CN Donates $750,000 to Prevent Homelessness in Chicago Suburbs

Funds will support three local organizations providing housing assistance and stability services.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 5:27pm

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CN, the major railway company, announced a $750,000 donation over three years to support homelessness prevention programs in Chicago's south suburbs near the company's Homewood campus. The funds will be distributed to three local nonprofit organizations - Anew: Building Beyond Violence and Abuse, Respond Now, and South Suburban PADS - to expand services that help individuals and families at risk of losing their homes.

Why it matters

As a major employer and corporate citizen in the region, CN is leveraging its resources to address a critical community need. Homelessness and housing insecurity remain persistent challenges in many suburban areas, and this investment aims to provide both immediate relief and long-term stability for vulnerable residents.

The details

Each of the three recipient organizations will receive a $250,000 grant from CN. The funds will allow them to expand programs that help clients remain safely housed, access essential resources, and avoid relying on overcrowded emergency shelters. Together, these initiatives are expected to reach hundreds of individuals and families across the south suburbs who are at risk of losing their homes.

  • CN announced the $750,000 donation on April 2, 2026.
  • The funds will be distributed over a three-year period.

The players

CN

A major North American railway company that transports natural resources, manufactured products, and finished goods across its nearly 20,000-mile network.

Anew: Building Beyond Violence and Abuse

A Homewood, Illinois-based nonprofit that provides comprehensive services to individuals and families impacted by domestic violence, helping them achieve safety and secure stable housing.

Respond Now

A Chicago Heights-based organization that provides a range of health, hunger, and housing services to 22 communities in Chicago's south suburbs, serving over 20,000 individuals annually.

South Suburban PADS

A 501(c)3 nonprofit based in the south suburbs of Chicago, with a mission to prevent and end homelessness. Over the past 35 years, they have provided over 730,000 nights of shelter and 2.1 million meals to enable 20,659 people to overcome homelessness.

Buck Rogers

Vice-President – Petroleum and Chemicals at CN.

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What they’re saying

“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. 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.”

— Buck Rogers, Vice-President – Petroleum and Chemicals, CN

“Anew: Building Beyond Violence and Abuse is grateful to CN Railroad for their investment and commitment to addressing homelessness in the southland. This partnership will be a stabilizing force—helping families not just survive domestic violence, but avoid homelessness and build lives of safety, dignity, and independence.”

— Kristine Scott, Chief Executive Officer, Anew: Building Beyond Violence and Abuse

“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. CN's support for homelessness prevention programming will have a direct and immediate impact on our communities and will ensure that Respond Now is able to provide this important service, preventing families from becoming homeless.”

— Carl Wolf, Executive Director, Respond Now

“South Suburban PADS is grateful for CN's support. 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. Ultimately, you are helping families as they work to overcome homelessness and achieve better health and economic stability.”

— Gyata Kimmons, Board President, South Suburban PADS

What’s next

The three recipient organizations will begin implementing the expanded homelessness prevention programs using the CN funding over the next three years.

The takeaway

This donation from CN demonstrates the important role that corporate partners can play in addressing critical community needs, such as homelessness, through strategic investments in local nonprofits and service providers. By supporting a range of programs that provide both immediate relief and long-term stability, CN is helping to make a meaningful impact on vulnerable families in the Chicago suburbs.