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Chicago
This month we're heading on over to Chicago!
Be sure to visit our opportunities page for
more information about serving with us in the "Windy City".
News from the Chicago City Director
Sometimes it seems like winter will never end. I sit here on March 11, 2008,
and we just received word that the high will, yet again, not break 32 degrees. I mean, come on, it is March,
and it just seems like winter doesn’t want to end. Sometimes the things we would like to see end the most
just stick around, and we can’t do anything about it.
Back in 2006 Chicago’s mayor Richard Daley announced a 10 year plan to end
chronic homelessness. My first reaction to hearing that was, “Yeah right.” While I would love
for the problem of homelessness to end here in Chicago, it seems like an insurmountable task to
take on. At times I’m really happy about the progress Chicago has made through offering aid to
those in need. At times I’m frustrated at the displacement of the poor through the tearing down
of the housing projects.
Since 2005 chronic homelessness has been in decline by 12%, which is a great thing.
And we continue to pray that chronic homelessness decreases. We pray that those who are no longer
chronically homeless in Chicago have found homes and not just moved onto another city.
Continue to pray for Chicago. Pray for those who are homeless here and the difficulties
they face. I’m struggling with the winter that doesn’t want to end, and I have a roof over my head. The
struggle for those who have no place to sleep is that much more intense and insurmountable. Pray that
our city officials and social service agencies would be able to devise strategies that make significant
strides in curing chronic homelessness in Chicago, and that they wouldn’t try to just push the poor to
other cities. Pray also for churches in the city, that they would rise up to God’s great call to feed the
hungry, clothe the naked, house the wanderer, and care for the sick and imprisoned. Pray that churches
would take seriously God’s commands to serve the poor.
-Tim Reed, CSM Chicago Co-City Director
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