Housing, Justice, and Parks
Friends of the Parks has begun addressing housing inequities that harm Chicago communities and pushing for solutions that promote safety, stable housing, and equitable access to services and public parks. We affirm housing as a basic human right while recognizing that parks cannot—and should not—serve as permanent housing.
In response to resident concerns and systemic inequities, we are working with the Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness, the Chicago Park District, and the Mayor’s Office to find sustainable solutions. FOTP Executive Director Brian Gladstein serves on a working group led by Park District Superintendent Carlos Ramirez-Rosa to tackle homelessness and community safety in our parks. At the same time, we are forging partnerships across the city to create collective strategies that better serve Chicagoans and ensure that parks remain safe, welcoming spaces for everyone.
“Too often, we focus on the quick fixes to the optics of visible homelessness and not the collaboration needed to truly solve homelessness in a dignified, permanent way.”
— Emily Krisciunas, executive director, Chicago Funders Together to End Homelessness, and Doug Schenkelberg, executive director, Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness. Chicago Tribune, September 21, 2025
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