Recent Blog Posts
Experiments in solidarity
This reflection is written by Ben Anderson, a Speakers Bureau intern who mobilizes community teams at Loyola Academy and Loyola University. A graduate student in applied philosophy at Loyola, Ben is preparing to become a Jesuit priest. Sitting in the 12-passenger van, I remember how much I hated slopping beans on men’s plates. The memory…
» Read More
Put Illinois to Work – CCH helps launch new jobs program
Gov. Pat Quinn today unveiled Put Illinois to Work (PIW), a new jobs program aimed at putting more than 15,000 unemployed and under-employed Illinois residents back to work. Chicago Coalition for the Homeless (CCH) proposed the program earlier this year to the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), then worked with state officials to design…
» Read More
Heading to Springfield: ‘Save Our State’ rally
Chicago Coalition for the Homeless is ready for Wednesday’s statehouse rally in Springfield – we will join thousands from across Illinois who are expected to turn out to press lawmakers to act now to address the state budget crisis. The rally was organized by the Responsible Budget Coalition, made up of more than 200 organizations…
» Read More
Remembering Les Brown
It is the fifth anniversary of the passing of Les Brown, the founder of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. Les was my boss from 1995 until the time he died, and I miss him greatly to this day. Fighting homelessness was not just a job for Les, it was a passion. He came to…
» Read More
IDHS Director: “With this budget, we are dismantling the social safety net”
Michelle Saddler, a former long-time CCH Board President, met this month with the CCH board to discuss the draconian impact of the FY 2011 state budget, if the plan now on the table is adopted later this spring. As Secretary of the Illinois Department of Human Services, Ms. Saddler understands, in detail, the devastating consequences…
» Read More
HUD study: Permanent housing costs the same or less than shelter services
As reported this week in USA Today, a new HUD study demonstrates it can cost the same or less to house someone in permanent housing with services as it does to provide those services in homeless shelters. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-03-25-homeless_N.htm?POE=click-… CCH definitely supports moving people quickly into housing rather than allowing lengthy shelter stays. However, the study…
» Read More
Final settlement order in Hill v. Erickson class action
Today, Judge Patrick McGann, Presiding Judge of the County Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County, entered a final order approving settlement in Hill v. Erickson. This class action lawsuit ensures services and placements for 700 pregnant and parenting youth in the Illinois foster care system. The plaintiff youth have long been represented by…
» Read More
300 from Sweet Home Chicago rally for ordinance, introduced with 18 aldermanic sponsors
Sweet Home Chicago drew 300 supporters to City Hall March 10 to make known their presence and their passion for our affordable housing ordinance. We came from nine community groups and three labor unions to rally in support and witness the introduction of an ordinance with 18 aldermanic sponsors. The ordinance would address the affordable housing…
» Read More
College aid for unaccompanied youth
It is that time of year when high school seniors busy themselves filling out college applications and the FAFSA. But for the estimated 26,000 of unaccompanied homeless youth throughout Illinois, barriers to applying for financial aid and attending college can seem insurmountable. The good news is that the College Cost and Reduction Access Act allows…
» Read More
Rashmi Ramaswamy, Breaking Barriers!
CCH is proud to announce that Rashmi Ramaswamy, co-president of the CCH Board of Directors, is being honored next month by the Chicago Foundation for Women. CCH nominated Rashmi for the prestigious Breaking Barriers award, given by the foundation’s Asian American Leadership Council. The award honors Asian and Asian American women leaders in the Chicago…
» Read More
Experiments in solidarity
This reflection is written by Ben Anderson, a Speakers Bureau intern who mobilizes community teams at Loyola Academy and Loyola University. A graduate student in applied philosophy at Loyola, Ben is preparing to become a Jesuit priest. Sitting in the 12-passenger van, I remember how much I hated slopping beans on men’s plates. The memory…
» Read More
Put Illinois to Work – CCH helps launch new jobs program
Gov. Pat Quinn today unveiled Put Illinois to Work (PIW), a new jobs program aimed at putting more than 15,000 unemployed and under-employed Illinois residents back to work. Chicago Coalition for the Homeless (CCH) proposed the program earlier this year to the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), then worked with state officials to design…
» Read More
Heading to Springfield: ‘Save Our State’ rally
Chicago Coalition for the Homeless is ready for Wednesday’s statehouse rally in Springfield – we will join thousands from across Illinois who are expected to turn out to press lawmakers to act now to address the state budget crisis. The rally was organized by the Responsible Budget Coalition, made up of more than 200 organizations…
» Read More
Remembering Les Brown
It is the fifth anniversary of the passing of Les Brown, the founder of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. Les was my boss from 1995 until the time he died, and I miss him greatly to this day. Fighting homelessness was not just a job for Les, it was a passion. He came to…
» Read More
IDHS Director: “With this budget, we are dismantling the social safety net”
Michelle Saddler, a former long-time CCH Board President, met this month with the CCH board to discuss the draconian impact of the FY 2011 state budget, if the plan now on the table is adopted later this spring. As Secretary of the Illinois Department of Human Services, Ms. Saddler understands, in detail, the devastating consequences…
» Read More
HUD study: Permanent housing costs the same or less than shelter services
As reported this week in USA Today, a new HUD study demonstrates it can cost the same or less to house someone in permanent housing with services as it does to provide those services in homeless shelters. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-03-25-homeless_N.htm?POE=click-… CCH definitely supports moving people quickly into housing rather than allowing lengthy shelter stays. However, the study…
» Read More
Final settlement order in Hill v. Erickson class action
Today, Judge Patrick McGann, Presiding Judge of the County Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County, entered a final order approving settlement in Hill v. Erickson. This class action lawsuit ensures services and placements for 700 pregnant and parenting youth in the Illinois foster care system. The plaintiff youth have long been represented by…
» Read More
300 from Sweet Home Chicago rally for ordinance, introduced with 18 aldermanic sponsors
Sweet Home Chicago drew 300 supporters to City Hall March 10 to make known their presence and their passion for our affordable housing ordinance. We came from nine community groups and three labor unions to rally in support and witness the introduction of an ordinance with 18 aldermanic sponsors. The ordinance would address the affordable housing…
» Read More
College aid for unaccompanied youth
It is that time of year when high school seniors busy themselves filling out college applications and the FAFSA. But for the estimated 26,000 of unaccompanied homeless youth throughout Illinois, barriers to applying for financial aid and attending college can seem insurmountable. The good news is that the College Cost and Reduction Access Act allows…
» Read More
Rashmi Ramaswamy, Breaking Barriers!
CCH is proud to announce that Rashmi Ramaswamy, co-president of the CCH Board of Directors, is being honored next month by the Chicago Foundation for Women. CCH nominated Rashmi for the prestigious Breaking Barriers award, given by the foundation’s Asian American Leadership Council. The award honors Asian and Asian American women leaders in the Chicago…
» Read More
