The SportsWise team discusses the 2024 NFL season.
Cover Story: Welcome to chicago
With its sprawling size and thousands of spots to visit, Chicago may have a reputation big enough to startle some visitors. With this guide, StreetWise aims to explain some of the intricacies of the city – how to get around, what to do here and how to have a good time.
From the Streets
African Americans in Illinois are eight times more likely to be homeless than whites, according to a new study done for the Illinois Office to Prevent and End Homelessness. The pattern is not unique to Illinois, the researchers said, based on divergent experiences that leave Blacks fewer chances to find stable housing, suitable employment, financial security, quality healthcare and adequate schooling.
The Playground
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 Declan Canaday
Outdoor Flicks!
Movies in the Parks and Navy Pier Water Flicks
The Chicago Park District continues its tradition of free movies in the parks, starting with an 8:30 p.m. showing of "Soul," the tale of a young band teacher who travels to another world, at Murray Park (1743 W. 73rd) on August 14.
Wicker Park (1425 N. Damen) screens the 80s classic, "The Princess Bride," on August 15 at 8:15 p.m., telling of a farm boy-turned-pirate and his true love. August 20 sees Eckhart Park (1330 W. Chicago) showcasing "Matilda," an adaptation of the classic children’s book about a smart young girl’s battle against an evil headmistress, at 8 p.m. Over on the lakeside, Navy Pier's Monday night Water Flick on August 19 is a 6 p.m. showing of "Weird Science," an out-of-this-world story about two geeks who create their ideal woman.
Science, Art, & Nature
The Creative Mind of George Washington Carver at the Garfield Park Conservatory Inspired by the artistic works of famed agricultural scientist George Washington Carver, the Garfield Park Conservatory presents an exhibit of arranged floral installations inspired by Carver’s paintings and illustrations. Visitors will learn about how Carver’s passion for art inspired his botanical work, motivating him to connect with nature and explore its secrets. Reservations are required in advance for admission, though admission itself is free; they can be booked at garfieldconservatory.org/visit
Canvass the Street!
Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest
The Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest returns for its 23rd year of promoting local artists at Glenwood and Morse Ave. next to the Morse CTA station. Centered on 100+ artist vendors, the festival will also feature free live music, interactive art workshops, and fine food and craft beer from local restaurants. The Friday Night Cobblestone Jam is August 16 from 6-10 p.m. The artists’ market runs Saturday, August 17 from 11 a.m. - 9 p.m., and Sunday, August 18 from 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Anyone Can Dance!
Chicago SummerDance at Douglass Park
As part of its summer series of city-wide dance lessons, Chicago SummerDance comes to Douglass Park (1401 S. Sacramento) on August 14 for an evening of salsa and reggae lessons. Presented in collaboration with the Firehouse Community Arts Center and the National Museum of Mexican Art, the program will feature creative activities and a full class on the techniques of the two dance types, followed by a live music party open to all. The show runs 4:30-7:30 p.m. with free admission.
Heat and the Beat!
Full Moon Jam at Foster Beach
A show of burning beats comes to Foster Beach (near 5100 N. Simonds Drive) the evening of August 19, as the Full Moon Jam gathers for its monthly summer meeting. The non-profit presents a night of fire art and acoustic music, with drum circles accompanying a variety of thrilling fire-based performances, running from 7-10 p.m.
Connect, Create, Celebrate!
Poetic Platforms at Ping Tom Park
Open Architecture Chicago presents a crossover event of arts, exercise, and culture from 10:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. on August 17 at Ping Tom Park, 300 W. 19th St., below the 18th St. bridge. Local artists are invited to present wellness routines, live performances, interactive art installations, and other forms of expression. Admission is free.
Strike Up the Band!
For the Music In You at Douglass Park
Live music comes to Douglass Park (1401 S. Sacramento) the evening of August 15, as the KCR Ensemble presents an eclectic mixture of music for all ages. The award-winning, allfemale band puts on a selection of jazz, blues, and contemporary music for the public, in a concert running from 6-8 p.m.
