Center for Poverty Solutions

 Poverty loses when human dignity prevails 

America has lost the War on Poverty. After nearly 60 years and $12 trillion, the poverty rate remains stuck between 11% and 15%. We’ve focused on making poverty more bearable rather than helping people escape a trap that lasts for generations. We’ve created dependence and taken people’s dignity and purpose. There are better ways to treat people, and we will bring free-market solutions to one of the most important policy issues of our time through the Center for Poverty Solutions, starting in Chicago. Together, we can defeat poverty and build self-worth.

How We Serve

The Center for Poverty Solutions works to identify and advance free-market policies that remove barriers to work and empower Chicagoans to move out of poverty and into full-time employment. By conducting original research, fostering partnerships between community leaders and employers and working to turn locally proven solutions into city and state law, the center helps ensure that Chicagoans closest to poverty are leading the drive to reduce it.

Our Work

Our mission at the Center for Poverty Solutions is to reduce poverty in the city of Chicago by 5% by 2033. To accomplish that, the center has built a coalition of community-based organizations, forward-thinking employers and public advocacy groups to connect impoverished Chicagoans with training, opportunities and resources to achieve full-time employment.

What we fight for

The Center for Poverty Solutions fights so every Chicagoan can achieve the American dream. We believe that through the dignity of work, the power of entrepreneurship and the support of community stakeholders, the most vulnerable Chicagoans can achieve independence and flourish.

We are committed to stay and fight for Chicagoans

If you are ready to join us, click below and help support the research, advocacy and community leaders fighting to eliminate poverty in our city.

The Latest

Chicago’s housing policy still promotes exclusion

April 24, 2025 / By LyLena Estabine

Chicago makes it too hard to build dwelling units

April 16, 2025 / By LyLena Estabine

Banning credit checks won’t help Illinois’ poor get housing

April 10, 2025 / By LyLena Estabine

Illinois close to ending strict hair braiding requirements

April 8, 2025 / By Dylan Sharkey

Illinois looks at adding more granny houses to boost affordability

April 8, 2025 / By LyLena Estabine

Illinois lawmakers get chance to boost affordable family housing

April 8, 2025 / By LyLena Estabine

Teaching Illinois students to be smart with money can cut poverty

April 7, 2025 / By Chris Coffey

Chicago’s latest housing ordinance will make affordability worse

March 28, 2025 / By LyLena Estabine

Despite slight decline, nearly 2M Illinoisans still receive food help

March 27, 2025 / By Lauren Zuar

Getting ahead is hard for low-income Illinoisans

March 21, 2025 / By Chris Coffey