CN Railway will donate $750,000 over three years to support three organizations in Chicago’s South Suburbs near the company’s Homewood campus. The funding will advance programs that help individuals and families in the Homewood area who are currently experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
The donation, announced on April 2, will support three local organizations — Anew: Building Beyond Violence and Abuse, Respond Now and South Suburban PADS — to expand programs and services that deliver both immediate relief and long-term stability for individuals and families at risk of homelessness.
Each organization will receive a grant of $250,000 to help their clients remain safely housed, access critical resources and avoid relying on overcrowded emergency shelters. Together, these initiatives are expected to reach hundreds of individuals and families across the region who are at risk of losing access to safe and stable housing.
The donations are part of CN’s broader commitment, through its Railroaders for Change initiative, to support the safety and well-being of its neighbors, particularly those at risk of homelessness.
“Safety is at the heart of everything we do at CN, and that commitment must extend beyond our tracks and into the communities where we operate,” said Buck Rogers, vice-president of petroleum and chemicals. “We are proud to support trusted community partners with investments that help prevent homelessness and connect more people to a safe place to call home.”
Leaders of the three organizations expressed their appreciation for CN’s support.
“Anew: Building Beyond Violence and Abuse is grateful to CN Railroad for their investment and commitment to addressing homelessness in the Southland,” said Kristine Scott, CEO. “This partnership will be a stabilizing force — helping families to not just survive domestic violence, but avoid homelessness and build lives of safety, dignity and independence.”
“Month after month, data shows that the lion’s share of requests for homelessness prevention assistance in suburban Cook County originates in the South Suburbs. The need is great,” said Carl Wolf, executive director of Respond Now.
“This grant will enable us to expand our Shelter Diversion program to help over 500 households per year to access emergency resources and alternative housing arrangements to avoid entry into the emergency shelter system,” said Gyata Kimmons, board president of South Suburban PADS. “Ultimately, you are helping families as they work to overcome homelessness and achieve better health and economic stability.”
