Programs / Campaigns

Homelessness is caused by a complicated set of factors. It includes a critical shortage of affordable housing, insufficient supply of living wage jobs, and lack of societal concern for homeless people. CCH combines community organizing, advocacy and public policy, and legal aid to promote homeless services and fight budget cuts.

For example, homeless mothers participated in our housing campaign to successfully convince Illinois state legislators to create the Homeless Prevention Program. This program provides one-time grants to help families avoid foreclosure or eviction. More than 91,000 Illinois families were assisted with an average grant of $916 in fiscal year 2010. Follow-up studies show that 86 percent remained housed 18 months later.

Unfortunately, the state has decimated homeless prevention funding by 87 percent in the last few years. Illinois increased funding to $11 million in fiscal year 2007. Funding stayed at that same level during fiscal year 2008. Spending dropped to $10.8 million in fiscal year 2009. It was cut to $2.4 million in fiscal years 2010 and 2011. In fiscal year 2012, funding for homeless prevention has been allocated for slightly less than $1.5 million.

Our organization focuses on these key areas:

•     Community organizing trains homeless people to advocate on key issues. Each year, more than 4,500 people participate in weekly to monthly outreach programs at shelters, transitional housing and street programs across Chicago.

•     Advocacy and public policy works to preserve the shelter safety net, secure affordable housing and boost access to transitional jobs. We create access to support services and public schools. CCH has established reentry options for the formerly incarcerated and provides alternatives to those adversely affected by sex trafficking. We are the only organization in Illinois that meets regularly with elected state officials about homeless issues and challenges government positions on budget cuts.

•     Legal aid concentrates on students turned away by public schools or denied school services. In 2009, the Law Project represented 204 clients in Chicago and the suburbs with more than half comprised of teen and school children populations. It is the only office in Illinois solely dedicated to serving homeless youth.