Creating Social Safety Nets In Suburbs

Social Service Centers work to fill the lack of social safety nets in suburban areas of Chicago.

1 minute read

September 28, 2003, 1:00 PM PDT

By Connie Chung


"Simon Bolivar Center for Human Rights offers immigrants in Elgin, as well as in Streamwood, Carpentersville and Geneva, who are far from the social safety nets of Chicago, a rare beacon of hope....Similar centers to Simon Bolivar...are cropping up as more and more immigrants, mostly from Mexico, bypass Chicago and move directly into the suburbs. The number of Latinos living in the state outside of Cook County climbed 118 percent to 458,522 in 2000 from 210,252 in 1990, according to U.S. Census figures....Noting the moderate success of places like Simon Bolivar, advocates in Chicago are training others to open more suburban centers. Earlier this year, the Leadership Council for Metropolitan Open Communities...trained 43 people from cities such as Melrose Park, Rolling Meadows, Aurora, Elgin and Mt. Prospect. Once a week for six weeks, the volunteers learned public policy, zoning ordinances, how to work with elected officials and how to detect rental properties that are discriminating against minorities...."

Thanks to Connie Chung

Wednesday, September 24, 2003 in The Chicago Tribune

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 30, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Close-up on Canadian flag with Canada Parliament building blurred in background.

Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?

As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?

April 28, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

Hot air balloons rise over Downtown Boise with the State Capitol building visible amidst the high rises.

The Five Most-Changed American Cities

A ranking of population change, home values, and jobs highlights the nation’s most dynamic and most stagnant regions.

April 23, 2025 - GoodMigrations

People biking along beach path with moored ship in San Diego, California.

San Diego Adopts First Mobility Master Plan

The plan provides a comprehensive framework for making San Diego’s transportation network more multimodal, accessible, and sustainable.

May 2 - SD News

Sleeping in Public

Housing, Supportive Service Providers Brace for Federal Cuts

Organizations that provide housing assistance are tightening their purse strings and making plans for maintaining operations if federal funding dries up.

May 2 - KSL

Conductor walks down platform next to Amtrak train at station in San Jose, California.

Op-Ed: Why an Effective Passenger Rail Network Needs Government Involvement

An outdated rail network that privileges freight won’t be fixed by privatizing Amtrak.

May 2 - Streetsblog USA

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Senior Manager Operations, Urban Planning

New York City School Construction Authority

Building Inspector

Village of Glen Ellyn

Manager of Model Development

Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO