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In case you hadn't noticed, it's coooold outside. While we're zipping up our North Face and lacing up our Timberlands to keep warm, don't forget that others are not so fortunate. The city's department of family services is trying to make sure they find warmth and shelter for Chicago's homeless. The city is encouraging everyone to dial 311 if they see someone in need of a place to stay, so they can direct them to one of the city's six warming centers during the day and to a bed at a shelter at night. City outreach workers will be making rounds to find people in need. Also be sure to check in on your elderly neighbors, especially those who live alone.
Oddly enough, despite the subzero temperatures and the rise in homelessness because of the economy, many of the city's 5,000 shelter beds are empty. And about the CTA's fight against "continuous riders," it looks like they're backpedaling on their statements that they weren't targeting the homeless.
Because of the extreme conditions, enforcement of the policy on buses and L trains is up to employee discretion, a CTA spokeswoman said.
While normally we'd be annoyed by the CTA's hypocrisy, we'll just be glad that a few more people will be warm tonight.
Photo by JOEM500.
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will someone fix the grammar in the title of this entry already?
nevermind
Shows how bad Daley's shelters must be as well as his plan to "end homelessness"
That's very true. Shelters are not safe places, it's very easy for the predators to take advantage of easy prey in there. Many rapes happen at shelters.
Sad that many feel safer on a freezing cold street, then at a warm shelter.
Not only are the shelters not safe, but the homeless have to leave their belongings behind as well as an area they staked as their own (doorway, alley, etc). If shelters provided laundry and lockers, as well as separate areas for men, women, and families, it might be a sensible option.
I know that is asking a lot, but if you (the mayor)are trying to end homelessness, you have to give people more than just chicken broth and a retired military cot.