Face to Face with the Artists!
Zhou B Art Center Reception and Gallery
The Zhou B Art Center (1029 W. 35th) opens for its monthly reception the evening of August 16 from 7-10 p.m., featuring a wide selection of international art. Organized by the internationally acclaimed Zhou brothers, it provides opportunities to discuss the featured artworks with their creators and to support the local art community.
Bringing the World Together!
Alpha and the Princes of Futa at Walsh Park
World music band Alpha and the Princes of Futa gathers at Walsh Park (1722 N. Ashland) for an August 15 showcase of African music. The group focuses on the musical traditions of the Fulani and Wolof cultures, centered on the rich cultural heritage of Senegal and Guinea. Admission is free, with the performance running from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Porch Performances!
Roscoe Village Porchfest
The residents of Lakeview and Roscoe Village come together for an intimate musical festival on August 18. Live performances from over 40 artists will take place on the front porches of homes stretching from Addison to Wellington and Ravenswood to Western Avenues, providing an intimate experience. Ticket price of $15 supports local musicians and the Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce’s efforts to promote local businesses. The concerts run 1-5 p.m.
Predicting the 2024 NFl season
John: The NFL for 2024: What are your thoughts and predictions?
Allen: I hate that Russell Adams’s not here. He was the guy who brought up the subject. Even though I do not like Green Bay, they have a pretty good quarterback [Jordan Love] and I predicted they would take the North in the National Football Conference (NFC). Russell predicted that Chicago would take it. We got some new players coming to Chicago: quarterback, wide receiver and running back, but I still got Green Bay.
William: I am with Allen on this. Probably it’s going to be Green Bay all the way or at least to the final NFC round. I like the Bears, love Chicago, but I always have a secondary team. I think the Packers have the best chance this year in terms of players. Cleveland and Cincinnati are going to be the same as always, not win that many games. Pittsburgh is going to be 50-50. The Broncos are going to have to build for another season.
John: In the American Football Conference (AFC), I say Kansas City. They are the champions, until proven
otherwise; they will probably win it all again. As far as second-fourth: I like the LA Chargers, followed by Denver and the Las Vegas Raiders.
In the AFC North, I got a surprise for you: the Pittsburgh Steelers. Baltimore is overrated. And with QB Joe Burrow, Cincinnati can be a factor. Cleveland will bring up the rear.
In the AFC South, I am going with Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville and Tennessee. In the Eastern Division, I like the Jets, Buffalo, Miami and New England. In the NFC: Detroit, Green Bay, Chicago Bears, Minnesota. In the eastern Division, Philadelphia, then Dallas, the Giants in New York and the Washington Commanders.
The NFC South: Atlanta with QB Kirk Cousins will go from being one of the worst teams in football to one of the surprises. Then Tampa Bay, New Orleans and Carolina. For the NFC Western Division, I like the 49ers, Rams, Seahawks
and Arizona Cardinals.
As far as the Super Bowl, I got Kansas City going up against the Packers as the wild card.
Allen: My predictions are San Francisco for the NFC West, Dallas for the East, Green Bay for the NFC North, Tampa Bay for the South.
For the AFC, Baltimore for the North, Buffalo for the East, Houston for the South and Kansas City for the West.
William: I am thinking kind of the same thing. Green Bay obviously for the NFC North. For the West, Los Angeles. I don’t look for the Cardinals to do much. All they have done in their whole existence is break the hearts of people in St. Louis and Metro East and then in greater Phoenix. If they do as good as they did last year, San Francisco might make the grade. In the East, I am saying Philly.
In the AFC, I don’t know if anybody in the North is going to be that good; Balti-
more stands a chance. For the South it will be Houston. In the West, Kansas City.
