The SportsWise team chats about the history of boxing.
Healthwise
The importance of skin cancer screening.
Cover Story: Grants pass, oregon v. johnson
On June 28, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a lower court ruling on an Oregon homelessness case and decided criminalizing homeless residents for sleeping outside is not cruel and unusual punishment. Jeremiah Hayden from our sister paper, Street Roots, based in Portland, Oregon, reports on the Supreme Court's decision from Washington, DC.
From the Streets
A North Lawndale laundry service opens for Chicago area hospitals and creates new jobs in the process. In addition, the Pattis Family Foundation and the Newberry Library announce the recipient of the $25,000 Chicago Book Award.
The Playground
ON THE COVER: A tent encampment in Grant's Pass, Oregon.
THIS PAGE: The U.S. Supreme Court (Both photos Jeremiah Hayden / Street Roots).. 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
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT RECOMMENDATIONS
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by Declan Canaday
Saturday in the Park!
Millennium Park 20th Anniversary Celebration
In celebration of 20 years since its opening, Millennium Park will offer four days of free entertainment for people of all ages, July 18- 21 at Jay Pritzker Pavilion. Thursday kicks off at 5 p.m. with ¡Súbelo!, a festival of diverse Latine music from fusion to salsa. Friday will have a 6:30 p.m. concert of the music of John Williams by the Grant Park Orchestra, including iconic themes from "Star Wars," "Indiana Jones," and more. Saturday has a full-day schedule of activities for the whole family, capped off by a 7:30 p.m. performance by Grammy-winning Chicago rapper Common in collaboration with the Grant Park Orchestra. Sunday caps the commemoration with another full day of family fun, ending with a 4 p.m. set by "The S&S Chicago Experience" showcasing the best of House music.
Pitchforks at the Ready!
Pitchfork Music Festival
Online music magazine Pitchfork returns to Chicago for its 18th year, July 19- 21, offering both rising stars and established legends at Union Park (1501 W. Randolph St., entrance at the intersection of Ashland and Washington/Ogden). Headliners include Grammynominated psychedelic soul group Black Pumas, hyperpop duo 100 Gecs, singer-songwriter Carly Rae Jepsen, indie rocker Brittany Howard, and Canadian icon Alanis Morrissette. The festival grounds also feature local vendors, Chicago cuisine, a craft fair, and more. Tickets start at $129 for one-day admission, and are available at www.pitchforkmusicfestival.com. Valid ID required for admission. Gates open at noon daily. Make sure to stop by the GiveAShi*t booth and say hi! As always, 100% of T-shirt proceeds benefit StreetWise!
Films All Around!
Free Movie Showings in Chicago Parks and at the Navy Pier
The Chicago Park District continues its series of free films in parks across the city. July 19 sees the Commercial Club Playground (1845 W. Rice) hosting an 8:30 p.m. screening of last year’s smash hit, "Barbie," focused on the iconic doll and her misadventures in the real world. Jonquil Park (1001 W. Wrightwood) will have an 8:30 p.m. screening on July 20 of the 1986 classic "Ferris Bueller’s Day Off," with the titular smart-aleck teen striving to make the most of a beautiful Chicago day. On the waterfront, Navy Pier continues its summer series of 6:30 p.m. "Water Flicks" with a July 22 screening of Disney’s "Elemental," focused on the complicated love between a man made of water and a woman made of fire.
Rush Hour Rhythms!
Classical Music Chicago Rush Hour Concerts
Classical Music Chicago continues its popular summer series of free chamber performances, exhibiting the best of Chicago’s classical scene for the benefit of commuters. Concerts are performed live at the historic St. James Episcopal Cathedral (65 E. Huron St.) from 5:45 to 6:30 p.m., and air live on 98.7 WFMT and via livestream at classicalmusicchicago.org. The July 16 concert will be "New Music for a New Age": a selection of contemporary works reflecting the shifting role of music in our complicated times. July 23 will focus on The Art of the Clarinet Quintet", works by Brahms and Coleridge performed by members of the Chicago Symphony and Lyric Opera Orchestras.
The Best of 'Malt Row'!
Ravenswood On Tap
One of the most diverse brewers’ neighborhoods in the nation is pulling out all the stops – from brandywine to lager – July 20-21. Running from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, Ravenswood on Tap pops the bottle on some of Chicago’s best independent breweries, alongside a showcase of live music from upcoming bands, axe throwing and skeeball competitions. A suggested $10 donation benefits local businesses and art projects via the Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce. Main entrance is at Ravenswood and Berteau, on the east side of the train tracks.
