CCH bussed 110 people to the State Capitol March 13 to talk to 30 legislators about homeless funding in Gov. Quinn’s new budget plan. Our community leaders traveled from Chicago, Aurora, Libertyville, Maywood, Rockford and Waukegan.
Our leaders spoke about the need to maintain funding in these safety-net programs. CCH supports much of the governor’s FY 2014 budget plan, which proposes no funding cutbacks for emergency shelter and transitional housing, homeless youth services, and a homeless prevention program that provides one-time help to families. Continue reading CCH leaders head to Springfield to talk budget issues
Chicago Coalition for the Homeless is working with other advocates and organizers to stop a proposed ordinance that would ban Chicago’s last two cubicle hotels for men. Now, a Chicago alderman pushing the ordinance is criticizing CCH for helping the 330 low-income men who live there.
Ald. James Cappleman (46th) claimed in the Chicago Sun-Times Wednesday that CCH is “using impoverished men” as “pawns” in an effort to stop the closing of the Wilson Men’s Club Hotel, at 1224 W. Wilson in Cappleman’s Uptown ward, and the Ewing Annex Hotel, 422-26 S. Clark St. in the Loop. Continue reading Advocates work against city proposal to ban men’s cubicle hotels
Last week, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) released a list of 129 elementary schools that it is still considering for closure next school year. These schools enroll more than 43,000 students, including 2,508 children and teens are identified as homeless.
Most of Chicago’s homeless students attend neighborhood or alternative schools, with homeless enrollment tracking almost 5% ahead of last year’s CPS record. At this pace, more than 18,000 homeless CPS students will be identified by the end of this school year. Continue reading CPS Releases list of 129 Schools Considered for Closure
Applications are due by May 1 for CCH’s 2013 college scholarship program. Students and faculty who are submitting last-minute documents can fax these to our office at (312) 641-4144.
Up to five students who have experienced homelessness will be selected to receive $2,000 renewable college scholarships funded by private donors.
Eligible applicants are seniors who are graduating from a Chicago Public high school in June, high school seniors from the city or suburbs who are former student clients of the Law Project, or youth leaders who are active with CCH and no older than 22 years of age. See more detailed eligibility criteria here. Continue reading 2013 Scholarship applications due May 1
(From left) Ryanne Easley, David Gee and Bob Glaves of the Chicago Bar Foundation, with CCH Executive Director Ed Shurna and Law Project Director Laurene Heybach.
CCH and its Justice Circle welcomed 50 supporters and honorees to a Jan. 17 reception featuring the work of the Law Project’s Youth Futures mobile legal aid clinic for homeless and unaccompanied youth.
The youth activism group HELLO has resumed its Tuesday evening meetings at a new site: Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ, in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood.
CCH co-sponsors the youth group with The Night Ministry and Lakeview Action Coalition. The weekly group mobilizes homeless youth to meet, share, and advocate on issues that affect their lives.
HELLO’s Tuesday evening meetings will be held 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Wellington UCC Church, 615 W. Wellington Ave.
Now in its 9th year, the HELLO group is believed to be one of the longest running groups of its kind in the U.S. HELLO sought a new meeting site after the Broadway Youth Center moved in mid-December from its long-time site at 3179 N. Broadway Ave. Continue reading HELLO youth to meet Tuesdays at Lakeview church
More than 300 people participated in a memorial service and candlelight vigil Tuesday evening to remember those who died this year while homeless in Chicago.
It was the third year that Old St. Patrick’s Church, 700 W. Adams, hosted a memorial organized by CCH, The Ignatian Spirituality Project, and the Harmony, Hope & Healing Choir. The service is a part of the National Homeless Persons’ Memorial, which is held at the start of the winter season in more than 175 U.S. communities.
“We come to this sacred place because we believe that life is stronger than death, and death is not the final statement about what life is all about… We hope and believe that ultimately life will prevail,” said CCH Executive Director Ed Shurna in his brief welcoming address.
The 6 p.m. service featured a name-reading of the 49 homeless and recently homeless people who died this year (listed below). The lives of these men and women were remembered by their friends and the caring providers who worked with them, including Heartland Alliance, Cornerstone Community Outreach, and Southwest Chicago PADS.
They included Sylvia Naif, a founding member of CCH’s new SAGE group (Survivors Advocacy Empowered Group). Sylvia joined SAGE leaders in Springfield last spring to advocate for a new End Demand bill that toughens state laws against human trafficking.
Tuesday’s poignant remembrances included this, about a man named Michael: “He was a gentle guy who still had lots of potential.”
Senior Community Organizer Wayne Richard shares a poem
Or Charles, “recently sober for the first time in 10 years.” And Betty, “who recently rediscovered her daughter.”
The evening included a reflection on what it means to be homeless, presented by Danyanta Richards, as well as a poem by CCH Senior Community Organizer Wayne Richard. The Harmony, Hope & Healing Choir provided prayerful music to reflect on the lives lost this year. Laura Howard read a scripture passage and Sr. Patricia Crowley, co-founder of Deborah’s Place, presided along with Old St. Pat’s Fr. Tom Hurley.
Mr. Richard organized 50 residents from A Safe Haven shelters to attend the memorial and a dinner preceding the service.
Our brothers and sisters who have died in the past year:
A memorial service and candlelight vigil to remember those who died while homeless will be held at Old St. Patrick’s Church (700 W. Adams) on Tuesday, Dec. 18.
The 6 p.m. service is a collaborative effort by CCH, Ignatian Spirituality Project, Harmony, Hope & Healing Choir, and Old St. Pat’s. It is part of a movement to mark National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day during the first days of winter, with Chicago among more than 150 cities expected to participate in 2012. Continue reading Join us for a Homeless Persons’ Memorial Tuesday
Chase and CCH volunteers assist as Lewis Elementary students play games and make holiday crafts
As part of the Every Child in School, Every Day initiative, JPMorgan Chase volunteers partnered with the CCH Law Project to host a holiday party for 126 children at Lewis Elementary School, located in the Austin neighborhood on Chicago’s West Side.
“It puts smiles on the children’s faces, as well as the parents when they pick them,” said Sharlita Davis, a CCH board member and Chase assistant vice president and contract officer, who was instrumental in planning Thursday’s party. “It’s just a happy occasion.” Continue reading CCH & Chase bring holiday cheer to Austin school
Helped by community organizers at the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, Sonovia honed the skills and self-confidence to land a new job at a non-profit agency. Years of go-nowhere temp jobs are behind her.
“If I hadn’t worked with CCH, I wouldn’t know what I know now,” she said. “They were the first people to tell me I did something good. It empowered me when I saw that I could organize other people. It gave me the strength to organize my own life: What did I want to do first? How should I go about doing it?” Continue reading Sonovia Petty kept her promise to start a stable new life for her family!
