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(Updated) As the Midwest braces for a polar vortex, Chicago officials promise extra outreach and shelter capacity to assist homeless people, knowing they face life-threatening conditions in harsh weather.

It’s proving a stark reminder that, as a prosperous city, we must do something substantial to end the homelessness that impacts more than 80,000 children, youth and adults in Chicago.

“The steps that the city of Chicago and its partners are taking to provide shelter and warmth to people experiencing homelessness in this weather are critical,” said Executive Director Doug Schenkelberg.

“I hope the sense of urgency that is being felt now continues past this moment, so that those in power put the funding in place to provide the permanent housing our city needs so that no one is forced to be homeless in any type of weather.”

Continue reading Chicago promises extra outreach and shelter capacity during polar vortex; available resources

City defends controversial tactics targeting homeless people, even as it opposes a measure to reduce homelessness by 35,000 in 10 years

Chicago officials should focus on adequately funding support for victims of homelessness, rather than concocting ploys to purge them from the public view, advocates said Tuesday, after a Cook County judge permitted the city to clear out viaducts used as shelter by homeless people under the guise of improving infrastructure.

On Friday, Cook County Circuit Court Judge Celia Gamrath dismissed a lawsuit arguing the city had unlawfully discriminated against homeless people in 2017 when it redesigned the sidewalks under two viaducts in the Uptown neighborhood in order to prevent them from sleeping there. The city demolished the encampments purportedly so it could convert the sidewalk space where they resided into bike lanes – a quest that deviated from its own conventions for transportation planning.

Continue reading Bring Chicago Home: Advocates call on city to prioritize aid for homeless people after court permits their ouster from public property

CCH is now recruiting runners who would like to participate in the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8k race on Sunday, March 24 to be part of our Team to End Homelessness.

Runners are asked to set a fundraising goal, with a suggested minimum of $1,000, to be raised online in conjunction with their race training.

Benefits of joining our Team to End Homelessness include:

• Moisture-wicking team shirt
• Race-day location near the start gate, with private bag check, bathrooms, and refreshments
• Team building events, including a post-race brunch
• Team email updates, tips, and advice during months prior to the race
• Personal fundraising page and fundraising support from the CCH staff
• The opportunity to support CCH’s mission to prevent and end homelessness

Continue reading Join our team for the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle

Victor Reed and his children spent nine months at a West Side shelter before moving into an apartment this summer.

It’s an experience that inspires his community spirit. While his family has their own home again, Victor volunteers with the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless and its new housing campaign, Bring Chicago Home.

“There are people behind me, people who are low on hope and don’t have resources,” says Victor. “I let my children be aware of the situations other people face and that homeless does not mean hopeless.”

Continue reading Bring Chicago Home: What inspires leader Victor Reed

Raymond Ferguson, 55, died June 18. Homeless, he would sleep on the Blue Line, near the federal buildings downtown, and occasionally a friend’s home.

Most of Raymond’s days were spent at the corner of State and Randolph, where he became a beloved figure. After he died, people left flowers at a makeshift memorial.

“When you passed that corner, you were entering Raymond’s world… and the atmosphere of that world consisted of kindness, love, positivity and selflessness,” one man told Block Club Chicago.

Raymond Ferguson is among dozens of Chicagoans who died this year while coping with homelessness.

Continue reading Homeless Memorial: Remember their names, homeless Chicagoans who died in 2018

By Niya Kelly, State Legislative Director

Community leaders, legislative allies, coalition partners, funders, donors, and staff of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless came together Dec. 6 to celebrate CCH victories. The 5:30 p.m. event was hosted at Loyola University Chicago School of Law, in its 10th floor ceremonial courtroom.

CCH honored seven people, including legislators and allies, as well as Urban Labs, Polk Bros. Foundation, and the Steering Committee of CCH’s HomeWorks coalition.

Each year CCH presents the Les Brown for Excellence in Public Policy Work. We honored the UChicago Poverty Lab and Health Lab for their report: Ending Family Homelessness: Understanding the Scale and Needs of Families Experiencing Homelessness in Chicago. The report cross-matched data from the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and the city’s homeless service system. The data showed the full scope of families living doubled-up in Chicago as well as demonstrating how doubled-up homelessness is a common pathway into staying in shelters. Their research has led to a much greater understanding and acceptance of this form of homelessness, not previously been recognized by the city.

Continue reading Honoring allies who helped CCH secure victories in 2018

Chicago City Council has repealed the city’s panhandling ordinance, after three prominent advocacy groups sent letters in August to 15 Illinois cities to warn that panhandling bans are unconstitutional.