Patty Party!
Roscoe Village Burger Fest
Vote for Chicago's best burger at this 3-day event centered at 2000 W. Belmont July 19-21. Hours are 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Two stages will feature non-stop live music, with headliners Rod Tuffcurls and the Bench Press, Mucca Pazza, Hello Weekend, Dancing Queen: An ABBA Salute, Yacht Rock-ettes, Libido Funk Circus, Boy Band Review. You'll also find arts and crafts, and a Kids Zone. A $10 suggested donation will benefit the Lakeview-Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce.
Down by the River!
Taste of River North
The popular festival showcasing the best dining in the heart of the city returns July 19-21. Hours are 5-10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, on Wells Street between Ontario and Chicago. Highlights include a variety of offerings from the area’s best eateries, a Friday evening wine tasting, and a Saturday morning dog parade, with prizes for different categories. This event helps the River North Residents’ Association improve local quality of life and protect the neighborhood’s unique environment. More information can be found at www. tasteofrivernorth.com
The Pride of Pilsen!
Tacos y Tamales Festival
It’s an all-out fiesta at the Chicago Taco Y Tamales Festival, July 19-21 at 16th and Peoria in Pilsen. Genuine Latin cuisine and culture will be centerstage among local art and merchant vendors, Latin music and dance performances, and, of course, prime tacos, tamales, and other selections from a whole continent of delicious dishes. Admission is free, with suggested donations to benefit local community organizations. Festival hours are 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Keep on Truckin'!
Chicago Food Truck Festival
The city's finest meals on wheels come together for a motorcade of gourmet dining, as the Chicago Food Truck Festival celebrates its 11th season July 20 and 21 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 2300 S. Indiana Ave. Commemorating the "Summer of the Daisy," the festival is partnering with the Chicago Margarita Festival to present artful pairings of food and drink amid live music. Admission is free, with tickets for drinks sold separately.
Writing For All!
American Writers’ Museum Free Admission Day – With New Exhibit ‘Level Up: Writers and Gamers’
In partnership with DePaul University, the American Writers’ Museum (180 N. Michigan Ave.) is offering a day of free admission on July 21, promoting its mission to educate and excite audiences about the importance and influence of American writers in shaping our national identity and culture. A special "Made in Chicago" tour will be offered at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. Visitors will also be able to see the new special exhibit, "Level Up", focused on the role of writing in tabletop and video games from the 1970s to the present. For more information, visit www. americanwritersmuseum.org
Recalling the eras of boxing
Allen: What era in boxing did you enjoy most: the Muhammad Ali era, the Mike Tyson era, or the Tyson Fury era?
First of all, Ali was a threetime champion. His famous slogan was, “Float like a butterfly and sting like a bee.” Muhammed Ali had a lot of skills, because he did float like a butterfly and sting like a bee in the ring. He dodged punches with his footwork and then delivered knockout blows. He started boxing in 1960, successfully challenged Sonny Liston for the world heavyweight championship in 1964; regained the title from George Foreman at the 1974 “Rumble in the Jungle” (Zaire) and then won it again in 1978 when he defeated Leon Spinks. In 1999, he was named Sportsman of the Century by Sports Illustrated and Sports Personality of the Century by BBC.
Tyson was the world heavyweight champion from 1987 to 1990 and Fury held multiple heavyweight titles from 2015 to 2016 as well as the World Boxing Council title from 2020 to 2024.
I like the era in between Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson: when Ali lost to Larry Holmes in 1980 and Mike Tyson was watching it on TV and wanted to avenge Ali’s
loss. And he did, in 1988.
Russell: Between the Ali era, the Mike Tyson era and Ty Fury, the Ali era had better fighters: Ali, Ken Norton, Joe Frazier, hard-hitting, Jimmy Young. Back in them days, the Ali era, they would just destroy the Tyson era and kill the Fury era, because they ain’t got nobody now. They were fighting to fight. So, the Ali era by a longshot. Don’t forget about Sonny Liston, Floyd Patterson, Ernie Terrell. Tyson was okay, but he lost to Buster Douglas. Ali lost fights too but he lost to good fighters: Norton, Frazier. The one I don’t like is that he lost to Leon Spinks. He took the title from Ali, but Ali got it back.
