The Chicago Coalition for the Homeless estimates that 166,000 people experience homelessness in Chicago. We aren't going to try to imagine how difficult it must be to be without a place to come home to, and we certainly don't know what it is like to be so hungry you would dig through garbage for a bite to eat. We've led a pretty charmed life, so far, and so we try to give back where we... more ›

Here in the land of journalism — take that how you will — there exist trials and tribulations among the benefits. None of us here at Chicagoist are safe from the slings and arrows of our readers (Helen Schiller, anyone?). Luckily, as we are an online medium, the most we usually have to suffer is an occasional tongue-thrashing and virtual mailboxes groaning at the seams with hate. Some journalists are not so passive in their... more ›

Although it's pretty much a given that Daley will coast to re-election at the end of next month, by no means does it mean that his time is office has been an unmitigated success. In a report card scheduled to be issued today by a coalition of interest groups and local activists called "Developing Government Accountability to the People," Daley received low grades in many areas, including economic development, transportation, education, criminal justice and ethics.... more ›

It doesn't take much wandering around in Chicago to see a lot of homeless citizens. Even though the city is in its fourth year of Daley's 10-year plan to totally eradicate the problem, the average person might not see that much of a change. Well, a study just came out that made one thing clear — the problem with homelessness is much, much worse than you think. more ›

A report due this week — and an accompanying rally — is intended to bring attention to the problem of harassment of runaway and homeless youth on Chicago’s North Side. more ›

According to a report released yesterday by the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, the number of Illinois homeless teens is on the rise. more ›

You wouldn't know it by reading the papers, but it's likely that tomorrow a few thousand people will march downtown to Federal Plaza to protest the American military presence in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other places. The march, organized primarily by the Chicago Coalition Against War and Racism has a number of starting points, Senn High School at 6:00 am for the "North Side Long March Against Empire", Michigan and Oak Streets at Noon for the... more ›

Anyway, the CTU criticizes Daley’s timing as the plan was announced during a bitter CTU presidential election. The CTU is also concerned that "novice" teachers will be put into jobs that don't pay them well and don't provide benefits. Or maybe it’s just the fact that these private schools won't be accountable to the union.
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Patricia Samar's 13 year old son missed more days school since the fall of 2002 than he days he actually attended - almost 200 days. For this, Samar is facing misdemeanor charges for truancy of a student and could spend 30 days in jail and have to pay a hefty $500 fine. more ›