Letters were sent by the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, and National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty as part of a national campaign to reverse discriminatory and unconstitutional laws.

In addition to Chicago, letters were delivered August 28 to officials in Aurora, Carbondale, Champaign, Cicero, Danville, Decatur, East St. Louis, Elgin, Joliet, Moline, Oak Park, Peoria, Rockford and Urbana.

Chicago City Council quietly repealed its ordinance Nov. 14, notifying advocates two weeks later.

“Chicago’s panhandling ordinance was actively enforced, so this is an important victory for people in Chicago who panhandle as a means of a survival,” said Diane O’Connell, community lawyer at the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. “We have spoken to hundreds of people experiencing homelessness who have been ticketed or arrested for violating this ordinance – locked up or charged fines they cannot pay for nothing more than exercising their First Amendment rights. The city was forced to recognize that everyone has the right to ask for help.”

The August letters notified targeted communities that since 2015, when the U.S. Supreme Court demanded closer examination of laws that regulate speech based on its content (Reed v. Town of Gilbert), panhandling ordinances were repealed or struck down by the courts in more than 55 cities.

The response across Illinois is impressive. In addition to Chicago, Aurora, Oak Park, Peoria, Urbana and Decatur also acted to repeal their regressive panhandling ordinances. Elgin and East St. Louis said they no longer enforce a ban. Cicero and Champaign have said they are examining their ordinances.

Carbondale, Danville, Joliet, Moline and Rockford have not responded to the August letter.

“We are pleased that Chicago and the other communities have acted in response to our warning in August,” said Rebecca Glenberg, ACLU senior staff counsel. “Our Constitution does not permit a lower standard of protection for speech simply because the speaker is someone in need of assistance. We need the other communities to act with dispatch.”

“We hope that even Illinois communities that we did not send letters will take the opportunity to examine and repeal their panhandling ordinances.”

The letter to Chicago noted that the now-repealed ordinance served “no compelling state interest. Distaste for a certain type of speech, or a certain type of speaker, is not even a legitimate state interest, let alone a compelling one. Shielding unwilling listeners from messages disfavored by the state is likewise not a permissible state interest.”

Media coverage:

Daily Herald: Elgin plans to repeal panhandling ordinance, keep nuisance regulations

WAND-TV, Decatur: Chicago repeals prohibition on panhandling

Chicago Sun-Times: …’This is an important victory’

Prior to a Friday, December 14 application deadline, the CCH Law Project will outreach to homeless students and parents interested in applying to the Chicago Public Schools’ magnet, charter, and selective enrollment schools.

Outreach sessions offering personal assistance and informational material include:

• Tuesday, Dec. 4: Nicholson Technology Academy, 6006 S. Peoria St. (8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.)
• Wednesday, Dec. 5: Charles W. Earle Elementary School, 2040 W. 62^nd (8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.)
• Wednesday, Dec. 12: Salvation Army Booth Lodge, 800 W. Lawrence Ave., (5 p.m. – 7 p.m.)
• Friday, Dec. 14: Sarah’s Circle, 4838 N Sheridan Road (10 a.m. – 11 a.m.)

Continue reading Law Project offers help before Dec. 14 application deadline to CPS magnet, charter and selective enrollment schools

Chicago Coalition for the Homeless has a deep gratitude to our new friends at Spreetail for its generous offer to fund and distribute 160 ultra-durable winter coats to people living on the streets of Chicago.

Chicago was the second stop on a 20 city tour for Spreetail, an e-commerce company with operations in six states and eight major cities.  Giving back is central to Spreetail’s culture: They will be distributing 2,000 EMPWR Coats throughout the U.S. during the next two months.

Continue reading Kudos to Spreetail for donating and delivering 160 winter coats to people living on the streets of Chicago

With gratitude for your generous support on Giving Tuesday, Chicago Coalition for the Homeless more than doubled a $20,000 challenge-grant goal.

Kudos to 298 donors who generously gave $39,444! And thanks to 59 donors who gave an additional $5,657 in honor of Giving Tuesday before and after the official day, Nov. 27.

Our 357 donors included 163 (46%) who gave a first-time gift. Giving Tuesday donations totaling $45,100 are a 19% increase from last year.

Supporters were inspired by generous challenge grants from the Conant Family Foundation and an anonymous donor. Both offered to match all Giving Tuesday donations to CCH, dollar-for-dollar, up to our goal of $20,000 total. Continue reading Thanks to you, Giving Tuesday supporters more than doubled a $20,000 challenge-grant goal