William: Ali’s was probably about the best boxing era. You could still see most boxing matches actually on TV. They didn’t have any of that cable or pay-per-view like you do now. Muham-
mad Ali was more genuine. I liked him too because he was against the Vietnam War, although that’s politics and I don’t want to get into that. Mike Tyson was more of a glamour boy. Nintendo made that video game, “PunchOut!!,” where you had to work your way up to fighting Tyson. I think sometimes he might have let that go to his head. Remember in 1997 with Evander Holyfield, he actually bit that guy’s ear lobe off, so then I was not a Mike Tyson fan if he was going to be doing that kind of stuff. But I always liked Muhammad Ali and I got a kick out of the commercial that he did for Ore-Ida hashbrowns back in the early ’80s.
John: Definitely Muhummad Ali, because you had a better quality of boxers including Larry Holmes, George Foreman of Foreman Grills, Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier, whom he fought three times, including the "Thrilla in Manila" in
1975. It went 14 rounds, and Ali won by a corner retirement.
The only ones Tyson fought were Larry Holmes, who was at that time at the twilight of his career, and Michael Spinks. Evander Holyfield beat him in an 11th round knockout in 1996 and Buster Douglas was a one-hit wonder against him.
And not Tyson Fury, except for his 11-round knockout of Deontay Wilder in 2021.
You don't have the quality of boxers now and you don't have the consistent training. It's more Mixed Martial Arts. The marketing is different from the 70s into the 80s, when it was on ABC Wide World of Sports.
Any comments, suggestions or topic ideas for the SportsWise team? Email StreetWise Editor Suzanne Hanney at suzannestreetwise@yahoo.com
Vendors (clockwise): A. Allen, Russell Adams, William Plowman, and John Hagan chat about the world of sports.
Screening for Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. It is one of the most curable forms of cancer, especially when screened for on a regular basis. Almost all skin cancers are due to too much exposure to ultraviolet light. Ultraviolet light is found in sunlight, tanning booths, and sunlamps. Most skin cancers occur on parts of the body that are repeatedly exposed to the sun.
Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are two of the most common forms of skin cancer. They are almost always slow-growing. If found early, they are easy to treat and do not spread.
Melanoma is a less common (only 2% of cases) but an aggressive form of skin cancer. It can occur anywhere on your body, including places that are not exposed to the sun. It can spread to other tissues if not found early. It can spread through the whole body and may cause death. Not all skin cancers look the same. It is important to look for a new or changing bump, growth, lesion, mole, or rough patch of skin.
The ABCDE rule can help you remember what to look for when you are checking for moles. If you notice any of these signs, talk to your doctor right away.
A for asymmetry –Mole is not the same on both sides
B for border – Edges of the mole are blurry or jagged
C for color – Darkening, loss of color, spreading color, or multiple colors
D for diameter – A mole more than ¼ inch in diameter
E for evolving – Mole looks different from others or is changing in shape, size, or color
The first step to diagnosing skin cancer is usually through regular self-examination. Using a mirror, check every inch of your skin. Use the ABCDE rule above. If you find anything unusual, see your provider. The earlier skin cancer is found, the better. If you have skin changes that might be skin cancer, your doctor will do a biopsy. During a biopsy, a small piece of your skin is removed and sent to the lab for testing. If skin cancer is found, you may need more tests to see if the cancer cells have spread.
Here is how you can prevent or reduce the risk of skin cancer:
• Avoid the sun. Avoid being in the sun in the middle of the day, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun is the strongest.
• Use sunscreen. Use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, even on cloudy days. Sunscreen cannot give you 100% protection against the sun’s harmful UV radiation.
• Wear a hat, protective clothing, and sunglasses
• Do not use tanning beds or sunlamps. They damage your skin just like natural sunlight does.
• Protect your kids. Children younger than 6 months of age should never be outside in direct sunshine. Children 6 months of age or older should wear sunscreen every day.
Dr. Marina Claudio is a board-certified family physician who has been in practice since 2003. She is currently a Medical Director at Molina Healthcare of Illinois/Wisconsin. She's a graduate of the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago and completed her residency in Family Medicine at the UIC/Advocate Illinois Masonic Family Medicine Residency Program.
by Dr. Marina Claudio
Supreme Court rules arresting, citing people for not having shelter IS constitutional
by Jeremiah Hayden
The U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision in Grants Pass v. Johnson on June 28, reversing the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals injunction barring the city of Grants Pass, Oregon from enforcing ordinances banning sleeping in public spaces.
