USA Today: Report: Child homelessness up 33% in 3 years
The National Center on Family Homelessness compiled new statistics on the number of homeless children in America. Read about their findings and their reasoning behind the growth.
National Poverty Center: Policy Brief Policy Briefs Extreme Poverty in the United States, 1996 to 2011
A publication by the National Poverty Center researches homeless trends in the United States from 1996 to 2011.
"If I were President, I would help people in shelters and give money to them"
Hello, my name is Luis H. Valadez and I have been with Chicago HOPES since August
of 2008, when I started working with the program as an AmeriCorps VISTA Member. I
became the Program Director in August 2010. I have been with HOPES through a lot of
changes and am truly appreciative of the fact that I have been granted the opportunity to
see the program through them. I have enjoyed every moment that I have spent working
with our students and tutors and am continually awed by the good will that attracts
to Chicago HOPES. I currently site coordinate at Madonna House on Tuesday’s and
Lena Washington’s Oneness Shelter on Thursday’s. I went school at Columbia College
Chicago and received a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Writing and Poetics from Naropa
University. In addition to my work with Chicago HOPES, I am a poet with a book
published by University of Arizona Press called “what I’m On”
We are together in our struggle against lonesomeness, and alone in our struggles against the world.I know it looks the other way around, but it’s not. Matter of fact, if we knew that altogether, at once, there would be more reasons to hold on than to give up. –Steven Jesse Bernstein
A few articles worth reading to better understand the changes in the housing market and the affect it has on the working and lower classes.
Chicago Tribune: Housing Market Improves, but Growth Years Away: Prices are stabilizing, but not going
Time Magazine: Credit Standards May Finally Be Loosening for Housing
A Chicago HOPES' student and her awesome tutor Sophia take in a rousing game of Dino Math Tracks after homework is done. So many place values, so little time.
My name is Brandi Cook and I am practicum student and co-site coordinator with Chicago HOPES. I help develop enrichment activities, donation distribution, special projects, and act as co-site coordinator at Cornerstone on Wednesdays. I got connected with HOPES through my school, Adler School of Professional Psychology. Practicum students from Adler provide at least 200 hours of volunteer time with their placement sites and I began this process with Chicago HOPES in January 2012.
I recently moved to Chicago from Terre Haute, Indiana. I am working towards being a child psychologist, especially working with children in underserved/underprivileged areas. I believe in order to make our world a better place we must help our future generations – children! I am also a Zumba® instructor. It is fun and helps keep balanced in the hectic world. I also love to travel and see and experience new places and learn about other cultures.
“Meanings are not determined by situations, but we determine ourselves by the meanings we give to situations.” Alfred Adler
A new bill has been introduced by Congresswoman Judy Biggert of Illinois with efforts to amend the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to include homeless children and youth. As of Tuesday the bill has been passed by a voice vote, meaning that it can continue its process to the financial service committee.
The following articles help the public to understand the bill, as well as the actual transcipt of the bill that was proposed to Congress:
The Homeless Child and Youth Act of 2011: H.R. 32
The National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY) provides details and ways for the public to support the bill: Support the Homeless Children and Youth Act: Help Cut the Red Tape for Homeless Children and Youth!
Through the passing of this bill, HUD will have more flexibility with their funds in order to help families and children that are in need of HUD’s services. The bill has already taken great strides in Congress and continues to find its way to being fully approved, signed and placed into action.
