Editing Center on Halsted (section)

==History==
[[File:Center on Halstead, Chicago, IL.jpg|thumb|Center on Halsted|alt=]]
In 1973, '''Gay Horizons''' was established by a group of volunteers. Over time, the organization evolved and changed its name to '''Horizons Community Services''', becoming a comprehensive LGBT social services agency. In 2003, Horizons Community Services was renamed '''Center on Halsted'''. The core programming of Horizons Community Services remained while new services were envisioned and realized.

After a $20-million capital campaign involving 2,000 donors, Center on Halsted opened its {{convert|175000|sqft|abbr=on}} [[Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design]]-certified building in 2007 with [[Whole Foods Market|Whole Foods]] as an anchor tenant and two levels of underground parking. A major contributor was Miriam Hoover (of [[The Hoover Company]]) who donated $1 million.<ref>[http://www.centeronhalsted.org/programs/COHnewsletter12012005.pdf Center on Halsted Fall 2005 Newsletter] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120914034932/http://www.centeronhalsted.org/programs/COHnewsletter12012005.pdf |date=September 14, 2012 }}</ref>

Major funding for the center came through private/corporate donations, with additional funding and support from the City of Chicago. The support of Chicago's then-mayor was recognized by the construction of the [[Richard M. Daley]] Rooftop Garden.

In 2019, after protests about the previous security firm employed by the Center on Halsted, the organization changed security vendors.<ref>Peacock, Tim. [https://www.windycitytimes.com/lgbt/Center-on-Halsted-seeks-to-replace-Walsh-Security-after-community-pressure/67170.html "Center on Halsted seeks to replace Walsh Security after community pressure,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114194843/https://www.windycitytimes.com/lgbt/Center-on-Halsted-seeks-to-replace-Walsh-Security-after-community-pressure/67170.html |date=2022-11-14 }} ''Windy City Times'' (Oct. 5, 2019).</ref><ref>Wittich, Jake. [https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/10/5/20900388/center-on-halsted-lbgtq-walsh-security-chicago-police-lighthouse-foundation "LGBTQ center moves to replace security firm owned by cop accused of racist attack: The Center on Halsted said it will seek a new firm to provide security services that has 'experience working directly with LGBTQ people of all ages from a diverse racial, ethnic and socioeconomic background,'”] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114194844/https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/10/5/20900388/center-on-halsted-lbgtq-walsh-security-chicago-police-lighthouse-foundation |date=2022-11-14 }} ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' (Oct 5, 2019).</ref>