In a 6-3 decision, conservative justices reversed the lower court’s 2022 ruling that said punishing homeless residents for sleeping in public spaces when they have no other option violated the cruel and unusual punishment clause of the U.S. Constitution’s Eighth Amendment.
The Supreme Court sent the case back to the 9th Circuit for further proceedings, saying its 2018 Martin v. Boise decision — which served as the backdrop for the Grants Pass case — went too far in applying the Eighth Amendment to homeless residents facing punishment for sitting, lying or sleeping in public.
The ruling is expected to significantly impact homelessness policy throughout the United States, as many local governments currently prohibit public sleeping under threat of civil or criminal penalties regardless of shelter availability.
Conservative Justices Neil Gorsuch, Clarence Thomas, John Roberts, Samuel Alito, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett formed the majority opinion. Liberal Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented.
Gorsuch wrote for the majority, saying the Eighth Amendment does not authorize federal judges to dictate homelessness policy and it should be left to the American people. The majority ruling argued because Grants Pass’ anti-homeless ordinances theoretically apply to everyone, they do not effectively criminalize status, but rather conduct.
“Yes, people will disagree over which policy responses are best; they may experiment with one set of approaches only
to find later another set works better; they may find certain responses more appropriate for some communities than others,” Gorsuch said. “But in our democracy, that is their right.”
In her dissenting opinion, Sotomayor said it is possible for the court to balance the issues facing local governments, the humanity and dignity of homeless people and constitutional principles. She said the majority focused solely on local governments while leaving the most vulnerable with the impossible choice of staying awake or being arrested.
“Sleep is a biological necessity, not a crime,” Sotomayor said. In amicus briefs filed in advance of oral arguments, elected officials, police departments and business associations throughout the West Coast joined Grants Pass in saying two interrelated 9th Circuit decisions — Martin v. Boise and Grants Pass v. Johnson — remove the tools they need to address the growing homelessness crisis.
Advocates for homeless residents say laws penalizing people who have nowhere else to go violate the Eighth Amendment because they punish people for the status of being homeless. While the city said the laws are applied to everyone, counsel for a class of involuntarily homeless residents argued in court that the ordinances are exclusively enforced against those who have nowhere else to go.
Theane Evangelis, legal counsel for the city of Grants Pass, said the 9th Circuit’s decisions tied the hands of local governments, and applauded the Supreme Court’s reversal.
“The Court has now restored the ability of cities on the frontlines of this crisis to develop lasting solutions that meet the needs of the most vulnerable members of their communities, while also keeping our public spaces safe and clean,” Evan-
gelis said. “Years from now, I hope that we will look back on today’s watershed ruling as the turning point in America’s homelessness crisis.”
Ed Johnson, Oregon Law Center, or OLC, director of litigation, who brought the initial suit against Grants Pass, said the decision was disappointing. He said that the solution to the U.S. homelessness crisis does not ultimately rest with the courts.
“We are disappointed that a majority of the Court has decided that our Constitution allows a city to punish its homeless residents simply for sleeping outside with a blanket to survive the cold when there is nowhere else for them to go,” Johnson said.
Johnson added that the court did not reach the Excessive Fines Clause claim or rule out the possibility that the Grants Pass ordinances violate the Due Process Clause, leaving room for future challenges. The absence of a decision on those claims will likely lead to further litigation.
Helen Cruz was intermittently homeless in Grants Pass for years and continues to provide meals to the local homeless community. She received multiple fines and won an appeal to an exclusion order in 2022.
“It is appalling to me that nine people in little black dresses can have the power to hold the fate of someone's life in their hands,” Cruz told Street Roots. “What this ruling has done is stripped any kind of hope that the homeless community here in Grants Pass had. How can you beat someone down even more?”
Status v. Conduct
In a concurring opinion, Thomas opened the door for future challenges to Robinson v. California, a 1962 Supreme Court case that determined a person cannot be punished for the involuntary status of being addicted to the use of narcotics. Robinson is frequently cited in Grants Pass v. Johnson, as the 9th Circuit Court affirmed in Martin v. Boise that “a person cannot be prosecuted for involuntary conduct if it is an unavoidable consequence of one’s status,” such as a homeless person sleeping in public when they lack an alternative. Thomas’ opinion could pave the way for laws criminalizing other involuntary statuses.
