Cheers for Change

Posted on by Vanessa Álvarez

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Question: What do a lawyer, a truck driver, and a writer have in common?

Answer: They were guest bartenders for the latest installment of our popular fundraiser, Cheers For Change!

On Friday, Sept. 27 at The Owl, 2521 N. Milwaukee Ave., an eclectic mix of 11 volunteer bartenders hosted their friends and friends of CCH for an evening of fun and fundraising.

There was no cover charge for the event, which started at 6 p.m. Instead, all “tips” collected by bartenders during the 4-hour party – whether given in-person that night, or virtually online – became tax-deductible donations to support our work.

Hope you could join us! We raised our glasses, raised our voices, and raised money for CCH and its vital work.

For a complete list of bartenders and to make online tips, go here:  https://chicagohomeless.ejoinme.org/cheers9-13

Law Project reaches out to homeless students & educators prior to start of school

Posted on by Anne Bowhay

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Before school resumed, the CCH Law Project was reaching out to homeless students about school resources as well as training Chicago Public Schools (CPS) staff who work with homeless children and teens.

Law’s outreach project – Every Child in School, Every Day – distributed back-to-school materials in the Brighton Park and Back of the Yards neighborhoods on August 22, four days before classes resumed. A signature project of JPMorgan Chase’s legal department, the outreach program mobilizes volunteers from Chase, CCH, and area law schools. More than 4,000 door hangers, brochures and posters were distributed that day at homes, shops and community venues by 15 Chase volunteers and six CCH staff members.  Continue reading Law Project reaches out to homeless students & educators prior to start of school

CCH hosts bill-signing as Illinois becomes 2nd state to enact a Homeless Bill of Rights

Posted on by Anne Bowhay

Gov. Pat Quinn signed the Illinois Bill of Rights for the Homeless (Senate Bill 1210) on Thursday, making ours the second state in the country to enact a bill barring discrimination against people without housing.

CCH hosted a bill-signing ceremony at its Loop office. Among those joining the celebration were chief legislative sponsors State Sen. Ira Silverstein (D-Chicago) and Rep. Emanuel (Chris) Welch (D-Westchester).  Continue reading CCH hosts bill-signing as Illinois becomes 2nd state to enact a Homeless Bill of Rights

CCH golf outing heads to Geneva National on August 5

Posted on by Anne Bowhay

Chicago Coalition for the Homeless hosts its 11th annual charity Golf Outing in memory of Jack “Juancho” Donahue on Monday, August 5 at Geneva National Golf Club in Lake Geneva, Wis.

At a CCH golf outing (from left), Geoff Cooper, Graham Southall, Executive Director Ed Shurna, Board Secretary Rich Goldstein
From left, Geoff Cooper, Graham Southall, Executive Director Ed Shurna and Board Secretary Rich Goldstein

This key event raises critical funds for an organization that leads the fight against extreme poverty in our community.

Space is still available, click HERE for pricing. Lunch will be served at 11 a.m. and tee off is at 12 noon.  Continue reading CCH golf outing heads to Geneva National on August 5

City, state homeless enrollments rose 8% in 2012-13

Posted on by Anne Bowhay

Homeless students 2012-13Chicago Public Schools served 18,669 homeless students during the 2012-13 school year that ended this June, another year-end record for the city’s public schools.

It was an 8.2% increase from last year’s homeless enrollment of 17,255.

Meanwhile, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) released data showing that public school districts statewide identified 51,638 homeless students. This also was an increase of 8% from the 47,816 students identified in the 2011-12 school year. ISBE collects data on June 15, so year-end tallies can vary slightly from official counts taken by school districts on June 30.  Continue reading City, state homeless enrollments rose 8% in 2012-13

CCH video: Residents fight to save the Ewing

Posted on by Vanessa Álvarez

 

Aldermen James Cappleman (46th Ward) and Brendan Reilly (42nd) introduced an ordinance last January that would have closed the city’s last two cubicle hotels, located in Chicago’s South Loop and Uptown neighborhoods.

The hotels – The Ewing Annex, 422-426 S. Clark Street, and the Wilson Club Men’s Hotel, 1224 W. Wilson – are home to 325 low-income men, including students, veterans, day laborers, the disabled and the under-employed.

The aldermen called the hotels “unfit for a dog,” despite never having set foot in either. Yet both buildings, inspected regularly, were in compliance with city building and fire codes, with rooms enough to house 450 men.  Continue reading CCH video: Residents fight to save the Ewing

CCH awards 6 new college scholarships – 15 scholars in college next fall

Posted on by Vanessa Álvarez

IMG_1456-EditOn June 27, CCH presented renewable $2,000 college scholarships to six Chicago Public Schools students who achieved academically while coping with homelessness. The awards program featured remarks by Linda Lutton, an award-winning education reporter at WBEZ Public Radio and contributor to This American Life‘s acclaimed spring series on Chicago’s Harper High School.

The free evening event was held at Loyola University Law School, 25 E. Pearson St., in the 10th floor ceremonial courtroom. The scholarships are funded by private donations to the CCH college scholarship program, now in its tenth year.  Continue reading CCH awards 6 new college scholarships – 15 scholars in college next fall

Homeless children are 8% of 31,438 students impacted by Chicago Public Schools’ closing/merger plans

Posted on by Vanessa Álvarez

School Closing graphic revisedOur Law Project offers legal aid to homeless students – sheltered, doubled-up – who face issues with enrollment, fee waivers and other school issues. They can be reached on a toll-free line, (800) 940-1119.

CCH has charted school-by-school CPS data, LINKED HERE.

Homeless children make up 8.3% of the 31,438 students impacted by the Chicago Board of Education’s May 22 vote to close and merge 99 schools this June, per an analysis by the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless.

That is twice the share of homeless students citywide.  Continue reading Homeless children are 8% of 31,438 students impacted by Chicago Public Schools’ closing/merger plans

Marilyn Escoe’s journey from crisis to strength

Posted on by Vanessa Álvarez

IMG_5984CCH offers broad outreach at shelters, housing and street programs that serve homeless families, teens and single adults.

Our work reaches families like Marilyn and her children. They lived in their North Lawndale apartment for six years, happy to be living half a block from the children’s grade school.

But when Marilyn lost her job in 2011, the Escoe family soon lost their two-bedroom apartment. Marilyn sought help from Chicago’s “311” homeless assistance call center, managed by Catholic Charities. The family was placed in available beds in a shelter 16 miles away, in the Rogers Park neighborhood.  Continue reading Marilyn Escoe’s journey from crisis to strength

Tonight! Todd Rundgren headlines Hopefest 2013

Posted on by Vanessa Álvarez

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Todd Rundgren headlines Hopefest 2013, a Sunday, May 19 concert at the Park West benefiting the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless.

For his “official state visit” to Chicago, Todd Rundgren will bring an exciting new show that features music from his new album, State.

State is “a fusion of rock, soul, R&B and electronica that is at once danceable, groundbreaking, spiritual, challenging and infectious.” Todd’s 24th solo album was released widely on April 9.  Continue reading Tonight! Todd Rundgren headlines Hopefest 2013