Cabrini-Green: Where Did All The Poor People Go?

[Jonathan Lloyd]

      Good morning. First of all, let me apologize for not making ant posts the past few weeks. I've been under the weather during the holidays. BUT NOW I'M BACK! I was watching the news Monday night, and I saw a story about the last family to move out of the Cabrini-Green housing projects. Most people in Chicago now think that all former tenants of Cabrini-Green have been placed in sufficient housing, away from the immediate area. This is not entirely true. Although the vast majority of former tenants were given vouchers to move into sufficient housing, most are still right here in the Cabrini-Green area where they were born and raised. And contrary to popular belief, they're still living near or at the poverty level. Some have gotten jobs, but they're only minimum wage or slightly higher. The others are still surviving on the checks they receive from Social Security or Public Aid. 

      Which is why I'm writing this article. If the statements I've made in the last paragraph were not true, Cabrini-Connection would not be needed in this area any more. There are still plenty of kids that continue to come here seeking tutoring support and mentoring. And that's why we still need your continued support. We need volunteers, computers, school supplies, tables, chairs, and most importantly your financial support. Money helps us to do special things for the kids, and it keeps the heat and the lights on.

      In the upcoming months we will be having fund raising events, but support is always needed. In addition to serving the people of this area, we assist agencies and other organizations throughout the city and suburbs. So please assist us in any way that you can. Thanks. For more information, please read Dan Bassil's article on Cabrini-Green.

[Bradley Troast]

You make a good point. I've had to answer the "But Cabrini Green is gone, right?" question many times over the past year. We've maintained steady, full enrollment throughout the "transformation" process. It's our job to tell our story and make sure people know Cabrini Connections and many youth are still in the area.

[Jonathan Lloyd]

Here'sanother story Dan wrote about Cabrini-Green.

[Daniel Bassill]

Thisblog article shows maps that were in the Chicago SunTimes in October 2010, showing that there still were close to 400 families living in the row houses, and possibly 1200 families in the new buildings by 2014.  That means there are close to 1000 k-12 low-income youth in the area and could be as many as 3500 in future years.  Cabrini Connections only can serve 80 teens at a time. Who is helping us, and who is helping the rest?