This month’s deep freeze has left Chicago’s homeless residents in deadly peril. But housing insecurity is not just an extreme-weather problem, some advocates say, and the city needs to take a bolder approach to housing policy.
homelessness

About two dozen volunteers of all ages took to the streets Saturday to distribute 120 care pages to people experiencing homelessness in Chicago. Meet the founders of The heARTS Project, the new nonprofit behind the effort.

Growing up in a family of 19 children, Jermaine Jordan learned both how to cook and to share. Today, he’s using those skills on a much larger scale at Healthy Hot Free Meals, a restaurant he opened in October.

Zac Lowing scours the beach for sea glass, but his work is about more than the sculptures he creates. Through his platform, he hopes to bring attention to the homeless community.

Meet Elizabeth Morales, a 29-year-old teacher and community service organizer who is working to support local families and individuals struggling with food and housing insecurity during the coronavirus pandemic.

Chicago officials on Tuesday announced $8 million in grants for expanded mental health care services across the city, including for some of Chicago’s most vulnerable residents: those experiencing homelessness.

Painted fridges stocked with free, fresh food and drinks have been popping up across Chicago for the past two months. Find out how the Love Fridge project is helping those in need during the pandemic.

In a country that’s surpassed 5 million identified cases and 169,000 deaths, researchers don’t know why there appear to be so few outbreaks among the homeless.

Advocates hosted a virtual candlelight vigil Wednesday morning to honor Aaron Curry, who was killed last month while living in Grant Park, and to call on the city of Chicago to dedicate an additional $100 million annually to housing resources.

For many homeless people in Chicago, staying safely sheltered and isolated during the coronavirus outbreak simply isn’t an option. How one nonprofit is helping people in need.

A young Chicagoan is celebrating the season of giving year-round with his “blessing bags.” Jahkil Jackson tells us about his mission to help the homeless and his recent appearance on Marvel’s “Hero Project.”

More than 16,000 CPS students dealt with some form of homelessness last school year. Now, Chicago aldermen and a local nonprofit are calling on Mayor Lori Lightfoot to support what they believe could be an “immediate solution.”

In his new film “The Public,” writer, director and actor Emilio Estevez examines the intersection of homelessness and public spaces. Estevez joins us to discuss the film along with Chicago-based artist Che “Rhymefest” Smith and author Ryan Dowd.

The mayor said he understands the seriousness of homelessness and the city’s lead pipes, but he doesn’t think homeowners should be treated “as an ATM machine.”

Caring for patients is a vital part of the medical school experience. Armed with knowledge and backpacks full of supplies, a group of students is taking its skills to the streets of Chicago.

The Chicago Coalition for the Homeless says its newly announced proposal could generate $150 million per year for homeless services and decrease the city’s homeless population by 36,000 in just 10 years.