The Chicago Housing Authority is launching the first program of its kind in the country to address housing issues for survivors of human trafficking.
The pilot program stems from a task force President Barack Obama created to combat trafficking. Housing for people trying to escape was identified as a major barrier.
Federal officials approached Chicago to pilot a housing program. Over the next three years CHA will provide 60 subsidized housing vouchers.
“There is a significant lack of housing for people who are leaving their situation. It’s much analogous to victims of domestic violence when there wasn’t safe housing many years ago,” said Mary Howard with the Chicago Housing Authority.
Local social service agencies will refer trafficking survivors to the CHA program. One of those agencies is Heartland Alliance, which sees 20 to 25 survivors a year.
“When we meet survivors after they escape, they are at a tipping point,” said Megan Mahoney Heartland’s Freedom from Trafficking Program Director.
Many are still vulnerable from poverty, violence and exploitation, she said. They may not know English or have immigration trouble.
“Bouncing from one temporary housing situation to another doesn’t create the stability they need,” she said.
Mahoney said offering survivors subsidized housing has the power to change lives.
(2016-06-19, Chicago, Windy City Times) U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin ( D-Illinois ) paid a visit to the Center on Halsted and Heartland Housing’s Town Hall Apartments in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood June 17. There, he took the opportunity to tour the LGBTQ-inclusive senior housing facility constructed on the site of the decommissioned Town Hall police station and opened in August 2014. Durbin also sat down for a candid discussion with four of the facility’s residents George Garcia, Ted Swanson, Gary Sargeng and Carmen Garcia asking each of them about their lives and experiences as part of the Heartland Housing community. MORE
(Madison – June 16, 2016 – Wisconsin Public Radio) Madison opened its biggest residential project for the chronically homeless this week, giving them a permanent place to stay with on-site support for mental health, addiction and other issues. MORE
(June 16, 2016 — Madison, WI) Rehke Terrace, Madison’s first permanent supportive housing site and a collaborative effort between federal, state, county, city and community agencies, celebrated its official opening at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday. More
(Madison, WI – June 15, 2016 – WKOW ABC 27) Dozens of people who have experienced chronic homelessness in the Madison area now have a new permanent place to call home. The non-profit group Heartland Housing developed the new building, which has 60 studio apartments in it. 25 of those are reserved for formerly homeless veterans. One of them says he’s grateful for the community’s support. More
(Madison, WI – June 15, 2016 – WISC-TV NEWS 3) A new apartment complex is opening today in Madison that gives homeless residents a place to call home. The Rethke Terrace apartments, on Madison’s east side, fills a great need in the community for supportive housing for people who have experienced chronic homelessness. The building was developed by Heartland Housing, a subsidiary of Heartland Alliance. Of the 60 studio apartments in the building, 25 are reserved for formerly homeless veterans. Rethke Terrace is the first of five supportive housing deals that Madison Mayor Paul Soglin has committed to. MORE
(June 9, 2016 – Madison, WI) The $8 million Rethke Terrace project will provide 60 units of permanent housing with voluntary support services for homeless single adults and veterans.
(June 4, 2016 – Madison, WI) Over a dozen individuals have started moving into Rethke Terrace Apartments, the first of what the city hopes will be five new permanent supportive affordable housing sites in Madison.
The four-story, 60-unit building at 709 Rethke Ave. developed by Heartland Housing Inc. will provide studio apartments for formerly homeless single adults and supportive services for those individuals, including medical, mental health and substance abuse assistance. Twenty-five of the 60 units are reserved for veterans.
For the past 28 years, Lori Cannon has helped deliver over 15 million meals to those who need it most through Open Hand/Chicago, the nation’s only network of grocery services geared toward people who have HIV and AIDS.
Though she’s touched millions of lives over the years, one day she hopes she doesn’t have to anymore.
The median household income in America is $53,657. Politicians draw $250,000 as the line between the middle and upper classes. And the true starting point of real wealth remains a cool $1,000,000. We asked four more or less typical men, each of whom earns one of these incomes, to tell us about the lives they can afford.
(Madison, WI – June 15, 2016 – WKOW ABC 27) Dozens of people who have experienced chronic homelessness in the Madison area now have a new permanent place to call home.
(Madison, WI – June 15, 2016 – WISC-TV NEWS 3) A new apartment complex is opening today in Madison that gives homeless residents a place to call home. The Rethke Terrace apartments, on Madison’s east side, fills a great need in the community for supportive housing for people who have experienced chronic homelessness. The building was developed by Heartland Housing, a subsidiary of Heartland Alliance. Of the 60 studio apartments in the building, 25 are reserved for formerly homeless veterans. Rethke Terrace is the first of five supportive housing deals that Madison Mayor Paul Soglin has committed to. 
(June 9, 2016 – Madison, WI) The $8 million Rethke Terrace project will provide 60 units of permanent housing with voluntary support services for homeless single adults and veterans.