An effort to revolutionize Chicago's approach to homelessness, more than five years in the making, ended in a defeat at the ballot box in March, 2024.

The bill, known as Bring Chicago Home, sought to create a dedicated stream of funds to provide housing and services by taxing properties valued over $1 million.

We talk to Maria Hadden, Alderperson of Chicago's 49th Ward, and an architect of Bring Chicago Home, about why it didn't pass. We also discuss the potential for increasingly punitive policing of homelessness in public spaces following the recent Supreme Court decision, Grant's Pass V. Johnson, and tie up some loose ends from Season 2 of Where I Stay, which followed Ald. Hadden, and others, attempts to address the spread of tent encampments in the middle of two overlapping crises.

This is a bonus episode! For the full story, check out Where I Stay: Season 2 and binge all 4 episodes now!

CREDITS:

Reported by Jesse Betend, Suzanne Hanney, A. Allen, Kianna Drummond and Keith Hardiman

Produced by Jesse Betend with help from Jennifer O'Neill

Music by Andrew Bird, Jeremy Blake, AETHER, John Patitucci and Freedom Trail Studios

Editing by Suzanne Hanney, Sheila Solomon, Amanda Jones, Julie Youngquist, Terri Lydon and Cindy Paulauskas

About StreetWise magazine

StreetWise has been part of the fabric of Chicago for 31 years, covering everything Chicago from its people to its social issues, politics, nonprofits, arts, culture, and neighborhoods.

Over the past 31 years more than 14,000 StreetWise vendors have found dignity on street corners in many neighborhoods across the city as they are empowered to earn an income with a hand up and not a handout.

About Rivet360

Rivet360 is a business to business podcast agency. It was founded in Chicago in 2013 with a simple mission: Tell the world’s stories, making them engaging and fun. An obsession with elegant solutions and devotion to editorial integrity have been part of the company from day one—along with a flexible, can-do attitude that customers love.

In this final episode of Season 2 of Where I Stay, thousands of asylum seekers are showing up on the streets, and in shelters across Chicago.

A political stunt by the Governor of Texas blossoms into a full blown humanitarian crisis in Chicago, imperiling a new progressive mayor's plans to address homelessness. as well as, provide emergency shelter for tens-of-thousands of new arrivals stuck in political limbo.

We also explore how the last 50 years of housing policy, while often well intentioned, is replete with mistakes that have contributed to a lack of trust in institutions that hinders progress to this day. From an important, landmark civil rights case that ultimately prevented construction in parts of the city that needed it most, through back room deals to lease out land meant for public housing, all the way to the supreme court.

Special thanks to Musician Andrew Bird who donated music from his Chicago-inspired, 2013 EP “I Want To See Pulaski At Night” and Block Club Chicago Reporter Joe Ward who broke many of the stories in this episode, also 49th Ward Alderperson Maria Hadden, Erin Ryan, Tom “The Mayor of Uptown” Gordon, and the many encampment residents we interviewed for this story.

CREDITS:

Reported by Jesse Betend, Suzanne Hanney, A. Allen, Kianna Drummond and Keith Hardiman

Produced by Jesse Betend with help from Jennifer O'Neill

Music by Andrew Bird, Jeremy Blake, AETHER, John Patitucci and Freedom Trail Studios

Editing by Suzanne Hanney, Sheila Solomon, Amanda Jones, Julie Youngquist, Terri Lydon and Cindy Paulauskas

About StreetWise magazine

StreetWise has been part of the fabric of Chicago for 31 years, covering everything Chicago from its people to its social issues, politics, nonprofits, arts, culture, and neighborhoods.

Over the past 31 years more than 14,000 StreetWise vendors have found dignity on street corners in many neighborhoods across the city as they are empowered to earn an income with a hand up and not a handout.

About Rivet360

Rivet360 is a business to business podcast agency. It was founded in Chicago in 2013 with a simple mission: Tell the world’s stories, making them engaging and fun. An obsession with elegant solutions and devotion to editorial integrity have been part of the company from day one—along with a flexible, can-do attitude that customers love.

It's knives out in Chicago, as election season draws near.. and there will be mud.

On March 19th 2024, Chicagoans will see the end of a story multiple years in the making. Voters must decide if the city should create a dedicated source of funds to fight homelessness, but a million dollar astroturfing campaign from the real estate lobby is committed to preventing its passage. Once again.

Meanwhile Streetwise Editor Suzanne Hanney and Reporter A. Allen interview activist and former Alderperson, Helen Shiller whose legacy left an indelible mark on Chicago's Northside and discover that weaponizing the plight of the homeless is far from new.

Special thanks to Musician Andrew Bird who donated music from his Chicago-inspired, 2013 EP “I Want To See Pulaski At Night” and Block Club Chicago Reporter Joe Ward who broke many of the stories in this episode, also 49th Ward Alderperson Maria Hadden, Erin Ryan, Tom “The Mayor of Uptown” Gordon, and the many encampment residents we interviewed for this story.

CREDITS:

Reported by Jesse Betend, Suzanne Hanney, A. Allen, Kianna Drummond and Keith Hardiman

Produced by Jesse Betend with help from Jennifer O'Neill

Music by Andrew Bird, Jeremy Blake, AETHER, John Patitucci and Freedom Trail Studios

Editing by Suzanne Hanney, Sheila Solomon, Amanda Jones, Julie Youngquist, Terri Lydon and Cindy Paulauskas

About StreetWise magazine

StreetWise has been part of the fabric of Chicago for 31 years, covering everything Chicago from its people to its social issues, politics, nonprofits, arts, culture, and neighborhoods.

