What do Halle Berry, singer Jewel, Actor Jim Carrey, William Shatner, Kelly Clarkson and Tyler Perry have in common? They have all been homeless at some point in their lives.
The image of an old man pushing a cart down an alley is what comes to mind when thinking of homelessness. However, the reality is that the homeless population looks a lot more like you and me. Homelessness is affecting families across every color line, every city and every state. It is affecting men, women and innocent children.
The causes of homelessness are varied. Homelessness can be caused by a variety of problems. The main cause is a lack of affordable housing. Secondary causes include mental illness, physical illnesses, substance abuse, lack of incentives to work, poor work ethics, and a lack of a decent education.
The National Law Center for Homelessness and Poverty reports that more than three million men, women, and children were homeless during the past year – about 30% of them were chronically homeless and the others temporarily. In many cases people are in and out of the homeless system, which includes shelters, hospitals, the streets, and prisons.
On top of the three million who were homeless or marginally homeless, there are an additional five million people who spend more than half of their incomes on housing, leaving them on the verge of homelessness. A missed paycheck, a health crisis, or an unpaid bill can easily spiral into homelessness.
Reports indicate that the types of assistance homeless adults feel they need most are help finding a job, help finding affordable housing, and help paying for housing. This is where CCIL is a beacon of hope. CCIL is one of the few agencies helping clients find decent jobs, affordable homes and providing an array of comprehensive, rehabilitative programs.
Other reports show that incomes for the poorest Americans have not nearly kept pace with rising housing costs leaving millions of hard workers shut out of the private housing market. Job training, education, and supportive services make CCIL such a unique place. Our organization is here to change the lives of Chicago’s neediest citizens. This can only be done with your help and financial support. Please consider making an investment in helping to rebuild lives.
The image of an old man pushing a cart down an alley is what comes to mind when thinking of homelessness. However, the reality is that the homeless population looks a lot more like you and me. Homelessness is affecting families across every color line, every city and every state. It is affecting men, women and innocent children.
The causes of homelessness are varied. Homelessness can be caused by a variety of problems. The main cause is a lack of affordable housing. Secondary causes include mental illness, physical illnesses, substance abuse, lack of incentives to work, poor work ethics, and a lack of a decent education.
The National Law Center for Homelessness and Poverty reports that more than three million men, women, and children were homeless during the past year – about 30% of them were chronically homeless and the others temporarily. In many cases people are in and out of the homeless system, which includes shelters, hospitals, the streets, and prisons.
On top of the three million who were homeless or marginally homeless, there are an additional five million people who spend more than half of their incomes on housing, leaving them on the verge of homelessness. A missed paycheck, a health crisis, or an unpaid bill can easily spiral into homelessness.
Reports indicate that the types of assistance homeless adults feel they need most are help finding a job, help finding affordable housing, and help paying for housing. This is where CCIL is a beacon of hope. CCIL is one of the few agencies helping clients find decent jobs, affordable homes and providing an array of comprehensive, rehabilitative programs.
Other reports show that incomes for the poorest Americans have not nearly kept pace with rising housing costs leaving millions of hard workers shut out of the private housing market. Job training, education, and supportive services make CCIL such a unique place. Our organization is here to change the lives of Chicago’s neediest citizens. This can only be done with your help and financial support. Please consider making an investment in helping to rebuild lives.
Albert Tanquero
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