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Arts & Entertainment
Event highlights of the week!
SportsWise
The SportsWise team asks about the role of tradition in determining where Major League Baseball starts its season.
Cover Story
A move away from "housing first" solutions to homelessness. Further criminalization of sleeping outdoors. Cuts to housing programs. These are some of the changes advocates and people experiencing homelessness worry could be on the horizon as President Donald Trump moves back into the White House, backed by a Republican-controlled Congress.
From the Streets
The City of Chicago hosts an Accelerated Moving Event for an encampment in Gompers Park on the Northwest Side, which illustrates the mix of federal and city policy in getting people rehoused.
The Playground
ON THE COVER & THIS PAGE: Encampments at the E Street Expressway in Washington, D.C. are closed.on March 6 (photos courtesy of Street Sense Media). DISCLAIMER: The views, opinions, positions or strategies expressed by the authors and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or positions of StreetWise.
Dave Hamilton, Creative Director/Publisher dhamilton@streetwise.org
Amanda Jones, Director of programs ajones@streetwise.org
Julie Youngquist, Executive director jyoungquist@streetwise.org
Ph: 773-334-6600
Office: 2009 S. State St., Chicago, IL, 60616
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT RECOMMENDATIONS
Compiled by Dave Hamilton
Literature Meets Religion!
‘American Prophets’
A groundbreaking American Writers Museum (AWM) content initiative, “American Prophets” journeys through the pages of American history and both real and fictionalized spiritual practices to explore the profound ways literature reflects and influences our understanding of religion. An immersive exhibit opening at the museum in November 2025 will showcase rare artifacts, interactive displays, and related creative works spanning literature, film, music, comedy and more. AWM kicks off its programming for “American Prophets” with “Making New Gods,” a free event in partnership with the Chicago Public Library on Tuesday, April 22 at 5:15 p.m. at the Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State St. Acclaimed and bestselling fiction authors N.K. Jemisin, Nnedi Okorafor, Nghi Vo and Matthew Kirby will talk about how they explore religious beliefs in their speculative fiction. They will cover topics such as drawing from personal traditions and invented theologies, the importance of considering socio-spiritual systems when world-building, and how these influence the ways their characters move through the worlds they create. Books will be available from Seminary Coop to purchase on site, and a book signing will follow the program on a first-come, first-served basis. More information and registration for the April 22 program is available on the chipublib.org. For more information, stay tuned to AmericanWritersMuseum.org
Death Becomes Her!
‘At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen’ Courtney Berringers would like to welcome you to her wake! But—make no mistake—this ain’t your grandma’s funeral. Loosely based on the life and death of playwright Terry Guest’s Uncle Anthony, “At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen” is a one-act, two-hander play set in 2004 that centers Blackness, Southern queerness and the fine art of drag. From African gods and goddesses to Trina and Whitney Houston, “At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen” thoughtfully uses storytelling, drama and drag to explore identity, illness and the narratives we construct for ourselves. Come party at the wake. Bring your own heels! Presented by The Story Theatre, April 26 - May 11 on Raven Theatre’s Schwartz Stage, 6157 N. Clark St. Tickets are $20 at thestorytheatre.org
A Slice of Life!
‘BUST’
Retta and Reggie are enjoying their usual evening on the porch when a longtime neighbor is pulled over by the police just before turning into his driveway. Everything goes as expected—until the unexpected happens. Humor, suspense and surrealism converge in this gripping exploration of what it costs to be Black and free. Playing April 19 - May 18 at Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St. Tickets start at $25 at goodmantheatre.org/bust
Culture on Display!