John: As far as playoffs, it could be the Chicago Bears, LA Rams or Dallas Cowboys. It depends if QB Caleb Williams develops into truly the No. 1 pick. If he does, Chicago will outlast Dallas for the final wild card. They got such a strong defense and I like what they are doing with wide receivers, although they do need improvement in their running game. When they picked up defensive end Montez Sweat last year, their defense improved greatly. Final thoughts?
William: I hope Mrs. Adams is feeling better soon.
John: My thoughts exactly.
Any comments, suggestions or topic ideas for the SportsWise team? Email StreetWise Editor Suzanne Hanney at suzannestreetwise@yahoo.com
Rashanah Baldwin
Vendors (l-r) William Plowman, John Hagan Jr., and A. Allen chat about the world of sports.
Welcome to Chicago
Make the most of your time in chicago with our handy guide
by Declan Canaday
With its sprawling size and thousands of spots to visit, Chicago may have a reputation big enough to startle some visitors. With this guide, StreetWise aims to explain some of the intricacies of the city – how to get around, what to do here and how to have a good time.
Transit
Getting Around the Grid
For organization purposes, the landmarks, streets, and commuter stations of Chicago are laid out on a "grid" system. The center of this grid is the downtown intersection of State and Madison streets, labeled as "0, 0." From this point, every four blocks is a major street, and every eight blocks is a mile. In this system, “800 N, 200 W” would be one mile north and a quarter-mile west of the central point at State and Madison.
The east-west streets in the downtown "Loop" are named after presidents of the United States, going south from Washington. On the South Side, the east-west streets are numbered; 55th Street is the 5500 block.
Take the L
Chicago’s elevated train system, known as the “L”, is centered on the Loop, a downtown circle of rails. The Pink, Orange, and Brown lines lead into the Loop, go around the inside, then head back out the way they came in, with the Brown line heading north, the Pink line heading west, and the Orange line heading southwest to Midway airport. The Blue Line leads from O’Hare airport to downtown. The Red and Blue lines run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, while the other lines generally operate from 4 or 5 a.m. until as late as 2 a.m. Train times and directions can be found at transitchicago.com/directions.
Pay for fares with a chip credit card or Ventra card, which can be purchased and reloaded at machines in every L train station. Using Ventra will save you 75 cents per ride compared to a paper ticket. The Ventra app acts as a "digital" card stored on smartphones compatible with contactless payments.
ride the commuter train: Metra
Metra covers outlying areas of the city and suburbs. Oneway passes start at $3.75, while a full-day pass is $7.50. These can be purchased at stations or via the Metra app. More information can be found at metra.com/fares
Or drive the Highway
As a major stop on I-90, Chicago is highly accessible by car. Take note that there are ramp closures along the Kennedy portion this summer, which might make getting on and off difficult. Prepare for road closures around the United Center, where the DNC will be headquartered, and other areas shut off for security or protests.
An important point to remember while driving in Chicago is to leave space for buses and bicycles, particularly along designated bike paths and in the marked zones where buses stop for passengers. Also note that GPS systems may not work on some roads downtown, such as the subterranean Lower Wacker Drive where cellular data may not be available.
Meet our StreetWise Vendors!
Nobody knows the city of Chicago better than our StreetWise vendors. We sat down with them to ask what spots they would recommend for visitors, along with the issues they want to see addressed at the Democratic National Convention.
William Plowman
Where is a fun place to go?
“If you like pinball, there’s the Logan Arcade on Western and Fullerton [2410 W. Fullerton]. Another good one, if you go to Water Tower Place, if you’re a Cubs fan... there’s an express elevator you can ride – while you’re riding it, it plays ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame’, an actual recording of Harry Caray singing it.”
any Restaurant suggestions?
“Hub’s [5540 N. Lincoln Ave.] has really good shakes, and all kinds of really good sandwiches and stuff.”
What Issue do you want addressed at the DNC?
“Here in Chicago, we need to start fighting for housing, full-on. You know, the homeless. Make sure disabled people can get things like Section 8 housing. Cause right now, I’m on the waiting list. I looked up - looked that up, [with the] Chicago Housing Authority, to see how long I could expect to wait for an apartment: 25 years, that’s right now, what they’re saying.