“Rather than let Robinson’s erroneous holding linger in the background of our Eighth Amendment jurisprudence, we should dispose of it once and for all,” Thomas wrote. “In an appropriate case, the Court should certainly correct this error.”
What about Oregon?
For now, the court’s opinion may have little bearing in Oregon. The Oregon Legislature codified the Martin v. Boise decision into state law in 2021. ORS 195.530 dictates any local laws regulating sitting, lying, sleeping or keeping warm and dry outdoors on public property “must be objectively reasonable with regards to people experiencing homelessness” in Oregon.
That law may ultimately leave homeless Oregonians with legal avenues protecting them. The court’s decision explicitly referenced Oregon’s “necessity defense,” which would allow homeless residents to argue they only broke the law due to their inherent need to sleep. Still, the burden of proof may fall on each homeless resident on an individualized basis if making a claim in court. Legal experts say by the time a homeless resident goes through the court system after being swept — and in some cases jailed — they have already been summarily punished.
That state law, however, is likely to face new challenges. State lawmakers began calling for changes to the state law immediately after the Supreme Court issued its decision.
“The Oregon Legislature must act to reverse the misguided law that codified this unconstitutional 9th circuit decision,” state Rep. Ed Diehl said on X shortly after the decision was announced June 28.
State House Minority Leader Jeff Helfrich also celebrated the decision in a prepared statement.
"The Supreme Court's ruling is a victory for common sense and highlights what conservative leadership looks like," Helfrich said.
In its opinion, the court explicitly said local governments can address homelessness via policy choices, regardless of its decision.
“Nothing in today’s decision prevents states, cities, and counties from going a step further and declining to criminalize public camping altogether,” the majority said in its decision. Gov. Tina Kotek said her office is reviewing the decision. She
said the intent behind ORS 195.530 was to affirm that cities choosing to regulate survival activities must develop laws that are reasonable and take into account the resources available to individuals experiencing homelessness. She echoed what many legal and homelessness experts say regarding what is necessary to materially resolve the crisis.
“Regardless of the Court’s decision, we must do all we can to address homelessness,” she said. “This includes addressing the primary driver of homelessness — our lack of affordable housing. My focus will continue to be on supporting Oregonians moving into housing and connecting them with the services they need to prevent homelessness.”
Background
OLC filed the class action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of Medford on Oct. 15, 2018 — just six weeks after the 9th Circuit issued its decision in Martin v. Boise. That decision served as the legal backdrop for the Grants Pass case and found the U.S. Constitution blocks cities from imposing criminal penalties on homeless people for sitting, sleeping or lying outside on public property if adequate alternative shelter isn’t available.
Initially filed as Debra Blake v. Grants Pass, the complaint argued that a web of ordinances criminalized the existence of homeless individuals in the city. Debra Blake died in 2021, and Gloria Johnson and John Logan stepped in as class representatives as the appeal made its way to the 9th Circuit Court and ultimately to the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on April 22.
The question presented to the court was whether city ordinances leveling civil and criminal penalties against involuntarily homeless individuals — meaning they have no other option — is cruel and unusual punishment.
Despite significant initial pushback from the community, Grants Pass City Council unanimously approved a small emergency shelter and navigation center run by MINT on April 17. Still, the building’s capacity is well below what is needed to ensure everyone has an option to sleep indoors.
Left: Helen Cruz. Right: A tent encampment in Grant's Pass, OR. Far Right: Grant's Pass City Hall Building (All photos by Jeremiah Hayden / Street Roots).
Grants Pass historically had no low-barrier emergency shelter consistently available for homeless residents. The only shelter for adults was the Gospel Rescue Mission — a high-barrier program that opened in 1983. The mission requires people who stay there to participate in a work program, attend daily Christian services, abstain from substances (including nicotine), and does not allow socializing with the opposite sex except at approved events. The mission acknowledges gender and sexuality in “Biblical terms,” according to its house rules.
Still, the city ordinances require homeless residents living in vehicles to move every 72 hours, and police force people living in parks to move as often as allowed by state law, which is also 72 hours. City code bars anyone from sleeping in public spaces or using sleeping materials for the purpose of maintaining a temporary place to live. Police give homeless residents $295 citations for “scattering rubbish,” a loosely defined term for items officers find near a tent. Fines for violating camping ordinances can increase to $537.60 if left unpaid.
If a person receives two or more citations within a year for violating park rules, they can receive an exclusion order barring them from being in the park for 30 days under threat of criminal trespass. A person found guilty of criminal trespass can be punished with up to 30 days in jail and a $1,250 fine.