‘La Mudanza: Seeds from our Past’
The Puerto Rican Arts Alliance (PRAA) presents the new exhibition “La Mudanza: Seeds from Our Past” by Chicago artist Reynaldo Rodriguez—widely known in the community as Guaracibo—who uses a rich tapestry of esoteric symbols to delve into themes of migration, memory, spirituality, and cultural pride, offering a deeply personal yet universally resonant artistic experience. “A prolific figure in the Puerto Rican diaspora, Guaracibo has developed a powerful visual language that reflects his cultural heritage, personal migration journey, and artistic evolution,” said PRAA Exhibitions and Collections Program Director Jorge Félix. “We are thrilled to celebrate him as not only an artist but a passionate educator who has inspired young artists through our Studio Arts Program to explore their cultural identity through painting, muralism, and upcycled fashion design.” “La Mudanza,” which translates as “the move” or “relocation,” blends realism with surreal elements, drawing viewers into layered compositions that celebrate Puerto Rican identity, ancestry, and resilience. The exhibition opens on April 17 and runs through November 26, 2025, and is free to the public TuesdaysFridays, 10:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. at 3000 N. Elbridge Ave. More information can be found at praachicago.org
EARTH DAY EVENTS
Compiled by Suzanne Hanney
Cook County Forest Preserve Cleanup
Celebrate Earth Day by picking up litter, 1-3 p.m. Saturday, April 19 at Grove 13 of the Cook County Forest Preserves’ Schiller Woods East, located at West Irving Park Road west of North Cumberland Avenue. More info at 312-533-5751 or experience.nature@cookcountyil.gov
One Earth Film Festival
One Earth Film Festival returns for its 14th season from April 22-28, in partnership with the City of Chicago’s Department of Environment. This year’s theme, “Power in Unity,” calls for collective action and shared responsibility in an era that demands coming together like never before.
The fest’s Launch Party is on Earth Day, April 22, at Sarabande Chicago, 2726 W. Roscoe St., with filmmaker toasts, opening remarks from Chicago Chief Sustainability Officer Angela Tovar, and – to uplift the venue’s proximity to the Chicago River’s North Branch – a Young Filmmakers-winning short, “Ocean Monologue.” A brief keynote address about the Chicago River will be delivered by Shermann “Dilla” Thomas – viral TikTok sensation, author and host of “Everything Dope About America Comes From Chicago.” Ronnie Preston, San Carlos Apache and American Indian Center Cultural Ambassador, will deliver an honor song for the Chicago River. Gourmet plant-based heavy hors d'oeuvres, sweet treats, and sips will be served. Guests are encouraged to bring textiles to recycle, especially in blue and white. Tickets $80 or 2/$150 at www. oneearthfilmfest.org/oeff-2025-launch-party
Featuring interactive panels and community-driven events, the One Earth Film Festival unfolds with a powerful week of action, showcasing 25 films at 20+ locations across the greater Chicago area. Selections include:
“Every Little Thing,” April 23, 6 p.m. at Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison St., and Uncommon Ground, 3800 N. Clark St. The documentary shows a Los Angeles woman who has made it her life’s mission to rehabilitate injured hummingbirds.
“50 States of Sustainability,” April 25, 6 p.m. at Broadway United Methodist Church, 3338 N. Broadway. In a U.S. economy driven by renewable energy and sustainability, CEOs and upper management at a variety of companies, non-profits and government agencies present their science-based solutions for the future.
“Women of Carbon,” April 28, 6 p.m. at Chicago Architecture Center, 111 E. Wacker Drive, & Virtual. Innovative women repurpose living materials, reengineer waste into valuable chemicals that clean the climate, and drive decarbonization in our built environment, while thriving in male-dominated industries.
The annual Earth Day Action Fair at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St., at 11:30 a.m. April 27 in the G.A.R. Rotunda will precede a 1 p.m. virtual and Claudia Cassidy Theater screening of “The Grab,” where the powerful use force, economics and illegal mercenaries to take control of food and water stocks. The narrative begins with the 2014 purchase of Smithfield Food, which the filmmakers say put 1 in 4 U.S. pigs under Chinese control.
For tickets, trailers, and the latest schedule updates, visit www.oneearthfilmfest.org
Earth Day Cleanups
This year marks the 40th anniversary of Friends of the Parks’ citywide Earth Day cleanups in partnership with the Chicago Park District. On Saturday, April 26, Friends aims to reach more parks than ever before. Register to volunteer or to become a site captain at www.fotp.org/earthday.html Gloves and trash bags will be provided. If you are open to leading a clean-up but are not sure which park to sign up for, please contact setiawane@fotp.org to help make the match.
