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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:
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.
Creators & Guests
What is Where I Stay?
Welcome to the 51st Ward.
Rivet 360 + StreetWise are proud to present a second season of the Shorty Award finalist documentary series, WHERE I STAY, exploring homelessness and the housing crisis in America.
ABOUT SEASON 2:
Welcome to Chicago’s 51st Ward, where the unseen and unheard find a voice.
In Season Two of the Shorty Award finalist documentary series Where I Stay, Rivet 360 + StreetWise delve deep into the heart of Chicago’s housing crisis. As winter’s chill grips the city, thousands are forced to seek shelter wherever they can—many in makeshift communities known as “tent cities.” This season, we explore the roots of these camps, the policies that have left so many without a home, and the challenges of a city grappling with an influx of migrants and a critical lack of affordable housing.
Through the eyes of StreetWise vendors, who have lived the reality of homelessness, and our team of dedicated reporters, we uncover the untold stories of Chicago’s forgotten residents. Our goal is to challenge perceptions, spark conversations, and, most importantly, inspire change.
Join us as we navigate the complex web of segregation, public policy, and community resilience. Together, we’ll ask: What do we owe each other?
Where I Stay isn’t just a podcast—it’s a call to action. Your support can make a difference. Listen, share, and join us in raising awareness and funds to combat homelessness in America.
ABOUT SEASON 1:
Angelica first became homeless at the age of twelve, but she didn't live on the street. Prisons. Vegas condos. The living room of an Iowa drug queen-pin and an inpatient facility for adolescents. This is WHERE I STAY.
Over the course of 8 gripping episodes Host Jesse Betend explores the issue of invisible homelessness through Angelica's story. Season 1 has been called a “wonderfully empathetic telling of a story you will be richer for knowing” and “an incredibly impactful and illuminating podcast about hidden youth homelessness.”
WHERE I STAY is a serialized podcast designed to challenge the way people think about homelessness. Each season dives deep into a single story to unravel the many interconnected threads that can leave someone without a home. The show also serves as a grassroots campaign to raise funds and awareness.
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.