Join the CCH Associate Board for a night out at Rock Bottom on Thursday, Sept. 24!
All Rocktoberfest beer sales — from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. — will benefit CCH, as well as a percentage of sales throughout the evening.
There is no cover charge. Just tell the staff at the host stand that you are there for the CCH event and they will direct you to the party in the back room.
Rock Bottom Brewery is located at 1 W. Grand Avenue in Chicago.
– Michael Nameche, Director of Development
A September survey of 101 state-funded homeless service providers found that the state budget impasse has or will soon force 90% of these non-profit agencies to deny assistance to people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
CCH will run another provider survey in November, a shared project with Housing Action Illinois, Corporation for Supportive Housing, and the Supportive Housing Providers Association.
Agencies reported that they have had to limit their intake of new clients; reduce or eliminate services for current clients; layoff staff and/or impose furlough days or reduce work hours; eliminate programs; and/or close sites.
ABC-Channel 7 reports on the new study.
Homeless service providers have not received any state funding since July 1 for emergency and transitional housing, homelessness prevention, homeless youth programs, and supportive housing services.
CCH is among more than 200 organizations statewide in the Responsible Budget Coalition, which advocates for a responsible state budget that raises adequate revenue. Continue reading Report: Survey finds the state budget impasse is causing homelessness in Illinois
The Law Project at CCH requested that the state hold a public hearing on proposed changes to the appeals process used by the Illinois Department of Human Services. The changes proposed by the Rauner administration (Illinois Register, May 29) would severely limit poor people’s ability to access public benefits they need, including Medicaid, SNAP food stamps, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
Public hearings took place in Springfield (Aug. 25) and in Chicago (Aug. 26), covered by the Chicago Sun-Times. The following is Youth Futures Attorney Graham Bowman’s testimony from the Chicago hearing:
I am an attorney with the Law Project of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. As our practice’s name suggests, we exclusively represent individuals in the Chicago area who are living without housing or are in danger of losing their homes. I’m here to today to talk about the important role the SNAP, Medicaid, and TANF programs have in helping my clients create stability in their lives. But I’d also like to bring attention to the difficulty they have accessing these critical benefits as well as express our deep concern with these proposed rules that will severely restrict their ability to obtain them. Continue reading CCH testifies on why Rauner’s proposed changes to the public benefits appeals process would hurt poor people
By Beth Malik, Associate Director of the Law Project
With Chicago’s first day of school less than two weeks away, volunteers from the legal department of JPMorgan Chase teamed up with our Law Project to distribute back-to-school outreach materials to homeless and at-risk families in the North Lawndale neighborhood.
Ten Chase volunteers and eight CCH staff distributed 3,500 door hangers, brochures and posters, all encouraging students who lack stable housing to enroll in and attend school. Continue reading Back-to-school outreach in Chicago’s North Lawndale neighborhood
CCH Policy Specialist Jonathan Holmes contributed this piece to the blog published by Clergy for a New Drug Policy.
People with criminal records face significant barriers in society. A charge or conviction can impact one’s ability to find housing, employment, and stability. The War on Drugs and mass incarceration policies have had a detrimental impact on the lives of many who are seeking to turn their lives around, but because of past records, are unable to provide for their families and be assets to their communities.
Specifically, any marijuana/cannabis conviction above 10 grams is considered a narcotics offense and, as a result, makes it nearly impossible to get a job in schools, park districts, and health care. Even having a record for a drug-related arrest can allow landlords to deny housing. Drug felonies result in lifetime bans for food stamps and public assistance. These policies also have a direct impact on homelessness.
The city of Chicago’s 2014 Point in Time count showed that 69% of homeless men and 58% of homeless women on the street in Chicago are formerly incarcerated. Along with that, 60% of homeless men and 27% of homeless women in the shelters have prior criminal records. Continue reading Removing bars to employment for people with records
By Allegra Codamon, CCH Media Intern
Her college internship ended, but Yaneth Aguilar still volunteers at the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless.
Working with community organizer Rachel Ramirez, Yaneth co-wrote a survey being used by CCH to determine how Chicago’s Latino community perceives what it is to be homeless. The survey also assesses awareness of services available to assist homeless families and students.
Yaneth, 25, explained the project in a recent interview at CCH’s Loop office. Her brightly colored shirt and dark hair stand out against the office’s cream-colored walls. Yaneth’s air is calm, confident, and sophisticated, despite the personal hardships she has faced. Continue reading Yaneth Aguilar: Latino perceptions of homelessness
By Beth Malik
Associate Director of The Law Project and Youth Futures attorney
Twenty-eight homeless youths acquired needed legal identification documents in a one-day outreach program offered by our Law Project and Chase Bank’s legal department.
As part of the JPMorgan Chase Day of Service on July 23, CCH and Chase legal staffs hosted a Legal and Identification (ID) Clinic at the Center on Halsted in the Lakeview neighborhood. This comprehensive community center is dedicated to the health and well-being of Chicago’s LGBTQ community, including a youth program that helps young people experiencing housing instability.
Young people who become homeless often are forced to leave home without any ID documents, such as a birth certificate or Social Security card. Lack of identification presents a barrier to jobs and education. It is difficult to obtain a state ID card or driver’s license without these other forms of ID. Continue reading Law Project and attorney volunteers assist 28 homeless youths at clinic
Registrations are still available as the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless brings its annual golf outing to a new venue, the Wilmette Golf Club.
Set for Monday, August 10, the event kicks off with a grilled lunch at 12 noon and tee-off at 1:30 p.m. After golfing, participants enjoy cocktails and a dinner reception, with the opportunity to bid on fabulous silent auction prizes. Continue reading Registrations available as CCH brings its golf outing to a new venue, the Wilmette Golf Club
At a forum for 250 people, four West Side aldermen committed Tuesday to withhold public subsidies and tax breaks for a West Side redevelopment project until a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) is negotiated and signed.
“We know why we’re here,” said Gloria Davis, a CCH leader and co-chair of the forum at First Baptist Congregational, 1613 W. Washington Blvd. “On the West Side, we need good jobs and affordable housing. We want to ensure benefits get to Chicago.”
Community leaders packed the church hall to sing songs of freedom, raise their hands and voice strong support for a CBA between the Westside Community Benefits Coalition, which mobilized the forum, and the Illinois Medical District (IMD) Gateway Development Partners. CCH had 138 of its community leaders in attendance. Continue reading Four West Side aldermen commit to withhold public support from $300M project without a Community Benefits Agreement
Associate Director Hannah Willage returned Monday from central Europe, where she spent 16 days teaching community organizing through the Great Lakes Consortium (GLC) for International Training and Development. Through the program, Chicago Coalition for the Homeless (CCH) has hosted hosted eight organizers since 2012, and four CCH organizers have traveled to Europe to train community groups there.
Hannah offers these observations upon her return.
As I return from Hungary and Romania, I realize what a privilege it was to both host and be hosted by Johanna Laszlo and Ionela Ciolan to work them on building skills for community organizing.
I enjoyed my time mentoring them in Chicago, teaching them about how we do things at Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, and answering their many questions about community organizing. During our time, they also begin to share stories with me about their work and their countries. Continue reading Hannah Willage: Training community organizers from Romania and Hungary
