Mayor Brandon Johnson Celebrates Juneteenth Flag Raising as Chicago's Life Expectancy Reaches All-time High

CHICAGO — During the City of Chicago's annual Juneteenth Flag Raising Ceremony at Daley Plaza, Mayor Brandon Johnson celebrated a historic milestone for the City's health equity efforts, announcing that life expectancy in Chicago has reached an all-time high of 79.5 years, establishing a new baseline for the city. During the event, Mayor Johnson joined City officials and community partners to highlight programs which are driving housing stability and community wealth-building opportunities for Black Chicagoans, reflecting the City's ongoing commitment to advancing health equity, economic opportunity, and generational stability.

"Juneteenth calls us to tell the truth about our history while recommitting ourselves to building a future where every Chicagoan has the opportunity to live a healthy, stable, and prosperous life," said Mayor Brandon Johnson. "Today, we can point to real progress. Black Chicagoans are living longer, the racial life expectancy gap is shrinking, and we are creating new pathways to homeownership and housing stability. As we honor Juneteenth, we are recommitting ourselves to a city where every family has the opportunity to build wealth, remain rooted in their community, and shape the future of Chicago."

Held in partnership with the Chicago Juneteenth Planning Coalition and the City Council Black Caucus, this year's ceremony centered on the theme "Truth Told. Future Claimed.," honoring the resilience and contributions of Black communities while calling all Chicagoans to help shape a more equitable future.

Black Chicagoans experienced the largest gain in life expectancy during 2024, which saw an increase of 1.5 years compared to 2023. The racial life expectancy gap between Black Chicagoans and non-Black Chicagoans fell below 10 years for the first time since 2020, decreasing from 10.6 years in 2023 to 9.4 years in 2024. The largest gains were concentrated in communities on Chicago's South and West Sides.

Among Healthy Chicago priority community areas, West Garfield Park experienced the largest increase in life expectancy, rising from 66.6 years in 2023 to 70.0 years in 2024.

Black men, who historically have had the lowest life expectancy among major demographic groups in Chicago, experienced the largest increase, gaining 2.1 years compared to the previous year.

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Reductions in opioid overdose deaths was a major contributor to these gains. Across Chicago, opioid overdose deaths decreased by 386 deaths in 2024 compared to 2023, including 277 fewer deaths among Black Chicagoans. The decline in opioid overdose deaths accounted for one-third of the overall increase in life expectancy citywide.

For more information, visit: https://chicagohealthatlas.org/indicators/VRLE?tab=map

"These shifts represent more than a statistic—they represent years of life gained, families kept whole, and communities benefiting from investments that address longstanding inequities," said Chief Equity Officer Carla Kupe. "While there is more work ahead, today's announcement demonstrates what is possible when equity is treated as a governing principle and communities receive the support and resources they deserve."

"Chicago has now seen a fourth straight year of gains in life expectancy, reaching the highest level ever recorded in our city. This progress is being shared across all racial and ethnic groups since the start of the pandemic, which is encouraging, but we know there's still more work to do," said CDPH Acting Commissioner, Fikirte Wagaw. "We will continue to closely examine Chicago's health data and make sure communities have the information they need to protect their health and well-being. We remain committed to identifying and addressing health disparities through public health programs that continue to evolve with the needs of our residents."

In addition to celebrating historic health outcomes, Mayor Johnson highlighted the HomeGrown Purchase Assistance Program, a $21 million investment funded through the Johnson administration's $1.25 Billion Housing and Economic Development (HED) Bond that expands pathways to homeownership for low- and moderate-income Chicagoans.

The HomeGrown Program helps eligible first-time homebuyers overcome one of the most significant barriers to homeownership by providing grants for down payments and closing costs. Depending on income and property location, eligible buyers may receive up to $70,000 in assistance, helping more families purchase homes, build equity, and create generational wealth.

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The program is designed to reduce the affordability gap that continues to place homeownership out of reach for many working families. Assistance is targeted by geography and income, with enhanced support available in higher-cost housing markets and targeted investments in lower-income communities.

Mortgage payments often provide more predictable long-term housing costs than rising rents, allowing families to build assets and financial stability over time. By helping residents remain rooted in their neighborhoods while creating opportunities for homeownership and wealth-building, the HomeGrown Program strengthens families, supports neighborhood stability, and expands economic opportunity across Chicago.

"America's affordability crisis is approaching levels never seen before in the modern history of the United States while the income gap between working people and the ultra-rich continues to widen." said Department of Housing Commissioner Lissette Castaneda, "While the cost of rent increases, the cost of owning a home follows suit, and shuts out too many Black families from achieving their dreams of owning a home. That is why we launched our HomeGrown Purchase Assistance Program. With this program, we can ensure that we give a leg up to families to make it back into our Housing market, and fulfill their goals of homeownership, equity and generational wealth-building."

Housing stability and access to homeownership remain central pillars of the Johnson administration's efforts to expand economic opportunity and strengthen communities across Chicago. Through continued investments in affordable housing and pathways to ownership, the City is working to ensure more families can remain rooted in their neighborhoods and build long-term financial security.

This year's Juneteenth theme, "Truth Told. Future Claimed.," acknowledges that truth-telling about our history is essential to building a more equitable future. As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, the theme invites Chicagoans to reflect not only on the history they have inherited, but on the future they are creating together.

The theme recognizes that progress requires both remembrance and action. It honors the resilience, leadership, and contributions of Black communities while encouraging all Chicagoans to see themselves as co-authors of the city's next chapter.

Through continued investments in health, housing, economic mobility, and community well-being, the Johnson administration remains committed to building a Chicago where every resident has the opportunity to live safely, build stability, and create opportunity for future generations.

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