“This is what we call a great country, over here. [With the recent Supreme Court decision Grants Pass v. Johnson] We’re criminalizing poverty. You know, that really angers me.”
Check Out the Art
Chicago is home to one of the finest art scenes in the world, ranging from classic collections to miles of public art and the edgy contemporary art scene.
The Art Institute of Chicago (111 S. Michigan) houses almost 300,000 works of art, including ancient Greek sculpture, African woodcarvings, Japanese woodblock prints, and iconic works by Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Picasso, and hundreds of other artists. The Art Institute is open Friday-Monday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., closed Tuesday-Wednesday and open Thursday 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Admissions is $32; and $26 for teens and seniors. There's a temporary exhibit this summer on Georgia O'Keeffe for an extra fee.
Millennium Park, adjacent to the Art Institute, is home to what might be Chicago’s most famous iconic sculpture: Anish Kapoor’s Cloud Gate, known by locals as “The Bean”. Right next door is the Crown Fountain (201 E. Randolph), an interactive fountain that sprays water from the projected mouths of Chicago locals, providing a cool respite from the summer heat. Minutes away, find Picasso at Daley Plaza (City and county office plaza, Dearborn and Washington) and a Calder at Federal Plaza (Dearborn and Jackson).
Along the Chicago River, a massive light show projects against the side of what was once the largest building in the world. Art on the Mart is shown against the 2.5-acre façade of the famous Merchandise Mart. The free show plays every night at 9 p.m. through September 11.
Art on the Mart
Museums
Chicago is home to some of the most renowned museums in the country, ranging from natural history and the earliest human civilizations to the cutting edge of science.
Field Museum
1400 S. Lake Shore Drive
Open Daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (Last admission at 4 p.m.) fieldmuseum.org (312) 922-9410
Over a century old, home to over 24 million objects, the Field covers various aspects of our planet, including dinosaur fossils and gemstones. Basic admission is $30; special exhibits on ocean life and bloodsucking creatures are available with an additional fee.
Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
5700 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive
Open daily 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. msichicago.org (773) 684-1414
An Apollo space capsule? A Nazi submarine? An entire coal mine? This sprawling science museum, located in the heart of Jackson Park, has all of these and more. Engaging exhibits cover everything from genetics to storms to the physics of flight, along with immersive shows in a Giant Dome Theater. Admission starts at $26, with children ages 3-11 getting in for $12. Don’t forget to check out the 007 Science exhibit, featuring the technology behind the iconic James Bond movie franchise, available with an extra ticket.
Located in the heart of downtown, this highly interactive museum focuses on pre-colonial storytellers to modern works. Visitors can explore bookshelves, learn about the minds and habits of writers, and about the power of writing and reading in communities and countries. A new special exhibit, “Level Up: Writers & Gamers”, focuses on the importance of writing and storytelling in tabletop role-playing games and electronic games. Admission starts at $16 for adults, with free admission for children 12 and younger and discounts for seniors, students, and teachers.
Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures
1155 E. 58th St.
Open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat., Sun., Tues. - Wed.; Open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Fri.; Closed Mon. isac.uchicago.edu (773) 702-9514
An often-overlooked treasure trove sits at the heart of the University of Chicago. Home to artifacts ranging over 10,000 years old, the Institute hosts items from Mesopotamia, ancient Egypt, Assyria, Anatolia, Persia, and others, telling the stories of the first cities and some of the earliest pieces of writing. $10 suggested donation for adults, or $5 for children.
Cora
Where is a fun place to go?
“Let me tell you about the Starbucks Reserve Roastery. It’s the biggest one in the world, It’s over [at 646 N.] Michigan. I’ve been there, four or five floors, I mean, a variety of foods. Different things that you can buy. You go up on the top floor and sit on the rooftop.”
any Restaurant suggestions?
