Homelessness

Homelessness led by Andy Kaplan Students who participate in this group will learn about the causes and consequences of homelessness while at the same time engaging in direct action and service projects. Service projects will include preparing, serving, and sharing a meal at a local homeless shelter. Direct action will include working on city and statewide campaigns to shape public policy.

We will come to know some of the people who are homeless, we will work on some of the ways in which we might help these people, and we will also try to understand some of the reasons why these people lack adequate food, shelter, and clothing. We will begin the year with a service activity at a homeless shelter in Lincoln Park. In October, we will take a bus tour of Chicago that will focus on the difficulties of affordable housing. In November, we will go to the offices of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless to learn about this nationally known organization and receive training on how to advocate for the rights of homeless people in our city.

Students will participate in local-level action projects to address very current issues that have an impact on homeless people in Chicago. In February, if the timing is right, we will go to Springfield to lobby our representatives to pass legislation to improve housing, living, and work conditions for the poor. For more information on these issues, see [|www.chicagohomeless.org]

Fieldwork Days:

2011-09-26 2011-10-20