Charles leads and serves today, Charlese prepares for tomorrow

Posted on by Vanessa Álvarez

SONY DSCAlmost 25 years ago, Charles Jenkins made a vow to turn his life around.

Charles went on to become one of the longest serving community leaders at the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. And whenever he can include her, the devoted father brings along his youngest child, Charlese.  Continue reading Charles leads and serves today, Charlese prepares for tomorrow

CCH hosts screening of documentary about homeless teens

Posted on by Vanessa Álvarez

CCH is proud to host a premiere run screening of The Homestretch on Monday, Sept. 15 at the Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State St.

Donors and supporters have been invited to view the 89-minute film at 6 p.m., followed by a brief panel discussion featuring Director/Producers Anne de Mare and Kirsten Kelly, CCH youth leader Tia Carter, Homeless Liaison Patricia Scott (Prosser Career Academy), and one of the youths featured in the film.

The film follows three homeless Chicago teenagers as they struggle to maintain consistent housing, stay in school, and plan for the future. Through these stories, the filmmakers challenge the commonly held stereotypes of homelessness.  Continue reading CCH hosts screening of documentary about homeless teens

CCH awards five new college scholarships

Posted on by Vanessa Álvarez
(Front row, from left) 2014 winners Joseph Perez, Judge Moore, Kristen Lang, Joseph Jones & Mahalia Crawford. (Back row, left) Returning upperclassmen Edwin Casas, Daihana Estrada, Gilma Escobar, Kimberly Azpeitia, Andrew Strmic, Edwina Ward, Jennifer Salgado-Benz, and 2014 UALR college graduate Nasia Smith (Photo by Jeff Foy)
(Front row, from left) 2014 winners Joseph Perez, Judge Moore, Kristen Lang, Joseph Jones & Mahalia Crawford. (Back row, left) Returning upperclassmen Edwin Casas, Daihana Estrada, Gilma Escobar, Kimberly Azpeitia, Andrew Strmic, Edwina Ward, Jennifer Salgado-Benz, and 2014 UALR college graduate Nasia Smith (Photo by Jeff Foy)

Chicago Coalition for the Homeless presented renewable $2,000 college scholarships to five Chicago Public School (CPS) students who succeeded in high school while coping with homelessness.

As the program enters its 11th year, CCH will have awarded more than $180,000 in aid to 44 CPS graduates.

Nasia Smith, our 2014 graduate from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, was featured speaker at the June 26 ceremony, hosted by Loyola University Law School.  Continue reading CCH awards five new college scholarships

Mayor and CHA chief support CCH Re-Entry Project’s Family Reunification Pilot

Posted on by Vanessa Álvarez
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Mayor Emanuel announces the CHA pilot program at St. Leonard’s Ministry, flanked by members of the CCH Re-Entry Project (Photo by Shruti Sharma)

Mayor Emanuel has announced a pilot program between the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) and three service providers from the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless (CCH) Re-entry Project Committee that will allow select program participants with criminal backgrounds to access CHA housing.

Up to 50 adults will be placed during the three-year pilot, per the mayor’s March 28 announcement.  Continue reading Mayor and CHA chief support CCH Re-Entry Project’s Family Reunification Pilot

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