By Michael Nameche, Director of Development
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
With much of Chicago focused on Beyonce’s concert at Soldier Field last Thursday night, at the same time a smaller but also impressive gathering of about 80 people convened at Impact House in downtown Chicago at CCH’s 17th Annual Justice Circle event.
The purpose of the night was to celebrate the recent accomplishments of CCH’s Law Project and to recommit to the work ahead. Despite the many challenges currently faced by our communities, the mood of the whole affair was spirited and upbeat, thanks to the strong camaraderie and the uplifting musical selections by Barbarian tha DJ, who also happens to be CCH staff member, Myron Byrd.
The night’s program focused on CCH’s response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s Grants Pass v. Johnson case, both in advance and in the wake of the court’s regrettable ruling.
CCH recognized our allies at Much Shelist, the Law Center for Better Housing (LCBH), and the Legal Council for Health Justice (LCHJ) for their partnership on filing an amicus brief in the United States Supreme Court in support of the rights of people experiencing homelessness. The brief was filed on behalf of 28 Chicago and Illinois organizations and was part of a national effort coordinated by the National Homelessness Law Center that submitted 42 amicus briefs on behalf of hundreds of individuals and organizations.
Individuals honored for their contributions to the amicus brief included Steve Blonder, Josh Leavitt, and Charlotte Franklin (Much Shelist); Michelle Gilbert and Olivia Alden (LCBH); and Lisa Parsons and Meghan Carter (LCHJ).
Awards were also presented to five individuals that have utilized their own personal experience with homelessness to inform their advocacy for housing justice. These honorees included Jaclyn Cecchin, Phillip Contreras, Robert Henderson, Tamekia James, and Marc Scott.
“At a time when housing and other safety net programs are threatened at the federal level, we should not look to criminalization as an approach to addressing homelessness,” shared CCH’s Law Project Director, Patricia Nix-Hodes, during her remarks.
The Justice Circle raised nearly $97,000 to support the work of the Law Project. CCH is especially grateful to our signature level sponsors Baker McKenzie, Fifth Third Bank, and Wilmer Hale. A list of all the many law firms, companies, and individuals who sponsored the event, ensuring our fundraising success before the doors even opened, can be found here. Many sponsors return year after year, and that staunch and loyal support emboldens our staff in the face of adversity.
CCH’s Law Project is the only legal aid program in Illinois exclusively focused on the needs of people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. In 2024, our legal team closed 379 cases for 309 clients. Nearly 70% of clients were students or youth aged 24 or under.
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