Montrose Beach Cleanup
Sierra Club /Illinois Chapter will host its first Montrose Beach cleanup of the year for Earth Day, on Saturday, April 26 from 9 a.m. to noon in partnership with the Alliance for the Great Lakes and the Truman College Environmental Club. In addition to beautification, they will catalog debris to help analyze the cleanliness of the world's water and beaches. Alumni, faith-based groups, and professional groups are encouraged to sign up -- for all or part of the work period. Dress for the weather, wear a hat and sunscreen, bring a filled water bottle and work gloves if you have them. No dogs. act.sierraclub.org/events
where should mlb open?
John: Should Major League Baseball Opening Day hold with tradition, and begin in Cincinnati, or overseas, in Tokyo?
Allen: Cincinnati always has their opening at home. It started out being about geography: they were the southernmost team, with the best chance for good weather. They’re a lucky team to have opening day at home. It’s a symbol of rebirth and it is to the home team’s advantage because all the fans are from their city. The Sox had their opening day at home and they beat the Angels 8-1. I go with the underdog and my home team, so this is a good beginning.
Russell: I don’t mind Opening Day being in Cincinnati all the time, but sometimes you gotta change it around. Maybe the team that won the World Series should open.
As far as the Cubs playing the Dodgers in Tokyo two weeks ago, now the Cubs are 0-2 in last place and the season hasn’t started yet. Just leave
it at spring training games. I don’t mind it being in Japan, but make sure it counts.
John: I don’t think they should start the regular season in Tokyo or any place overseas, like London last year, the Mets and Phillies. If you want to play preseason overseas. It's the same with the NFL and NBA. It seems they want to play regular season games over there. I get you want to spread the league worldwide, but you want to keep those traditions at home.
I don’t mind Opening Day in Cincinnati, because the Cincinnati Red Stockings were the first professional baseball team in 1869 and they have traditions like no other: a downtown parade and kids get the day off from school. The same with St. Louis: a downtown parade led by the Budweiser Clydesdales, who actually go into Busch Stadium’s dirt warning track, followed by Cardinals’ Hall of
Famers in red jackets. Those are the two cities that have baseball as their religion. The Reds are to Cincinnati like football is to Chicago. I would have the Opening Day game in Cincinnati and the night game whoever won the World Series, so they could host the trophy.
Allen: St. Louis is a good team and has won a lot of games. And, it is close to Chicago. One thing about overseas is that no team has the home field advantage, so that’s the good thing. The advantage of having it out of the country is not for the fans, but for people who are invested in baseball. They have a lot of money and don’t mind going out of the country to see a game. The regular fans like you and me are not going out of the country to see a game. May the best team win: nobody has the “home diamond” advantage.
Russell: I just hope they don’t have the Cubs and Dodgers
playing every year in Japan. Jacksonville has been overseas in the NFL like 20 times, and the NFL has announced seven overseas games next season: three in London, then Sao Paulo, Berlin, Dublin, Madrid.
I do enjoy baseball, though. It was nice to see the Cubs and Dodgers play, even at 5 o’clock in the morning, so I had a chance to eat my breakfast, drink some coffee and catch a couple innings before I went out to sell my StreetWise.
John: NFL, NBA, even the NHL, are doing it for the revenue. The NBA, that’s why they have games in China. It’s all about the money, even though it makes no common sense to the average sports fan, you and I. It’s the money that talks.
Any comments, suggestions or topic ideas for the SportsWise team? Email StreetWise Editor Suzanne Hanney at suzannestreetwise@yahoo.com
Vendors (l-r) Russell Adams, A. Allen and John Hagan chat about the world of sports.
Accessible via the Addison Red Line stop and bus routes 8, 36, and 152. A W A R E N E S S T H R O U G H T H E A R T S
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Come celebrate the first look at a community created, multi-media art installation that highlights the awareness of mental well-being!
Meet local community organizations and learn about where to access art programs and behavioral health resources!
DATE & TIME
APRIL 27TH
11 AM - 2 PM
LOCATION
CENTER ON HALSTED, 3656 N HALSTED ST, CHICAGO, IL
OPEN TO ALL
WHAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FOR AMERICANS EXPERIENCING
by Franziska Wild
A move away from “housing first” solutions to homelessness. Further criminalization of sleeping outdoors. Cuts to housing programs. These are some changes advocates and people experiencing homelessness worry could be on the horizon with President Donald Trump back in the White House, backed by a Republican-controlled Congress.
