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“Because they have nowhere to go and are trying to survive” homeless people on the street often face unjust arrest, Cook County Public Defender Amy Campanelli said during her remarks at Thursday’s Justice Circle reception.

The Law Project at the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless honored three attorneys who donated hundreds of hours working pro bono with our legal staff, negotiating a 2015 city policy to protect the belongings of homeless people who live outdoors.  Continue reading Justice Circle honors three attorneys for pro bono service

After promising to consider legislation that would immediately fund services to homeless youth, Gov. Rauner, through his policy director, told CCH, youth, and providers on Tuesday afternoon that his office would not support the bills at this time.

In a meeting arranged by CCH, the governor met personally with homeless youth on Friday to hear the stories of how the state-funded programs had changed their lives, helping them gain employment and get stably housed. Caprice Williams, 22, said closing the program would be like losing the only family she and her infant daughter have.

“Ninety-percent of the funding contained in HB 4955 and SB 2603 is sitting in dedicated funds that are building up as real estate and foreclosure-related fees are collected,” said Julie Dworkin, director of policy for the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. “We can’t understand why the governor would choose to let these funds sit there while homeless youth are going to end up back on the streets.”  Continue reading Gov. Rauner says no to immediate funding solution for homeless youth programs

Governor says he will consider homeless and housing funding bill.

February 19 – Twenty service providers and homeless youth met with Gov. Bruce Rauner today regarding a bill for immediate funding for the vital services that keep youth off the street.

Caprice Williams, a 22-year old mother of a 6-month-old girl said, “I was sleeping in my car before I got help from a homeless youth program and that is where my baby and I will end up again if the programs close because they are not getting paid.”

Chicago Coalition for the Homeless asked to meet with the governor so he could hear first-hand how the lack of a state budget impacts homeless youth. The state of Illinois funds housing and services for homeless youth, ages 14 to 24, to help youth stabilize, finish school, get employment, and become independent. These youth providers are at serious risk of closing or making large-scale cuts to services after eight months without payment.  Continue reading Homeless youth meet with Governor Rauner over funding crisis

February 17 – Following Gov. Rauner’s state budget address today, Chicago Coalition for the Homeless released the following statement:

“The Governor once again failed to acknowledge the real pain that is happening right now across Illinois,” said Executive Director Doug Schenkelberg. “The Illinoisans he claims to care so much about are being hurt by this standoff.

“Right now, homeless youth providers are on the verge of shutting down programs because they have not been paid in eight months. Individuals and families facing homelessness cannot wait on the Governor’s agenda. He needs to put people first and pass a responsible budget with new revenue now.”

By Niya Kelly, Policy Specialist

In an action organized by the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless and its Youth Committee, 34 of us headed to Gov. Rauner’s Chicago office Monday to secure a meeting with him or a top aide in his administration.

We want the governor to know that vital service programs for homeless youth are struggling to remain open during the extended budget crisis. As the impasse drags on, homeless youth and service providers are struggling to survive.

Youth and providers from across Illinois placed more than 170 calls to Rauner’s office a week earlier, asking for a meeting. We made our presence known through the phone blitz, but the governor’s office did not respond.

So CCH and the Youth Committee headed to the governor’s office at the Thompson Center.  Continue reading CCH, Youth Committee protest over budget threat to homeless youth services

January 28 – Thanks to our dedicated supporters and the Yelp Foundation, Chicago Coalition for the Homeless won the most local votes – and a $5,000 grant – in the  social media contest Yelp Foundation Gives Local.

Yelp Foundation announced today that it will award $750,000 in grants to 225 non-profits working in 75 communities across the U.S. Yelp selected three finalists in each city, then asked the community to vote daily for two weeks in December on their preferred charities.  Continue reading Helped by our social media supporters, CCH wins $5,000 grant from the Yelp Foundation

Who: 50 local clergy and homeless advocates

What: State budget protest and prayer vigil

When: Thursday, Jan. 28 at 11 a.m.

Where: Faith Lutheran Church, 3000 Liberty Street, Aurora

On Thursday, homeless advocates from Hesed House – the second largest homeless emergency shelter in Illinois – will join clergy from Kane, DuPage and Will counties to host a prayer vigil while speaking out on the impact of the state budget impasse.

Religious leaders and homeless advocates will talk about the impact of the state budget impasse, and call on state leaders to raise revenue to avoid further hurting homeless families and children.  Continue reading Advisory: Clergy and homeless advocates to hold Thursday prayer vigil in Aurora

1:30 p.m., January 27

CCH statement on Gov. Rauner’s “State of the State” address today:

“For all his concern about jobs and job creation, his lack of a state budget has already lost Illinois thousands of jobs – jobs that provide support to the most vulnerable families,” said Executive Director Doug Schenkelberg.

Policy Director Julie Dworkin said, “Even as the state of Illinois is crumbling around him, Gov. Rauner stuck to the same talking points a year later. He showed total disregard for the people of Illinois, even while 500 of them were standing outside the chamber chanting about the pain they’re feeling.”

Governor Fails to Make Families and Communities Priority During Address

Springfield – The following is a statement from Dan Lesser, director of economic justice for the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law, on behalf of the Responsible Budget Coalition:

Hundreds of veterans, seniors, people with disabilities, immigrants, faith leaders, students, children, and working families traveled to the Capitol today from communities across Illinois to urge the Governor to make them his number one priority. The Governor ignored their calls and ignored the countless stories they’ve told about the harm being felt in their communities due to his failure to put a budget first that chooses revenue.  Continue reading Responsible Budget Coalition statement on Gov. Rauner’s State of the State