Fighting Homelessness: Chicago's Plan

Other cities adopt model of stressing housing over shelters.

1 minute read

December 1, 2003, 5:00 AM PST

By Chris Steins @planetizen


With unemployment rising and real estate prices still booming, homelessness in Chicago, as elsewhere, has grown in the past year -- particularly among families and working people. It's a disturbing situation, but one Chicago thinks it can solve. In a move being closely watched around the country, the city is undertaking an ambitious experiment: a 10-year "plan to end homelessness," a drastic shift in strategy that emphasizes permanent housing over shelters. The effort targets the 'chronic' homeless -- those on the streets repeatedly and for long periods -- and aims to keep people from becoming homeless in the first place."

Thanks to Chris Steins

Monday, December 1, 2003 in The Christian Science Monitor

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