During Donald Trump’s first presidential term, he appointed officials who rejected evidence-based "housing first" approaches to homelessness, and he cut programs aimed at all low-income Americans. More recent comments and policy proposals found in Project 2025 indicate the shifts this time could be even more drastic.
W HA t Trump HA s said about homeLESS nESs
In his most recent presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly made homelessness a political issue, blaming mayors of Democratically controlled cities. In a 2022 speech at the America First Agenda Summit, he attacked DC for its visible tent encampments, saying they give foreign leaders who visit the city a “bad impression.”
At that conference, he proposed using “large parcels of inexpensive land in the outer reaches of the cities” to create semi-permanent tent cities. In the same speech, he declared that “you have to move people out” into these tent cities, suggesting that he would support forcibly relocating people experiencing homelessness.
In a video released by his presidential campaign in 2023, Trump said that he would “ban urban camping” and force people to move into designated tent cities with the threat of arrest.
“Violators of these bans will be arrested, but they will be given the option to accept treatment and services if they’re willing to be rehabilitated—many of them don’t want, but we’ll give them the option.”
Jesse Rabinowitz, communications director at the National Homelessness Law Center, is specifically concerned about Trump’s proposal of creating designated tent cities.
“We have seen what happens as a world and as a country when we round people up and force them into camps,” Rabinowitz said. “It is never an okay thing to do, and, unfortunately, this administration does not seem to have con-
cerned itself with actually helping solve homelessness. Rather, it continues to divide people and marginalize people who are already down on their luck.”
Donald Whitehead, executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless, worries that Trump’s statements will further encourage the criminalization of homelessness that was accelerated by the Supreme Court’s 2024 decision in Grants Pass v Johnson
“We’ve already seen … one branch of government … act in a way that kind of dehumanizes people experiencing homelessness and also criminalizes people experiencing homelessness—we’ve seen a rapid ramping up of these kinds of ordinances across the country,” Whitehead said. Since the Supreme Court decision, over 100 cities across the country have banned camping, an NPR analysis found.
EN d INg homeLESS nESs und ER Trump
The US Interagency Council on Homelessness (ICH) is the federal agency officially responsible for ending homelessness. Trump has not yet nominated a new director for the ICH, but in his last term, he appointed Robert Marbut to lead the agency. Marbut challenged the prevailing view among service providers and advocates that the best way to help people experiencing homelessness is to provide a place for them to live.
Before becoming US ICH director, Marbut was a “homelessness consultant” for cities across the country, where he pushed for a “housing fourth” approach, a strategy grounded in the belief that homelessness is a personal failing rather than a systemic issue tied to a lack of affordable housing.
This view promotes policies that mandate people address their substance abuse issues or mental illness before they are allowed to receive housing. However, only 1 in 7 people experiencing homelessness have a substance abuse disorder, and around 1 in 5 people experiencing homelessness have a serious mental illness, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness.
"Housing fourth" is the opposite of “housing first” policies, which aim to house people and then provide wrap-around support services to address mental health or substance abuse. For the last couple of decades, housing first has been at the core of the federal government’s solutions to
ADMINISTRATION MEANS HOMELESSNESS
chronic homelessness. The program is based on evidence and has a 90% efficacy rate, according to Whitehead.
Trump and his team have expanded attacks on housing first. Blaming housing first policies for the recent 18% increase in homelessness across the country is a distraction from the real policy failure: a lack of affordable housing nationwide, Rabinowitz said.
HUD und ER Trump
One of the other major ways the federal government impacts homelessness policy is through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which funds public housing, housing voucher programs and homelessness assistance to communities across the country. In mid-January, HUD announced a record $3.6 billion for homelessness programs across the U.S., including $112 million for All Chicago: Making Homelessness History and $27.47 million for the Alliance to End Homelessness in Suburban Cook County.
Both Rabinowitz and Whitehead’s national advocacy organizations, the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Homelessness Law Center, urged the U.S. Senate to vote “no” on Turner’s confirmation because of his record. It is the first time the organizations took a stance on a HUD nominee.
On January 28, however, the Trump administration tried to freeze all federal grants and loans, and was met by a temporary restraining order. On March 11, HUD told shelterforce.org that the money would be released.