The Medford court ruled the city’s ordinances violated the Eighth Amendment in July 2020. On appeal, the 9th Circuit issued a permanent injunction Sept. 28, 2022, barring West Coast states in its jurisdiction from issuing civil and criminal penalties against involuntarily homeless residents lacking reasonable alternative shelter.
In August 2023, Grants Pass petitioned the Supreme Court to hear the case. Arguing the 9th Circuit erred in its ruling, the city claimed the Eighth Amendment sets limits on bail, fines and punishments but does not say what conduct governments may deem unlawful in the first place.
The Chicago Coalition fOr The Homeless and The aids foundation react
Chicago Coalition for the Homeless (CCH) termed itself “deeply disappointed that the U.S. Supreme Court limited the rights of people experiencing homelessness” in its June 28 decision in the Johnson v. Grants Pass case, and the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and the Center for Housing and Health (CHH) said they were “deeply concerned.”
Originating from Grants Pass, Oregon, the Supreme Court decision allows cities to penalize people for sleeping outdoors if they have even a blanket to stay warm, even when they have nowhere else to go. Lower court decisions in the case found that fining and arresting people in those circumstances was “cruel and unusual punishment” under the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution.
The Court’s decision does not recognize the reality of the lived experience of people who have no place else to go, CCH wrote. “As noted in the first sentence of Justice Sotomayor’s dissent, ‘Sleep is a biological necessity, not a crime.’”
“Fining and penalizing people experiencing homelessness does not solve homelessness. Indeed, criminalizing homelessness only serves to exacerbate it,” said Patricia Nix-Hodes, director of the Law Project of CCH. “The solution to homelessness is to provide permanent affordable housing.”
CCH referred to a severe shortage of affordable housing in Chicago and across the U.S., along with a lack of emergency shelter. Anti-bedding ordinances, like those at issue in Grants Pass, would be particularly harmful to people experiencing homelessness in climates like Chicago’s. If homelessness were similarly punished here, Black Chicagoans would be disproportionately hurt.
City officials on June 7 released the results of the Jan. 25, 2024 Point in Time (PIT) count of people living on the street and in shelters, which showed that Chicago’s existing homeless population, excluding migrants, was 72 percent African American, although they comprise less than 30 percent of the city’s population. There were 3,523 non-new arrivals in shelters and 1,422 unsheltered, up 18 percent from the 2023 PIT count. (StreetWise June 26-July 9, 2024)
Chicago has also received more than 40,000 migrants from the southern border since August 2022. As of the 2024 PIT count, there were 13,679 of these new arrivals in dedicated shelters and 212 unsheltered.
“Homelessness in Chicago is an issue of equity,” primarily among people who make less than 30% of Area Median Income, ($23,550 for a single person), according to the City’s 2024 Homelessness report, also released June 7. The report notes a deficiency of 119,000 affordable units.
The Chicago Housing Authority, meanwhile, serves 135,000 people -- 102,000 of them through vouchers with private market landlords. The CHA waiting list ranges from a few months for homeless veterans to 25 years, according to its website.
Chicago Coalition for the Homeless (CCH) and nearly 30 partners filed an amicus “friend of the court” brief in the Supreme Court case, regarding the impact on people experiencing homelessness in Chicago and Illinois. Pro bono law firm Much Shelist supported CCH in filing the brief, and attorneys Steven Blonder, Josh Leavitt, and Charlotte Franklin were instrumental in drafting it. Legal Council for Health Justice and Law Center for Better Housing also partnered on the brief.
CCH joined the National Homelessness Law Center and hundreds of other organizations that submitted more than 40 amicus briefs in support of people experiencing homelessness.
Amicus brief partners included: AIDS Foundation Chicago, All Chicago Making Homelessness History, BEDS Plus, Inc., Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, Chicago Rehab Network, Chicago Urban League, Chicago Women Take Action, Covenant House Illinois, Deborah’s Place, Farmworker and Landscaper Advocacy Project, Healthcare Alternative Systems, Inc, Heartland Alliance Health, Housing Action Illinois, Illinois Public Health Institute, Impact for Equity, James B. Moran Center for Youth Advocacy, Law Center for Better Housing, Legal Council for Health Justice, LYTE Collective, North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic, Organized Communities Against Deportations, Red Line Service Institute, Safer Foundation, South Suburban PADS, Street Samaritans, The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence, The Night Ministry, and Thresholds. The AIDS Foundation and CHH, in a separate press release, also pointed to the lack of affordable housing and shortage of shelter beds.