Over the past 31 years more than 14,000 StreetWise vendors have found dignity on street corners in many neighborhoods across the city as they are empowered to earn an income with a hand up and not a handout.

About Rivet360

Rivet360 is a business to business podcast agency. It was founded in Chicago in 2013 with a simple mission: Tell the world’s stories, making them engaging and fun. An obsession with elegant solutions and devotion to editorial integrity have been part of the company from day one—along with a flexible, can-do attitude that customers love.

Tensions flare over the homeless camp in Touhy Park after the Park District decides to shut everything down. The appearance of mysterious flyers claiming the tent city will be relocated to a fancy hotel causes rampant confusion and amps up emotions on all sides. With the election looming, what paths remain for the local alderwoman to get everyone housed before a potentially lethal winter?

Special thanks to Musician Andrew Bird who donated music from his Chicago-inspired, 2013 EP “I Want To See Pulaski At Night” and Block Club Chicago Reporter Joe Ward who broke many of the stories in this episode, also 49th Ward Alderperson Maria Hadden, Erin Ryan, Tom “The Mayor of Uptown” Gordon, and the many encampment residents we interviewed for this story.

CREDITS:

Reported by Jesse Betend, Suzanne Hanney, A. Allen, Kianna Drummond and Keith Hardiman

Produced by Jesse Betend with help from Jennifer O'Neill

Music by Andrew Bird, Jeremy Blake, AETHER, John Patitucci and Freedom Trail Studios

Editing by Suzanne Hanney, Sheila Solomon, Amanda Jones, Julie Youngquist, Terri Lydon and Cindy Paulauskas

About StreetWise magazine

StreetWise has been part of the fabric of Chicago for 31 years, covering everything Chicago from its people to its social issues, politics, nonprofits, arts, culture, and neighborhoods.

Over the past 31 years more than 14,000 StreetWise vendors have found dignity on street corners in many neighborhoods across the city as they are empowered to earn an income with a hand up and not a handout.

About Rivet360

Rivet360 is a business to business podcast agency. It was founded in Chicago in 2013 with a simple mission: Tell the world’s stories, making them engaging and fun. An obsession with elegant solutions and devotion to editorial integrity have been part of the company from day one—along with a flexible, can-do attitude that customers love.

Chicago may have 50 official wards, but there’s a 51st Ward where over 65,000 people reside without a home. In our season premiere, join reporters Jesse Betend, Suzanne Hanney, and A. Allen as they seek out Tom Gordon, the enigmatic “Mayor of Uptown,” to understand the rise of tent cities across Chicago.

What they find is a tightly-knit community formed out of necessity, existing in the shadows of a city that often overlooks them. As they uncover the challenges and conflicts faced by these camps, they also discover the deep bonds that hold them together. But who is Tom Gordon, really? And how did he come to be seen as the leader of this forgotten ward?

As a new tent city springs up nearby, tough questions arise about what communities owe to their most vulnerable members.

Step into the 51st Ward and meet the people who call it home.

Special thanks to Musician Andrew Bird who donated music from his Chicago-inspired, 2013 EP “I Want To See Pulaski At Night” and Block Club Chicago Reporter Joe Ward who broke many of the stories in this episode, also 49th Ward Alderperson Maria Hadden, Erin Ryan, Tom “The Mayor of Uptown” Gordon, and the many encampment residents we interviewed for this story.

CREDITS:

Reported by Jesse Betend, Suzanne Hanney, A. Allen, Kianna Drummond and Keith Hardiman

Produced by Jesse Betend with help from Jennifer O'Neill

Music by Andrew Bird, Jeremy Blake, AETHER, John Patitucci and Freedom Trail Studios

Editing by Suzanne Hanney, Sheila Solomon, Amanda Jones, Julie Youngquist, Terri Lydon and Cindy Paulauskas

About StreetWise magazine

StreetWise has been part of the fabric of Chicago for 31 years, covering everything Chicago from its people to its social issues, politics, nonprofits, arts, culture, and neighborhoods.

Over the past 31 years more than 14,000 StreetWise vendors have found dignity on street corners in many neighborhoods across the city as they are empowered to earn an income with a hand up and not a handout.

About Rivet360

Rivet360 is a business to business podcast agency. It was founded in Chicago in 2013 with a simple mission: Tell the world’s stories, making them engaging and fun. An obsession with elegant solutions and devotion to editorial integrity have been part of the company from day one—along with a flexible, can-do attitude that customers love.

For most, living in a shelter or on the street is the last resort. As a result, the majority of people experiencing homelessness are “defined out” of accessing aid. In fact, the Department of Housing and Urban Development doesn’t even consider them homeless. Are we obscuring an exponentially larger looming crisis?

On this bonus episode host Jesse Betend and StreetWise Magazine Senior Editor Suzanne Hanney host a live panel to discuss these and other issue’s behind the series.

Featuring:
Dr. Molly Brown, Assistant Professor of Clinical-Community Psychology and Director of the Homelessness Advocacy, Research, and Collaboration Lab at DePaul University;

Erin Ryan, Senior Vice President of Operations at The Night Ministry, a social services organization that works with many of Chicago’s most vulnerable homeless citizens;

And Lee and Paula, who are both StreetWise Magazine Vendors who are currently experiencing homelessness.

Sources:

The Chicago Coalition for the Homeless’ Estimate of Chicago Homelessness Report

DePaul’s HARC Lab

The Night Ministry

StreetWise

Angelica meets Anthony.

A fateful encounter in Arizona changes everything.