Author: Vanessa Álvarez

Our Goal 

Chicago Coalition for the Homeless is redeveloping its StreetLight Chicago App and Website and launching programming to support these resources in the Chicago community. The App and Website are focused on providing resources primarily to young people 14-24, with a focus on accessing housing, food, and other social services. To ensure the redevelopment meets the needs of its users we are putting together a committee of Service Providers and Youth to provide their expertise and be decision makers in the rebuild.  

Our Scope 

The committee will meet at 3 key points in the redevelopment process: Discovery, App Design, and Web Design, and will be required to review materials and provide feedback for the final development. Your voices will help shape the final features and design of StreetLight Chicago. For each phase there will be two meetings for you to attend, the first will present the materials, and the second will be for feedback.  

The Commitment  

Participating in the StreetLight Chicago Redevelopment Committee you must be able to attend a total of 6 meetings:  

Discovery- June (estimated) 

1. Presenting materials collected through discovery calls: Features list, priorities for the app, and an outline of functionality.  

2. Determining the specific goals of StreetLight, and forming ideas on its role accomplishing those goals.  

3. Providing feedback on the materials presented.  

Design of App – August (estimated) 

4. Presenting design and flow of app from perspective of users.  

5. Providing feedback on the materials presented.  

6. Review app testing plan. (Audience for app test will include committee and select participants in the CCH network)  

Design of Website – September (estimated) 

7. Presenting design and flow of website from the perspective of users.  

8. Providing feedback on the materials presented.  

9. Review app testing results and note any additional changes needed.  

All presentation meetings will be recorded (pending group agreement) and to participate in the committee you should be prepared to attend all 6 calls, if unable to attend a call please set aside time review a recorded session or provide written feedback. In total you will be asked to spend 6 hours over 3 months participating in the committee.  

For Youth 

We invite youth to apply to join the committee and help shape the future of StreetLight Chicago! There will be up to 6 spots on the committee for young people with lived experience; we hope to have a range of lived experiences and ages. To participate you must meet the following:  

• Are between 14-24 years old on July 1^st, 2023
  • We are interested in having the committee represent a variety of age groups and experiences. 
• Are currently or have in the past experienced housing instability 
  • This can mean sleeping on a friend’s couch, in a car, at an emergency shelter, on the street, or other experiences.
• Can meet either:  
  • In person at the CCH Office in the Loop
  • Online on Zoom 
• NOTE: As a committee member you will receive a phone stipend and CTA vouchers whenever asked to meet in person.  

The application closed on June 15^th, and if there are more than 6 applicants who meet the above requirements, we will pull names by lottery to select committee members with priority given to have committee members from across age groups. Those selected should expect the following compensation:  

• $500 stipend  
• $30 phone bill stipend

At this time the application is now closed.