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Chicago
This month we're heading on over to Chicago!
Be sure to visit our opportunities page for
more information about serving in the windy city.
News from the Chicago City Director
Chicago is home to the largest population of Polish people outside of
Poland, has the world’s largest illuminated fountain, and at one time had some of the
largest and poorest public housing projects. Places like Cabrini Green, Stateway Gardens,
and The Robert Taylor Homes have become some of the examples of how not to do public housing.
Because of this the city of Chicago is tearing most of the public housing down, and replacing
it with high end condominiums. There are just a few Cabrini Green high rises left, and the
Stateway Gardens is completely gone. Chicago is currently tearing down 22,000 public housing
units and plans on replacing them with only 8,000.
On the positive side, Chicago Housing Authority has chosen to give Section
8 housing vouchers to those being displaced. Unfortunately, there are not enough places for
them to go in the city of Chicago. Those being displaced are being forced to move out to
some of the close suburbs. While the shifting of the poor to the suburbs is becoming obvious
in Chicago, it is not unique to this city. A recent MSNBC article shares that the number of
suburban poor out numbered the poor in urban centers throughout America last year for the first
time in history.
CSM in Chicago has recently struck up a partnership with the YMCA of Metropolitan
Chicago. While we are doing many things with them in the city we will also be working with some
of the South Suburban sites in Robbins and Harvey. While some people may wonder why we are not
serving in Chicago’s city limits, we must understand that God is calling us to serve him wherever
we are needed most.
- Tim Reed, CSM Chicago City Director
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