Thousands of people, many with children in tow, filled the plaza and
streets around the Thompson Center Thursday to protest state budget
cutbacks that take effect July 1 if state leaders do not amend their
doomsday budget plan.

The cutbacks include:

· Eliminating homeless prevention grants, which helped more than 12,000 Illinois families this fiscal
year.

On May 31, the Illinois General Assembly passed a budget that makes
devastating cuts to social service programs--including the homeless
prevention fund, child care, mental health services, care for the
elderly and services for those with disabilities. These cuts will
have a devastating effect on children and families. If state
legislators do not take action and new state revenue sources are not
identified by July 1, the cuts will go into effect.

- By Stephanie Procyk, CCH policy intern and graduate student in public policy at the University of Michigan

Today's article in the Daily Herald by Burt Constable features Andre
Logan, a homeless student who's worked extensively with the CCH Law
Project. Check it out here.

Photo-surrealist painter Jason Brammer will give CCH a portion of the proceeds of his current exhibition, Into the After.
The show will run through June 30 at the Star Lounge (2521 W. Chicago
Ave.), a coffee shop featuring drinks brewed from organic beans that's
open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sun. - Wed. and from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Thurs. - Sat.

As the “Queen of the Blues,” Koko Taylor was certainly benevolent
royalty. It was in her nature to help others and just being in
her presence could give a person a much needed boost. Koko graced
the stage at our annual benefit concert, Hopefest, numerous times and
she always brought down the house with her fiery and impassioned sets.
In recent years, although she was not up for performing, Koko would
still come out and sit in the audience to demonstrate her
support. Like many of her peers, Koko understood the blues;

This Thursday, join the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless (CCH) in
a community rally against the “doomsday budget” OK’d by the Illinois
General Assembly earlier this week.

CCH expects hundreds to join the protest outside the
state’s Thompson Center, 171 W. Randolph, at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday,
June 18.

At the last possible moment of the spring legislative session, the General Assembly passed a capital budget that includes $144.8 million for affordable housing. Of this, $100 million is for affordable housing generally, $30 million is designated for veterans and those with disabilities, and $14.8 million targets 15 specific housing developments.

This marks the first time that Illinois included funds for housing in a capital budget plan.

CCH Executive Director Ed Shurna is among five activists on a 5-day
hunger strike to draw attention to the suffering that will be caused by
the proposed Illinois budget cuts. Calling themselves Hungry for
Justice, the protesters range in age from 24 to 87.

Organized by members of the Grassroots Collaborative, the hunger strike, based in
Springfield, will last until a final budget vote on Sunday, May31.
Those on strike are Eric Tellez, age 24; Margaret Jackson, age 55; Ed
Shurna, age 63; Brenda Hobson, age 65, and Mahaley Somerville, age 87.

The Law Project's joint initiative with the JP Morgan Chase Law Department, Every Child In School Every Day,
has been in full swing for two weeks. Chase volunteers, Law Project
staff and CCH interns flooded the Austin neighborhood with posters,
flyers, door hangers and brochures informing the community of preschool
rights for children experiencing homelessness. More than a hundred
Austin residents listened and took informational brochures.