About Us mission and vision
Our Mission
CHH honors every person’s right to a home and health care, by bridging the housing and health care systems, to improve the lives of Chicagoans experiencing homelessness.
Our Vision
Every person has a place to call home that helps them reach their full potential.
Our History
The origins of the Center for Housing and Health (CHH) are connected to the Chicago Housing for Health Partnership (CHHP) program, which provided permanent supportive housing and intensive case management for people who were experiencing homelessness and hospitalized. The results generated from CHHP data inspired the creation of the Center to address the barriers that people experiencing chronic homelessness face. This pursuit evolved into the establishment of CHH as a separate 501(c)(3) supporting organization of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago in February 2010 to extend its work beyond HIV/AIDS by promoting effective housing options for people experiencing homelessness and living with a wide range of chronic illnesses.
In 2014, CHH established the Better Health through Housing (BHH) Collaborative, an alliance of 28 supportive housing agencies across Chicago and Cook County dedicated to bridging the gap between the housing and health care sectors. CHH was selected as the lead agency and convener for this new project, which eventually evolved into a multi-agency program administered by CHH called the Flexible Housing Pool. In 2023, the Flexible Housing Pool (FHP) operated by CHH and partners served its 1,000th person, including over 400 children in families with FHP housing, making it the organization’s largest ever program. CHH continues to support Chicago and Cook County residents experiencing homelessness to find better housing solutions.
Our Staff
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Peter Toepfer
Executive Director
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Brandi Calvert
Vice President, Housing Strategy
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Laurie Wettstead
Chief Financial Officer
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Dave Thomas
Senior Director, Flexible Housing Pool
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Carolyn Bloom
Program Manager – Harm Reduction
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Melanie Paul
Manager, Housing Supportive Services
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Saúl Zepada
Senior Director,
Housing Operations -
Jennifer Jimenez
Director, Systems Change
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Alex Garcia
Controller
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Liza Duchesneau
FHP Senior Manager-Adult Program
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Brittany M. Johnson
FHP Senior Manager-Youth Program
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Ann Barron
Housing Supportive Services Senior Specialist
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Deidre Kleist
FHP Adult Program Manager
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Ilona Wilsey
Landlord Engagement Specialist
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Ivan Davis
FHP Reentry Program Manager
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Keyala Hill
FHP Youth Program Manager
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Kerry Worley
Housing Specialist
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Julece Glaum
Housing Specialist
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Tiara Bickart
Housing Specialist
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Rachel Kimbrough
Landlord Engagement Specialist
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Nikki Colbert
Landlord Engagement Specialist
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Brooks Passarelli
Landlord Engagement Specialist
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Charita Pates-Sturgies
FHP Manager, Outreach & Housing Placement
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Coraima Sanchez-Rodriguez
Landlord Engagement Specialist
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Chiayu McGill
Coordinated Entry Specialist
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Elizabeth Murray
Landlord Engagement Manager
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Keyonna Everett
Housing Specialist
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Kierra Craig
Landlord Engagement Specialist
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Olivia Price
Housing Systems Navigation Specialist
Our Board
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Peter Toepfer
Center for Housing and HealthExecutive Director
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Kuliva Wilburn
Wilburn Strategic SolutionsChair
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Joanna Trotter
JP Morgan Chase FoundationVice-Chair
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Chad Thompson
Lyceum Leadership ConsultingTreasurer
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Stephanie Altman
Shriver Center on Poverty LawMember
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Simone Koehlinger
AIDS Foundation ChicagoMember (ex-officio)
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Chris O’Hara
ThresholdsMember
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Christy Prahl
Crown Family PhilanthropiesMember
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Alejandro Segura
JP Morgan ChaseMember
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Dr. Paviella Foster
Howard Brown Health CenterMember
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