“Instead of working toward the root cause of this country’s homelessness crisis – housing – this ruling has now made it legal for Grants Pass and other cities and states across the country to criminalize people experiencing homelessness,” AIDS Foundation Housing Policy and Advocacy Manager Dominique Chew wrote. “This is a waste of taxpayer dollars and the city’s time and will certainly cause lifelong harm to those who are impacted by this ruling via needless arrests, tickets, and fines.”
The High Court's ruling will be ineffective in ending homelessness, Chew wrote. Instead, housing with supportive services keeps people stable – and healthy.
– Suzanne Hanney, from prepared materials
North Lawndale facility provides 175 laundry
Community, business, and civic leaders cut the ribbon June 26 on Fillmore Linen Service, (FLS) a locally owned industrial-scale laundry facility in North Lawndale that will clean up to 30 million pounds of hospital laundry annually and in the process create over 175 jobs in the West Side community.
FLS is the anchor tenant of the Fillmore Center, a 168,000-square-foot business hub at 4100 W. Fillmore St., former headquarters of Calumet Baking Powder Company. A collaboration by North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council (NLCCC), North Lawndale Employment Network (NLEN), West Side United, Skills for Chicagoland’s Future, Chicago CRED, UCAN, and the Steans Family Foundation (SFF), the Fillmore Center is dedicated to creating quality careers for residents, catalyzing business activity, and addressing economic disparities in North Lawndale. Project development partners include J&J Construction and Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives.
Chicago-based healthcare facilities now send most of their laundry up to 170 miles outside Chicago. In addition to supporting the local economy, FLS will significantly reduce transportation costs, environmental impact and turnaround time. Its state-of-the-art equipment is designed to reduce energy and water consumption.
Rush University System for Health (RUSH) was the first customer to sign with FLS, and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago has also committed.
Redevelopment of the Fillmore Center was made possible with support from the City of Chicago, the State of Illinois, the federal government, and philanthropic partners.
The Fillmore Center will receive up to $10 million in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and approximately $7 million in New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) equity provided by Dudley Ventures, generated from Chicago Development Fund, Cinnaire, and Dudley Ventures credits.
The State of Illinois contributed $2.5 million for infrastructure improvements, with an additional $2 million for community outreach programs secured by Senate Democrats. The project received $1.25 million from the Chicago Community Trust. Northern Trust provided up to $10 million in a bridge loan.
The Fillmore Center will also house small local businesses like Kribi Coffee Air Roastery and Southside Blooms. www.fillmorelinenservice.com.
– Suzanne Hanney, from prepared materials
pattis Family Foundation and the Newberry Library announce book award
Thomas Leslie, author of “Chicago Skyscrapers 1934-1986: How Technology, Politics, Finance, & Race Reshaped the City,” is the winner of the $25,000 Chicago Book Award, announced by The Pattis Family Foundation and the Newberry Library. The award celebrates works that transform public understanding of Chicago, its history, and its people.
"Chicago Skyscrapers" is a book about architecture, but it also "tells a compelling story about the politics, technology, and personalities behind the construction of some of Chicago’s most iconic buildings and helps us better appreciate the history of how our city grew,” said Astrida Orle Tantillo, president and librarian of the Newberry.
The juried panel also recognized John William Nelson as the shortlist award author of “Muddy Ground: Native Peoples, Chicago's Portage, and the Transformation of a Continent.” He will receive a $2,500 award. The Chicago portage was the land between a network of canoe routes that connected the Great Lakes and Mississippi watersheds, which grew into a crossroads of interaction as Indigenous and European people vied for its control during early contact and colonization.
The Pattis Family Foundation Chicago Book Award is open to writers in a variety of genres -- including history, biography, social sciences, poetry, drama, graphic novels, and fiction—all relating to Chicago. Toya Wolfe received the 2023 Pattis Award for "Last Summer on State Street", and Dawn Turner received the inaugural award in 2022 for "Three Girls from Bronzeville".
– Suzanne Hanney, from prepared materials
Left: The cover of "Chicago Skyscrapers 1934-1986: How Technology, Politics, Finance & Race Reshaped the City." Below: Thomas Leslie (Both images courtesy of the University of Illinois Press.)