“Bronzeville Soul, right off of 47th and King Drive [4655 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive]. They have what we call African food, Black people’s foods, I’m talking about the macaroni, the cornbread, the greens, the catfish, all of that.”
What Issue do you want addressed at the DNC?
“The number one thing I would want addressed is technology. Technology really controls you. To come up with technology, you have to test it for years. So, when they put it into place, they knew what would happen. Someone asked me, did I watch the debate? And my answer to that was, why would I watch the debate? What anything different could they tell me that I don’t know already?”
American Writers' Museum
Kimberly
Where is a fun place to go?
“I’d recommend for them to go to Grant Park, to go sightseeing. I recommend the Museum of Science and Industry if they want somewhere to go for some leisure time, or downtown, at some of the theaters.”
Nature
What Issue do you want addressed at the DNC?
“Public health. I’ve been seeing rats, big rats, running loose. It’s outrageous - they were gone for years, I was like, ‘Thank God’, but they finally started coming back. And the epidemic, COVID - I had all three shots, because COVID has been going on for some time. Suppose that anybody got sick like me? So, I pray to the Lord that we have someone get a chance to get to those issues, to be able to take care of them. These germs are spreading, and we can eliminate them. A lot of facilities have hand sanitizers now. I have a janitorial certificate, a professional culinary cleaning certificate, so I know a lot about this. I pray to Lord a lot of these matters get taken care of, so we won’t have pneumonia, COVID, colds, throat infections, and a lot of other germs that spread around.”
Russell
Where is a fun place to go?
“If you like shopping, go to the Magnificent Mile on Michigan Avenue. They’ve got all kinds of stores. Expensive, but you have a good time shopping.
any Restaurant suggestions?
As far as food goes, Lou Malnati’s is good. What they have on North Wells [439 N. Wells St.], is they’ve got barbecue, pizza, Chicago-style pizza.”
What Issue do you want addressed at the DNC?
“I don’t like politics terribly myself, but I get that this is different. People have got attitudes, Trump supporters, Biden supporters... you might run into both, so I just don’t comment.”
Although a metropolis, Chicago has hundreds of parks, beaches, and other green spaces, earning the city its motto, Urbs in Horto - “City in a garden”. 26 miles of the city’s lakefront are dedicated to public spaces, with over 8,000 acres of parkland spread throughout the city.
Lincoln Park
Starting its life as a city burial ground, this 1,200-acre park has a variety of amenities. The free Lincoln Park Conservatory showcases thousands of exotic plants from around the world, while the free Lincoln Park Zoo, one of the oldest in the country, houses a wide variety of animals. Nearby North Avenue and Oak Street beaches are free spots to soak up the summer weather. If you arrived in town early, they provided an ideal viewing spot for the Chicago Air and Water Show August 10 and 11.
Grant Park
A shining spot in the center of the city, Grant Park ties together the iconic Art Institute of Chicago, the wide-open green space of Hutchinson Field, and the popular museums of Museum Campus, including the Adler Planetarium, Field Museum of Natural History, and Shedd Aquarium. At the center of the park is the historic Buckingham Fountain, constructed in 1927 and still one of the largest fountains in the world. Water displays are every 20 minutes, with shows running from 9-10 p.m. each night.
Jackson Park
Once home to the 1893 Columbian Exposition, Jackson Park retains remnants such as the tranquil Garden of the Phoenix, modeled after traditional Japanese gardens, and the former Palace of Fine Arts building, now home to the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. The Barack Obama Presidential Center is set to open there in 2026, commemorating the presidency and legacy of the nation’s 44th president.
