Center for Urban Research and Learning
PATHWAYS TO STABLE HOUSING
Their research goal is to work with others. Not for others, and not on others, either. It’s a small difference that has a huge impact at the Center for Urban Research and Learning (CURL). Since launching in 1996 at Loyola, CURL has partnered with community leaders across Chicagoland to research the issues affecting local communities, including inequality, domestic violence, criminal justice, as well as employment.
A number of those projects have shone light on the countless situations that can leave and keep people struggling with homelessness. Most notably, a series of projects since 2008 with the Chicago Housing for Health Partnership at the AIDS Foundation of Chicago analyzed a new approach to policy called “Housing First,” the idea of first helping someone find a permanent and affordable home, before asking them to address other issues like employment, mental health, or addiction. In partnership with Chicago Alliance to End Homelessness, the City of Chicago, and major philanthropic stakeholders led by the Chicago Community Trust, CURL oversaw a team of researchers in 2009 to evaluate the effectiveness of Chicago’s Plan to End Homelessness efforts. Other research projects looked at women and homelessness with Deborah’s Place and aging and homelessness by partnering again with the Chicago Alliance.
In 2011, CURL, the Chicago Alliance, and other service and advocacy organizations partnered for a photography exhibit that featured images of those who were moving from homelessness to housing. Photographer Noah Addis captured portraits of 25 men and women to show a different perspective on Chicago's homelessness crisis.
LIBERIA FLOWERS
Housing Opportunities for Women
“I’m an ex-felon—two-time ex-felon—and on disability. I’ve been on disability since I was 17 and a half...I’ve seen how it be, how it is to be rock bottom, sleep on benches, hang out in hallways, be around the wrong folks and people, and be in and out of the jail."
“...Right now, the program I’m in is Shelter Care Plus Permanent Housing... I’m going to Truman College for GED classes...I come to any class that will give me a certificate and that I feel like I accomplished something, because the majority of my life growing up, I come from a dysfunctional family to where, I always wanted to accomplish things [but] I never got a chance to achieve and here [at HOW] I’ve been achieving my goals."
“Right now, all I can do in return [for those who have helped me] is to show faith and prove to society and the people who fund this program, that this is best program to ever happen to a woman, to a young lady. And I just give it all ‘ups,’ like Siskel and Ebert; I give it thumbs up.”
ANDREA HALL
Staff member, Chicago Coalition for the Homeless
“A goal in my life is to let people know there are different faces of homelessness, and when they first meet me, people won’t think...that I was homeless.”
CHARLES JENKINS
Volunteer, Chicago Coalition for the Homeless
“About 1990, I got involved in Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. It inspired me. It woke up something socially conscious and just in me. It inspired me to get my life in order. So I went into detox and got myself clean and joined the 12 step program. I’ve been an avid member since that time to this very day.
“I’m not looking to do anything spectacular. Most of my life is behind [me] anyway, you know...Society will ultimately, hopefully, be able to encourage some of our public officials to be a bit people-concerned for a change. I don’t mean lobbyists or big industry you know, but grassroots, everyday people.”
JOSE VASQUEZ
Volunteer, Chicago Coalition for the Homeless
In moving to stable housing, “the hardest part was the transition from being down there sleeping on the sidewalk to actually having a bed, a room. I wasn’t accustomed to that. It took me about two weeks to get accustomed.” Because, with homelessness, what we found out is that there is no one thing, there is no over-encompassing ball. [In terms of solutions, it’s]... just all kinds of different things that have to come together to make that happen.”
VALERIE GALVAN
Housing Opportunities for Women
“I’m working harder now to get my other children back home with me. Rebuilding my relationships with them and my family . . . from a life of darkness to a life of light. You have to stay focused, keep it positive all times, and don’t give up. That’s the main thing.
“I can’t express myself to how grateful I am to be where I am at today, with all the opportunities that were given to me. I could have gotten worse. I could be dead or anything. Coming from the streets, I am doing real good compared to where I have been.”
SIOBHAN THOMAS
Housing Opportunities for Women
“I would tell someone in my predicament, I would say, don’t think of things in such a negative way because if you think negative, negative will always come to you. If you think positive and you keep your faith in God...you will make it. Sometimes God make you go through things for when you do get it you appreciate it more. So that’s all I have to say, just keep your head up and keep trying to survive and you will make it.”
CHARLENE OWENS
Housing Opportunities for Women
MORGAN SAUNDERS
Housing Opportunities for Women
“Well, my grandmother had died in 2003, and we couldn’t afford to keep our housing anymore. But she, her check, her disability check, had brought in money. And my mom had recently lost her job. So we moved into the basement of one of my step-grandma’s house, and it was really hard. I mean, I love her now; it’s just some people you can’t live with. She made life kind of difficult for the both of us. And we had been to a shelter like when I was like younger, like around five."
“Ten years from now I hopefully want to have a career as a photographer; I would really love that. I just want to love my job, love what I do, and make money from it. I’m definitely not going to be married because I don’t want any kids. But, I really want to be financially stable. I want to probably come back to HOW and help out any way I can.”