For his second term, Trump nominated Scott Turner, a state legislator from Texas and former NFL player for the Washington Commanders, as HUD secretary. ProPublica found that Turner voted repeatedly in Texas against bills supporting housing assistance programs, including two bills regarding young people and veterans. He also supported a bill that would allow landlords to refuse to rent to tenants who received federal housing assistance, a practice known as “source of income discrimination” that makes it difficult for people exiting homelessness to find apartments.
“The secretary nominee doesn’t support subsidized housing programs, and that is critical right now—only 1 in 4 of the people who qualify for housing actually get into it,” Whitehead said.
Homelessness advocacy organizations are also concerned that Turner might change how HUD, and by extension much of the federal government, approaches homelessness—by supporting Trump’s efforts to end housing first policies and ban street camping.
In written answers provided to U.S. Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) and shared on X by Punchbowl News reporter Brendan Pederson, Turner said he would review HUD’s homelessness policies and its reliance on the housing first model. “It’s clear to me that our current approach to addressing homelessness is badly broken.”
Encampments at the E Street Expressway in Washington, D.C. are closed.on March 6 (photos courtesy of Street Sense Media).
Other policy documents related to the incoming administration, like Project 2025, which was developed by the conservative Heritage Foundation, explicitly reject housing first policies. On his first day in office, nearly two-thirds of the executive orders signed by Trump mirrored policy recommendations found in Project 2025, Street Sense analysis found.
Cost of hous INg acroSS TH e country
One way of preventing homelessness is lowering housing costs, making housing more affordable.
Trump has claimed that his plan for the mass deportation of undocumented people and families would lower housing costs, arguing that undocumented households have strained the housing supply and increased prices, making affordable housing less accessible to US citizens.
Data on household growth throughout the country, however, shows that mass deportations would be ineffective in lowering housing prices, according to Riordan Frost, a senior research analyst at Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies.
As of 2023, immigrants who arrived in the last decade made up 9% of renters in DC metro, according to Frost. “There [are] definitely a lot of immigrants coming in … but [they are] not a majority, by any means, of either rent[ers] or homeowner[s].”
Frost also noted that immigration often lowers the cost of housing because many immigrants work in construction. Mass deportations could restrict the amount of available labor to build housing, making housing construction more expensive.
Rabinowitz worries that Trump’s tariffs on other countries might increase housing costs by making the materials needed to build housing – things like soft lumber -- more expensive.
Migr AN ts expERiEN cINg homeLESS nESs
Trump’s anti-immigration policy stance also poses a direct challenge to people experiencing homelessness who may have some kind of temporary immigration status.
Trump has rolled back Immigration and Customs Enforcement directives put in place by the Biden administration that prevented ICE from conducting immigration raids in “sensitive locations” like churches and schools. Whitehead has concerns about how this kind of enforcement might impact shelters or meal programs based in religious institutions.
Deepa Bijpuria, director of the Immigrants’ Rights Legal Services Project at Legal Aid DC, said that “unhoused people, more than anyone, are going to have a harder time finding free legal services.” Numerous moves and encampment closures also make it hard to hold on to essential documents, like citizenship papers or green cards.
Attorneys generally advise people not to open the door to ICE unless they have a judicial warrant, Bijpuria said. People experiencing homelessness do not have that kind of physical protection.
The administration’s timeline for implementing proposed policy changes is still unclear, although Trump issues executive orders daily. On February 5, Turner was confirmed as secretary of HUD by a 55-44 bipartisan vote and sworn in by Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas.
This story was originally published by Street Sense in Washington, D.C., which like StreetWise, is a member of the International Network of Street Papers (INSP). Courtesy of Street Sense / INSP.ngo
city of encampment
Two years after Desiray Selvage moved to the Gompers Park encampment on the far Northwest Side from a Marine Drive condo, she was packing up for an apartment in Northlake, ahead of a March 5 Accelerated Moving Event (AME) coordinated by Chicago city officials.
“My boyfriend at the time was caught stealing packages from the mail room,” Selvage said regarding how she became homeless. “We got evicted.”
Selvage feared getting MRSA or her stuff stolen in a shelter, so she pitched a tent near a friend who was already in the park.