Garfield Park Conservatory
The Garfield Park Conservatory, one of the largest in the nation, hosts a stunning array of landscapes from around the world. Two acres of indoor space host thousands of plants, in addition to 12 acres of outdoor gardens. Admission is free, but reservations are required at garfieldparkconservatory.org
Jackson Park
5 Foods You Must Try in Chicago
Deep Dish pizza
This signature pizza has cheese on the bottom, then fillings, with sauce on the top. Invented at the original Pizzeria Uno in 1943, deep-dish has cemented itself as a culinary icon of the Windy City. Uno continues to offer its signature pies, with well-known spots from Pizzeria Due to Gino's East, Lou Malnati's and Giordano's, all close to Michigan Avenue.
Italian beef
A product of a city once famous for its meatpacking plants, the Chicago-style Italian beef is distinguished by its thin, juicy slices, thick hero roll base, and giardiniera topping of spicy pickled vegetables. The iconic spot for Italian beef here is Al’s #1, a chain with spots all over the city. Mr. Beef in River North is featured in the popular Hulu TV series "The Bear."
Jibaritos
Born out of Chicago’s thriving Puerto Rican community, this delicious dish was developed by local chef “Pete” Figueroa. A sandwich that substitutes fried plantains for bread, the jibarito stacks up meat of your choice with lettuce, cheese, and mayonnaise. The meal has quickly endeared itself as a Chicago staple, appearing at Hispanic food spots across the city. Cocina Boriqua de la Familia Galarza is popular with locals, as are Papa’s Chache Sabroso and Jibaritos y Mas.
Chicago-style hot dog
It’s a winning combination: an all-beef sausage in a poppy seed bun, topped with yellow mustard, chopped onions, tomato slices, pickle relish, a dill pickle spear, pickled sport peppers and celery salt. The result is a knockout combination of flavor, fine-tuned to overwhelm any eater with its savory effect. The classic dog spot in the Loop would be Portillo’s, with Lincoln Park’s The Wiener’s Circle and the historic Dave’s Red Hots close behind.
Swedish cinnamon rolls
There’s nothing like a sweet treat to top off a full day of Chicago meals. Ann Sather’s has been serving up cinnamon rolls for nearly 80 years. Coming as a side to the restaurant’s fine Swedish cuisine, the rolls are packed full of gushy cinnamon filling and dipped in a thick white frosting. The delicacies are prepared daily at Ann Sather’s three locations in Lakeview and Edgewater; make sure to get there early in the morning for a full Swedish breakfast.
Tyrone
Where is a fun place to go?
"The Art Institute would be fine.”
any Restaurant suggestions?
“Corner Bakery. It’s at Union Station [444 W. Jackson Blvd.]”
What Issue do you want addressed at the DNC?
“Homelessness, I would have to say. If we keep heading in the right direction, it would cause better jobs... any job, period. Work. If you can help a homeless person to go and get a job and keep that job... I think that needs to be addressed.”
Deep Dish Pizza
Italian Beef
chicago-Style hot dog
Jibarito
Safety
Living in Chicago, one develops a kind of "street sense".
Here are a few tips from the Chicago Police Department (home.chicagopolice.org) and StreetWise staff:
• Stay aware of your surroundings.
• Travel in groups at night, sticking to well-lit and populated areas.
• Keep any bags close to your body.
• Use a mixture of caution and respect when interacting with homeless people. Acknowledgement with a nod or greeting is considered proper.
• If you’ve brought a car, lock the doors, keep the windows up, and stow valuable items out of sight.
• If you’re meeting someone, message them with your ETA and mode of transportation.
• Follow your instincts – if you feel threatened, head to the nearest open store or business, and call 911 immediately.
Debhora Williams
Where is a fun place to go?
“The Griffin-Seymour home is one of the first Black funeral homes. There are a lot of places like that.”
[Editor's Note: Ernest Griffin founded a funeral home at 3232
S. Dr. Martin Luther King Drive, which had been the site of Camp Douglas, a Union Army camp for Confederate soldiers during the Civil War. Griffin later learned his grandfather had fought in the 29th Colored Regiment Company B and had trained at Camp Douglas. He maintained a memorial wall to Black soldiers -- both Union and Confederate -- until his death in 1995. His family closed the funeral home in 2007.]
