Chicago Coalition for the Homeless will mark 40 years of organizing and advocating with a virtual celebration, “No Place Like Home,” on Thursday, September 24. Guests are encouraged to make a suggested donation of $40 per household, but all are welcome to attend regardless of contribution.  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌
 
 

Community vigil honors life of murdered homeless man and calls on city to prioritize safety through housing 

Advocates and individuals with lived experience of homelessness held a virtual vigil to call out the increasing pattern of violence against people living on the streets and demand the city interrupt this pattern by making a significant investment in housing. In July, at least two violent attacks were made on individuals experiencing homelessness in Grant Park, one of which resulted in the death of 58-year-old Aaron Curry. Tom Gordon, a resident of an encampment in Uptown and CCH grassroots leader reflected, “The murder of Aaron Curry, the daily pattern of trauma and violence that individuals like me experience – including harassment by the general public or being evicted from the only place we can call home – all of this could be prevented if the city prioritized housing. It’s not right.”

 

CCH to convene a cohort of students to help expand virtual organizing

CCH is convening a cohort of students and recent graduates to help expand our virtual organizing footprint, register voters, and pass the Fair Tax in Illinois! Participants in this cohort will learn key principles of community organizing, network with other students and professionals passionate about social justice, and better understand how to be civically engaged to address homelessness and other social justice issues. Participants will receive a certificate upon completion. All meetings and activities will be done virtually. Space is limited and will be filled on a rolling basis. Register early to secure a spot.

 

Statewide eviction moratorium extended, yet threat of increased homelessness remains

Gov. JB Pritzker issued an Executive Order that extends the Illinois eviction moratorium through September 19, 2020. At least half a million Illinois households could be at risk of eviction–a crisis disproportionately impacting Black tenants. In Chicago, landlords evict tenants far more often in majority Black neighborhoods, per recent data collected by the U.S. Census. Black and Latinx tenants are also more likely to have an eviction case result in their eviction. While CCH applauds the Governor’s move to extend eviction relief, it is not a permanent solution, and the need for more housing support will continue.

 

Join the Chicago Marathon Virtual Race

CCH is proud to be an affiliate charity for the 2020 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Though the in-person event was canceled, many of our runners are choosing to run a virtual race between October 5 – 11. We are now recruiting additional team members to run a one mile, 5k, 8k, or half marathon distance as part of our Team to End Homelessness. Participants in the one mile to half marathon distances will receive a moisture-wicking team shirt and will be asked to set a fundraising goal of $100 or more. If interested in joining our team for the 2020 virtual race, please contact Claire Sloss at csloss@chicagohomeless.org or complete this interest form.

 

ISBE releases guidance on supporting homeless students, with collaboration and input from CCH

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) recently issued guidance to schools and districts on how to best support students experiencing homelessness in the upcoming school year. The guidance, Supporting Homeless Students During the 2020-21 School Year Guidance for Schools and Districts, is posted on ISBE’s website both on the Homeless Education page, and the COVID-19 page. The guidance document is the result of collaboration and input from ISBE, the CCH Law Project, a group of CCH leaders who are parents or grandparents of school-age children with lived experience of homelessness, McKinney-Vento liaisons and national partners.

 

Upcoming Events

 
 
 
 
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