DAVID GRANBERRY
Consumers Commission
Question: What kind of advice would you give someone looking for stable housing?
“Jesus. Man, there’s no one thing that you can say that will be the be-all and end-all. Like Underdog used to have his super energy appeal or whatever, and that covered everything. There’s nothing like that.
“I’m trying to figure that out. As a member of the Consumers Commission with the Chicago Alliance to End Homelessness, I feel it is our duty to try to be like that one-stop shop . . . where anyone could contact or come to, no matter what your needs may be. Because, with homelessness, what we found out is that there is no one thing, there is no over-encompassing ball. [In terms of solutions, it’s]. . . just all kinds of different things that have to come together to make that happen.”
CONSUMER'S COMMISSION
The Consumers Commission, a key advisory body of homeless service consumers, organized by the Chicago Alliance to End Homelessness meets in June 2010.
KEITH RICHARDSON
Member, Chicago Alliance to End Homelessness Consumers Commission
“You know I was on the streets for two years. Like I said I went through the drug thing. You know? Cocaine. Those two years on the street taught me a lot about myself...[When I started working with housing service providers] it was amazing what kind of people I met. The help that I got. You know?”
“I’m living in the place of my dreams. I’m at Belmont and Lake Shore Drive. Right off Lake Shore Drive...I was patient and I was telling someone in the church about it, they said not only were you patient, you were faithful to God; he knew where he wanted you.”
AUSTON LUNDY
Resident, St. Leonard’s Ministries
“In ’07 I was charged for a possession case, when I came home in ’09, the apartment I had was gone, because I was incarcerated...”
“[With the help of St. Leonard’s] I got my high school diploma. That’s when they sent the job developer there, at the Michael Barlow Center, and helped me get the job at the CTA. I’m still kind of hungry for knowledge and everything else. I appreciate everything I’ve learned while I was here in St. Andrew’s Court, but I want to make room for the next man. I don’t want to be here too long, you know.”
HALBERT WILLIAMS
St. Leonard’s Ministries
“I was surprised at all the things that [St. Leonard’s Ministries] had to offer... if you didn’t have family or anyone to support you. They had a clothing room, they had employment preparation training, they had [a] computer lab to help you in your computer literacy, building maintenance, and culinary arts. And anger management with psychologists, and drug treatment.”
“You know when you’re incarcerated, you know people, they turn to religion, faith, because those things help you while you’re incarcerated to give you a healthy mental perspective to deal and cope. But once you’re released, you know, you’re free to move around, get back involved. See, people tend to forget, I don’t want to forget... And I’ve got a chance to build a more personal relationship with God, and understanding, and come face to face with my failures, and the things I’ve done. I have to admit I’ve done that, you know. I can’t be irrational or in denial, saying you know, ‘I did this because of that,’ I own up, I take responsibility.”
“I know how easy it is for individuals to give up on a specific population, you know, count them as no good, or they’re never going to change; I just want to always remain hopeful and always reach out because I know how much it meant for me. What if someone gave up on me? What if someone said, ‘Don’t waste your time on him, he’s just going to mess up again.’ But they didn’t, thank God. And I got it, I understand. I haven’t arrived, but I’m wiser now.”
LASHAUN VIVIANS
Grace House
“It’s like unconditional love by... the staff at Grace House. The love is better than sometimes your family treats you and they strangers. They just help, ain’t nothing behind that, no motives or nothing.”
“I wouldn’t change nothing [about] the life I have now, because I’m so peaceful. Even though I had to go through all the things I went through, I’m just content. I don’t get too comfortable with nothing, because it make you lazy, but I’m just content, and I wouldn’t change my life for nothing.”
EDITH HEAD
Grace House
“The Coalition for the Homeless helped me out a lot. They showed me something that I never thought. They have these trips to Springfield, where we advocate with various senators and representatives. We even got to a chance to take pictures with the Governor. It was like, wow, we standing along [with the Governor]. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen anyone advocate in Springfield where they sit in the House, you know the room. We were along this rope, like a stars rope. We’re trying to get their attention, and surprisingly, each one that we called came to us like that, and everyone was still. It was just amazing. And the way they spoke to us; you can tell that some of them really care. When I’m standing there, they understand our situation. We even had a few that sat us down in their conference room and talked to us as equals, you know, that’s all we just want to be, just like everybody else.”
EMMA TAYLOR
Staff, Deborah’s Place
“When I was first provided housing at Deborah’s Place, “they pulled a lot [out] of me and it’s interesting that they found. They saw something in me that I did not see. And I still don’t see what they saw in me.”
OLIVIA TOWNSEND
Deborah’s Place
DORISE RICE
Deborah’s Place
“My downturn was in 2005, when my son was diagnosed in February with kidney failure. And then my brother turned around 2005, day after Thanksgiving and passed. Financially, I lost my job and everything, I was evicted.”
“[My advice to folks who are homeless now is that] you’re never homeless and you’re never hopeless when you come to Deborah’s Place. You’re never, never alone. You always got spirituality, you got family here. So if you feel like you’re out there and have nowhere to go, feel free to come to Deborah’s Place because the doors will be open.”