What Issue do you want addressed at the DNC?
“We need to find a way that you can find better housing. Because that is just so ridiculous. You’ve got all this money around and not enough places to live on a reasonable wage. If they have all that space, why is it that people don’t have any place to live? That is something that we should not allow to be. We’re always telling other countries how they should run their countries, while our country needs a spanking its own self.”
Allen
any Restaurant suggestions?
“Windy City Gyros [3932 N. Broadway]. Especially if they like Greek food, you know? They have a variety of foods - they have hamburgers, they have chicken, they have fish, so it’s not hard to find something.”
What Issue do you want addressed at the DNC?
“Mostly it’s the immigrant situation, okay? It’s really gotten out of hand. We on the front line as vendors are having to deal with it face-toface. They get government funds, which we pay taxes on. People in Chicago, they’ve been homeless for years, and have never been put up rent-free.”
[Editor’s note: The city’s shelter system is open to anyone, “rent-free.” New arrivals can stay 60 days, and do it again. Asylum applicants are eligible for Victims of Trafficking, Torture or other Crimes (VTTC), paid by the state of Illinois. If their income is below the Federal Poverty Level ($17,500), this includes medical assistance by Cook County Care, SNAP, and TANF like others with low income.]
Ed Cephus
Where is a fun place to go?
“They need to come see me at the Art Institute. I sell StreetWise at the Art Institute, and it’s the beginning of Route 66. So, come see me.”
any Restaurant suggestions?
“The restaurants in Millennium Park are what I would suggest. There’s a place called Wilma’s at Monroe and Wabash [Wilma's Famous BBQ & Tavern, 17 N. Wabash, 2nd Floor].”
blacks are 8x more likely to face homelessness in il
Black Illinoisans are homeless nearly eight times more than whites, according to the recent report by the Institute for Research on Race and Public Policy (IRRPP) at the University of Illinois/Chicago for the Racial Equity Roundtable of the Illinois Office to Prevent and End Homelessness (OPEH). This disparity is second only to New York, where Black residents are over 12 times more likely to be homeless than white residents.
On any given single night, nearly 10,000 Illinoisans are homeless; 58 percent are Black, although Blacks comprise less than 15 percent of the state’s population. Whites are 36 percent of the homeless population in Illinois, although they make up 60 percent of the overall population. Only Mississippi has a lower rate of white homelessness than Illinois.
Nationally, Black homelessness is four times that of whites, according to the report, which puts the blame on institutional racism: divergent experiences that leave Blacks fewer chances to find stable housing, suitable employment, financial security, quality healthcare and adequate schooling.
Three out of every 4 homes purchased between the mid-1930s and 1959 were financed by the FHA, for example. But these federally subsidized loans were largely denied to Blacks because of redlining, federal policies that deemed minority neighborhoods too risky for banks. As a result, Blacks were forced to accept predatory practices such as contract leasing, with greater risk of home loss for even one missed payment.
Rent burden is a driver of Black homelessness, as is incarceration, according to the report. For every 10 percentage point increase in the share of Black residents experiencing rent burden in Illinois, Black homelessness grows by 1.7 percent. An increase of 1 per 1,000 Black residents in jail leads to a 1% increase in homelessness, and the same increase in prison incarceration increases homelessness by 1.8%.
In Illinois, the Black jail incarceration rate in 2018 (the most recent year in their analysis) was 6.7 per 1,000 residents, while the white jail incarceration rate was 1.1 per 1,000 residents. In other words, Black Illinoisans were nearly 7 times more likely to be in jail than white Illinoisans, a rate that mirrors homelessness rates of disparity.
Jail and prison incarceration rates are unrelated to white homelessness, however, which led the researchers to say that whites probably have other resources to mitigate the effect of jail time on their lives.
Likewise, for every 1% increase in Black unemployment, Black homelessness increases by 1.43%. Whites, however, are more likely to live in neighborhoods with jobs and economic activity, which reduces the effect of unemployment on them.