“Instead of wandering the streets or staying with people, it seemed like it would bring more serenity. There is something about living in the elements that connects you to God. Being behind four walls filters your pipeline. I will think, ‘I need some pillows,’ and that night, seven garbage bags of pillows will appear. Your senses are enhanced. The interesting stuff that happens here, you don’t need TV anymore. I got closer to my artwork.”
In summer, encampment members could shower near the park swimming pool, or Selvage would go to her mother-in-law’s house nearby. In the coldest weather, she got a hotel room, sometimes paid by sympathetic volunteers from the neighborhood.
But getting rehoused still took two years. She thought three workers from several different agencies and the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) had put her on
of chicago orchestrates Gompers park encampment accelerated moving event march 5
the One List. Also known as the Coordinated Entry System (CES), the One List is maintained by the Chicago Continuum of Care, which is led by the consortium All Chicago: Making Homelessness History.
Six months ago, she began working with Ryan Spangler, street outreach supervisor at Heartland Alliance Health, whom she called “amazing.”
“The others may have put her in CES at one point, but at the time I engaged her, she was either not active in CES because her assessment had not been updated, or she was not put in at all,” Spangler said.
Case management is labor-intensive. Spangler got Selvage a new phone after she dropped hers in water. He took her on three different trips to get an ID and Social Security card. He crowdsourced funding to send for her birth certificate from out of state via Vital Check – all requirements to be successfully housed.
Spangler has 18 years of experience and established relationships with landlords on the North Side. He uses not only the CES, but also lists for the Chicago Housing Authority, Chicago Low Income Housing Trust Fund, and the Illinois Housing Development Authority’s SRN (Statewide Referral Network). Selvage will have permanent housing scaled to her income, not just two years of “rapid rehousing,” as in the AME. She was most excited that she would also have an opportunity to work cleaning the building where she lives.
“I have had multiple jobs throughout my life,” she said. “It just so happens when you are a housewife and you rely on your significant other and they are whisked away, you are left in the dust.”
The encampment is an emotional issue in Jefferson Park. Some neighbors protest because tents on one side are close to a baseball diamond used by a youth program. Jeff Grabowski said his 8-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter were frightened by encampment residents who had been drinking and who were shouting. Encampment residents were said to have bathed in the lagoon, but a resident named Phil said they were wearing shorts and wading. Another time, a dog rushed out and attacked another dog on Pulaski Road.
“Nobody here had a dog,” Selvage said. “We can barely take care of ourselves, let alone an animal.”
By 4:30 a.m. on the morning of the AME, at least six police cars had blocked the Pulaski entrance, according to Peter, a neighborhood volunteer who declined to give his last name. Another neighborhood volunteer (who also would not give her name, for fear of reprisals) was incensed when police told her, “‘You can’t come here because they are doing the kicking-the-people-out-thingie.’”
No, the encampment was not being cleared, she said, and only two police were supposed to be on hand. Both she and Peter decried a lack of coordination between the Chicago Park District, the Mayor’s Office and the Chicago Police Department. Residents were on edge, Peter said, especially because city crews had removed yurts with stoves (and some peoples’ belongings) on February 19. Officials said stoves in the yurts caused fires.
“The goal was to have the [CPD] affinity officers on-site,” Chicago Chief Homelessness Officer Sendy Soto said to reporters. “The officers have been informed of the plan the City has to offer housing, not to clear the park. It looks like we need
Story and photos by Suzanne Hanney
to look at perhaps some miscommunication. We cleared it up immediately and the officer was asked to leave so we can proceed.”
Acting DFSS Commissioner Maura McCauley said that housing case managers from several nonprofits were meeting next door to the park at Salvation Army Divisional Headquarters to show apartments to encampment residents, to help them meet with landlords and to select a furniture package. Seven people had been placed in shelters in the past month and 29 had signed up for the AME. It was the 35th such event for unsheltered people, which had resulted in 740 people being housed.
There were passionate neighbors on both sides: some who wanted encampment residents to stay if they were happy, others who wanted them gone by Little League season. What if encampment residents preferred to stay put, reporters asked.
