to transition to a unified shelter system designed to accommodate both migrants and longtime Chicago residents who are experiencing homelessness. With the challenges of a Chicago winter on the horizon and a growing number of people without stable housing, the need for sustainable solutions has never been more urgent. Learn more: https://bit.ly/41D6D1R

Approximately 76,375 Chicagoans, including 31,333 experiencing street or shelter homelessness and 45,042 doubling up with family or friends, lacked stable housing over the course of 2022, citing the most recent data available. Homelessness in Chicago has increased from year-to-year due to a combination of systemic, economic, and social factors that compounded existing vulnerabilities. The lifting of pandemic-era safety nets, such as the expanded Child Tax Credit and eviction moratoria, played a significant role in exacerbating housing instability for thousands of households. Families who previously relied on these supports faced mounting economic pressures, leading to a surge in demand for housing assistance and shelter services. Black and Latinx Chicagoans continue to be disproportionately impacted by homelessness due to historical housing discrimination, generational wealth disparities, and systemic white supremacy. Black Chicagoans, who comprise 29% of Chicago’s population, represent over 75% of those experiencing homelessness. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gtERUk4X

Cook County’s public health system is launching free doula services for pregnant patients to help reduce #healthdisparities. Nearly 1,000 predominantly Black and Latina patients at Cook County Health who are currently pregnant will be offered the option to have a #doula support and advocate for them before, during, and after labor. This program comes as a direct response to the stark and unacceptable disparities in #maternalhealth, where the U.S. healthcare system has historically failed people of color, particularly Black women and their infants, by limiting access to family planning and essential reproductive care. Chicago Volunteer Doulas (CVD), a Michael Reese grantee partner, and initiatives like 100 Doulas Rising are working to expand culturally aligned care, reduce maternal and infant mortality, and strengthen the maternal health workforce. Michael Reese Health Trust recognizes the critical role of community-based doulas in addressing maternal health disparities and supports their efforts to advance equitable, community-driven solutions in maternal and infant health. Learn more about Chicago Volunteer Doulas: https://bit.ly/49uQQUy

Did you know that domestic violence is the leading cause of homelessness? In our latest blog post, you can learn all about how gender inequality, financial insecurity, health risks, and more contribute to the homelessness crisis and growing rates for shelter requests. Visit www.cawc.org/in-the-news for the insights. #BlogPost #NewBlog #Homelessness #EndDV #DomesticViolence #Chicago

Globally, a woman is killed every 10 minutes by an intimate partner or family member—more than 51,000 women and girls each year. This sobering statistic from the UN Women “Femicides in 2023” report highlights the ongoing crisis of violence against women worldwide, with more than 1 in 4 of these women having previously reported abuse by their killers. Locally, in Chicago, Karina Gonzalez’s tragic death in 2023 brings this issue to the forefront. Despite having an order of protection in place, Karina was killed by her estranged husband, who still had access to firearms. This has led to the introduction of #KarinasBill, legislation that aims to clarify and strengthen the law to require a firearm be removed when a #domesticviolence survivor is granted the firearm remedy in an order of protection. Karina’s story is a stark reminder of how often unaddressed abuse escalates into fatal violence, emphasizing the need for improved systems to protect women and girls. Learn more about Karina’s Bill from The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence: https://bit.ly/4gmeiW8 Read the full UN Women report here: bit.ly/UNReport2024

The National Alliance to End Homelessness' Research Institute has introduced two surveys to gather insights on the involvement and integration of individuals with lived experience in homeless service systems. This effort aims to explore partnerships between the homeless response system and those with lived expertise of homelessness, focusing on key learnings such as: 🤝 How the homeless response system partners with people with lived expertise of homelessness ⚖️ The opportunities and challenges these partnerships face 🌍 The impact these partnerships have on the homeless response system We invite you to share or complete the survey, https://bit.ly/3Bx6Ad3. The findings from these surveys will provide a deeper understanding to support the development of more inclusive and effective approaches to addressing #homelessness.

“The Pre-Trial Fairness Act, which took effect in September 2023, eliminated cash bail in hopes of ending wealth-based jailing but still allows for detention of people charged with violent crimes. Both misdemeanor and felony domestic violence charges are listed under the law as detainable offenses. The law was supported by the Network, a coalition of several advocacy groups, The CAASE, and the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence — who argued the old money-based system did little to keep survivors of domestic and sexual violence safe.” We need to prioritize the lives and safety of #DomesticViolence survivors. Survivors are often on edge not knowing if or when their abuser has been released. This causes difficulty when safety planning and has lead to deadly situations. Read the full Chicago Sun-Times article: bit.ly/49tT46O #DVAwareness #GBV #EndGBV #DomesticViolence #SupportingSurvivors #GenderBasedViolence

This #GivingTuesday, we’re proud to celebrate the power of partnership! Together with our dedicated partners, we’re advancing #healthequity by working to end homelessness, prevent domestic violence, strengthen the health workforce, and honor our Jewish Legacy. 📢 Join us today in supporting the organizations at the forefront of this critical work. Follow, volunteer, or support local initiatives that align with your vision for equitable and lasting impact. Explore our Q1 Program Report for insights into some of the organizations creating healthier, safer communities. They’re just a few of the many we proudly support. Discover their stories and consider contributing directly to their missions: https://bit.ly/3CXzSlD