Other factors impacting Black homelessness include:
• Poor access to healthcare and nutritious food, which can lead to chronic medical conditions that limit employment before the age of Medicare and Social Security eligibility.
• Youth aging out of foster care. Between 20 and 30 percent of these individuals were homeless immediately after they left the system. The report found that supervised independent living and mentoring reduced homelessness for both Black and white youth. It was also recommended that exit planning start at age 17, rather than 90 days ahead of 18th birthdays.
The Racial Equity Roundtable on Black Homelessness met bi-monthly to inform the research on the report, which included listening sessions, focus groups and interviews across the state. The 23-member Roundtable included Christine Haley, Chief Homelessness Officer in the Illinois Office to Prevent and End Homelessness; Carolyn Ross, CEO of All Chicago; Kim Hunt, executive director of Pride Action Tank; state Sen. Elgie Sims and Sol Flores, deputy governor in the office of Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
BLAIRE FLOWERS, 40, from the Austin neighborhood, couldn’t keep up with rent, so she moved into her mother’s and brother’s one -bedroom apartment. Blaire’s 13-year-old son is gay, and a shelter would have put him on the men’s side, which she didn’t feel was safe.
“I worked a lot of jobs, but nothing I did was enough to get me back into my own apartment. It got scarier and scarier: the places I was able to find for us to afford. It was one place that the police was in there so much because of the prostitution, I thought we was gonna get kicked out.
“There is no safety in this community, but y’all feel like you can raise the rent to $1,400. How do that make sense? And then you got to prove that you make double the rent. Who the f... is making $3,000 a month like that?
JUANITA JOHNSON, 46, Peoria, stayed in a shelter with her four children, whose friends taunted them when they got on the school bus there. An eviction on her record made it impossible for her to get subsidized or other housing – even with money in hand – and it also meant that people took advantage of her.
“That didn’t work out, because me being homeless, they felt like, ‘Well, you homeless, so you’ll do anything. You got to clean up. You got to cook. You got to do this, you got to do that,’ because I’m staying in their house. Or treated my kids different than they treated their kids.
“I worked every day. Because [my kids] needed a lot of stuff. It took me close to two years to save up $2,500.”
ROBERT CUNNINGHAM, 78, was born and raised in Chicago. After time in jail, he was in a halfway house, then became homeless. He had jobs, but because of his felony conviction, he used multiple pseudonyms to find work.
“Me being an ex-convict, I was fortunate to get this [apartment]. I let them know about my background and everything, but they allowed me to come in. They usually always judge and base everything on your past. The first thing they bring up is your prior arrest. And this is something that happened maybe 20 years ago. And you still talking about that and I already done served my time for that but you still bringing that up. People can change. Just because you did that 20 years ago don’t mean you the same person.”
ROZETA ANTHONY, 54, came to Chicago from Little Rock more than 28 years ago. Unable to get Section 8 housing for eight years, she has always lived in unsubsidized housing and worked two or three jobs to take care of her girls.
Now she has seizures, an aneurysm, insomnia, high blood pressure, chronic bronchitis, chronic asthma and COPD. She needs a stent in her heart and applied for disability – but was denied.
“Since I’ve been sick, it’s been a struggle, because I was busy, trying to go see all these specialists. And then I had to switch my insurance because a lot of people didn’t take County Care. I still need surgery. And I still need to see a doctor.”
BIANA CLARK , 33, was born in Chicago but has lived in Peoria. The mother of four boys, the youngest a 4-year-old who’s autistic, she has lived in her car because she can’t find housing.
“I saw my parents struggle my whole life. It was definitely hard, being pushed out of my home at 18. And then trying to find someone to roommate with. I’m trying to go to high school. I’m trying to work.”
Last Week's Answers
Crossword
StreetWise exists
marginalized voices
provide opportunities for individuals to earn an income and gain employment. Anyone who wants to work has the opportunity to move themselves out of crisis.