They could choose to remain in the public space; "we wouldn't be enforcing anything," Soto said. DFSS would continue outreach with its own workers and nonprofit partners to meet people where they are at and offer services they choose to achieve stability, McCauley added.
Adam Roberts, chief of staff to Ald. Samantha Nugent (39th ward) said they had been asking for an AME since September, but were told there was no money in the city budget. On December 12, they were told the AME would be February 24. When President Trump threatened a funding freeze on federal homelessness money (see story on page 8), it was postponed to March 5.
Soto said she was willing to listen to the general public to build community cohesion, but “our priority is the people who are unhoused. Homelessness is a challenge we have to face on
all levels – not only here in the city of Chicago and the state, but nationally and globally, so we need cooperation from everyone as people try to find a better future for themselves.”
The City does not own shelters, Soto said, but bids out buildings and the opportunity to run them to community partners, such as LaCasa Norte, which will operate a youth shelter in a former SRO in Humboldt Park. Shelters must have proper zoning and community buy-in. "And with the 'Cut the Tape' initiative, the mayor wants to make it easier, with little bureaucracy intervening."
Nor does the City own housing. Spangler put two people into apartments run by the nonprofit Mercy Housing in Uptown. Because demand is so high for the North Side, private landlords there are less inclined to take renters on subsidies than those on the South and West Sides, he said. What AMEs offer is “rapid rehousing,” a federal “Housing First” model that offers up to two years’ rental assistance and supportive services until people can become self-sufficient.
“But often times people fall through the cracks due to a lack of a case manager follow through,” Spangler said. If they can't become self-sufficient, they can be transferred to permanent supportive housing; the Chicago Department of Housing expects to develop more than 250 units of permanent supportive housing within the next three years, partly with COVID recovery money.
Peter Marchwiany is a plumber/carpenter who became homeless after he fell through a ceiling in 2023. He went to Gompers Park in July, because he grew up in Jefferson Park. He had been checking his housing eligibility regularly, but he had been left behind last summer, he said, so he spent his days not at the encampment but getting meals at churches between the North Side and Skokie, one reason he missed signups for the AME.
Marchwiany was talking to StreetWise when Soto led him to the AME signup center.
Several nights later, Peter the neighborhood volunteer said that Marchwiany had been matched with a building in South Shore where he had either lived or worked. “I guess a guardian angel was looking out for me,” he had told Peter.
Eukeda and Daniel had been living in their car at the encampment and were happy to be moving to a building where she had lived years ago with her now-grown son and her mother, before its renovation. She had recognized the address, across the street from the South Shore Cultural Center, as a good location.
She moved to the park, where she knew someone, after she had an unruly guest in her Albany Park apartment. The first year, they stayed in a one-man tent and didn’t know how to do anything. “The second year, we were a whiz.” They moved progressively to larger tents, passing their old ones on.
Daniel calls himself a “jack of all trades” – construction, auto mechanic, bike builder, tattoo artist – and started taking little jobs. Last November, he bought his mother’s 2010 Ford Focus for $300 when she upgraded. Eukeda began driving for Uber.
A month prior to the AME, they began living in their car because of jealous threats to burn it, she said. They had been on the CES for two years, but without a social worker, because they had neither disabilities nor addictions.
“You get a certain stereotype, which is what made it hard mentally for us to deal with,” she said. “The chaos, lumping everyone here as on drugs. We’re not. I wasn’t going to do another summer here. We were going to figure something out. Do we start our own business? He’s a mechanic. I am a very educated woman. I could book appointments.”
Daniel calls them “Beauty and the Beast. I grew up in the trenches, in the poorest parts of Chicago,” while Eukeda grew up “privileged as a child until I had that one hiccup” in Albany Park.
Rapid rehousing means they won’t pay rent for two years. “We can build again, get credentials that we need,” for a home of their own or a business. Eukeda studied culinary arts and would love to have a food truck, although her work has been in sales and marketing.
“We’re ready to turn the page, although I wouldn’t take this back for anything in the world. It showed me my strengths.”
Crossword
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Vendors purchase the magazine for $1.15 and sell it for $3 plus tips. The vendor keeps all of their earnings.
Buy the Magazine, Take the Magazine
When you buy the magazine, take the magazine, and read the magazine, you are supporting our microentrepreneurs earning an income with dignity.