PAM GORRO
Deborah’s Place
“I was a live-in care giver and she passed away. Never thought in a million years that I’d end up in a shelter. And it’s been two years in August. It’s been a hard road.”
“I’ll be honest. When I was on the other side of the fence, I’d look at homeless people...[and say,] ‘Heck, what is wrong with these people, why don’t they go out and get a job? Why they doing this, why they doing that?’ But behind this side of the fence, [it’s a] whole different ballgame. Because you see and hear and you meet people. It’s not always in black and white. [With] some of them it is; you know, the booze or the drugs is more important than getting a house, okay, those people. But there are people who had a house, had foreclosure, lost their jobs, got sick, or couldn’t make a payment, and they end up here. And I’ve met a lot of people like that, so it’s not just. And I try telling my friends that, and I think they see it now. ’Cause all my friends have houses and good jobs.”
PEG TWOHIG
Deborah’s Place
CARMEN VELAZQUEZ
Deborah’s Place
“This is a really awesome place. Women sometimes when they come here, they’ve been through so many things...There’s damage from outside...”
“It takes people to help you to get to where you need, and [to understand that] every day that you wake up, you can change anything in your life. Sometimes it don’t happen overnight, but if you begin to take that first step—that you’re willing to take steps and to get to where you want to—people will see that in you and help and assist you...You have to let go and trust again, because you have to trust somebody.”
“...Right now, I am in a situation where I have to take care of my mom. My mom, she has dementia, and I don’t know if she has five years to life. So, I sacrifice my life for her. That’s why I’m getting an apartment. I want to just nurture her and love her because she’s never had love before. And that’s the reason that I ended up here [after] being a drug addict and all kinds of things, because my mother didn’t have, never experienced love. So I want my mother to know love before she passes.”
TAMERYA (TAMMY) RHEYNARD
Deborah’s Place
Question: Where do you see yourself five years from now?
“It would be nice to go some place where people like me.”
CAROL ORELLANA
Hilda’s Place/Connections
“It is less stressful in Evanston. I love Evanston... Yeah, you have to struggle to make ends meet, but who doesn’t? But I like Evanston, it’s nice and quiet. It’s less stressful for me.”
VICTOR MORGAN
Connections
“I would like to stay in Evanston because it would be like a benefit for me, away from Chicago. Because that’s where all my problems seem to keep starting at, right there. So I figured if I got away it would be better, and it has been. Since I left there, I haven’t had any problems. Everything is just mooth here…”
“It’s peaceful. It’s like a peaceful atmosphere. I don’t hear all the time, no gunshots and fire trucks and police cars. It’s just a peaceful atmosphere. And knowing that I can get up at any time of the day or night and walk over to the lake and just clear my head and clear my mind, you know?”
NORTH LAWNDALE DEMONSTRATION
Organized by the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, this June 2010 demonstration in North Lawndale, a community devastated by disinvestment, sought to underscore the need for more affordable housing in low-income communities. As part of the Sweet Home Chicago campaign, supported by more than 75 organizations across Chicago, pressure is being put on elected officials to pass an ordinance that would dedicate 20 percent of tax increment funds to affordable housing. If this were in effect in 2009, $99 million would have gone toward housing that year alone.
DEBRA mdITH
West Suburban PADS
GORDANA AND DENIJAL ZUGAR
West Suburban PADS
“We survived [the war in Sarajevo], but we came after a while because we lost jobs, condo, everything... I never, never, in my mother’s dream, was thinking that really would happen one day... But in Sarajevo we are so mixed. So many mixed marriages. My marriage was mixed. I’m Christian, my ex-husband is Muslim. And so many mixed marriages, we couldn’t believe that it happened.”
“[After we arrived in the United States, domestic violence became another problem. I thought I would die shortly. That day, my ex-husband made [a] mess in [the] house and I was very scared and I didn’t know what to do... I lived 3 months in shelter for domestic violence.”
“I finished school for dental assistant for 6 months. Right now I’m working two jobs... I work now like housekeeper in private home, only 16 hours, and 12 hours in Jewel Osco. Both jobs are physical.”
“I am American, already four years. I’m very proud. I’m very, very proud because I worked so hard to get that.”
Breaking down these stereotypes is another important facet to CURL’s work. More recently, CURL has worked with the Center for Housing and Health to collect stories from those who were being resettled from the viaduct under Lake Shore Drive to permanent housing. Interviewing people before and after finding a permanent home highlighted the difference between just surviving and planning for a future.
“It all comes back to human dignity,” said Teresa Neumann, university-community research coordinator, on the project. “You are a person. You have an important story to tell. You are an expert of your own life and your own experience. That’s where University knowledge meets community knowledge—and how do we bring that all together?”
Learn more about the Pathways to Stable Housing exhibit, the photographer, and the community partners involved, including the Chicago Alliance to End Homelessness, the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, Housing Opportunities for Women, St. Leonard’s Ministries, Deborah’s Place, Hilda’s Place/Connections for the Homeless, West Suburban PADS, and the Alliance to End Homelessness in Suburban Cook County.
