Inspiration Corporation Puts Chicago's Homeless on the Road to Self-Reliance

by Abraham Paulos

The need for homeless services in Chicago is immense. According to the "2006 report on Illinois Poverty: Chicago Area Snapshot", more than one in five Chicago residents lives in poverty, which represents a 3.9 percent increase since 2000. Poverty rates in Chicago continue to rise and are consistently higher than rates in Illinois. The Chicago Coalition for the Homeless estimates that 166,000 people experience homelessness in Chicago each year. Most of these individuals are chronically homeless with as many as 40 percent dually diagnosed with mental illness and substance abuse disorders.

Founded as a feeding center, Inspiration Corporation, grew out of need. Inspiration Corporation helps the homeless and impoverished to improve their lives and increase self-sufficiency through social services, employment training and housing. Since 1994, 1,150 men and women have graduated from its employment preparation training and nearly 700 of them have moved into the workforce and off the street. Inspiration Corporation's meals, employment training and services, housing and supporting services are designed specifically to meet the holistic needs of homeless Chicagoans.

Inspiration Corporation's clientele is individuals with little or no income who are in need of affordable housing and supportive services. Without social services, chronically homeless people who are housed almost always relapse into homelessness. Upon entering Inspiration Corporation programs, many participants are living in emergency shelters, interim housing, single-room occupancy units, or on the street. Many are ex-offenders. Most have never held a job for more than a few weeks and some have no high school diploma or GED. They have typically been stripped of self-esteem, dignity and have no formal support network through friends or families. Through Inspiration Corporation's programs and community, homeless individuals have an opportunity to restore their sense of self-worth and live a healthier life.

Inspiration Corporation provides an array of services designed to help men and women lead self-sufficient lives. The programs are designed to provide a holistic approach to helping a person who has been chronically homeless?and whose history might include some combination of addiction, mental illness and incarceration?to become self-sufficient.

Participants evaluate the quality of the services and provide insight into areas the organization should improve or expand. Inspiration Corporation's computer classes and financial literacy training are examples of services that were developed from the suggestions and support of volunteers and participants. Program participants provide insight into operations and programming at bi-monthly meetings. The board of directors' guest /alumni committee meets monthly and is chaired by one of the two board members who are former clients of the organization. The meetings are open to all program participants.

Inspiration Corporation reaches out to the general community with a commitment to providing information on the issues surrounding homelessness and engaging the community to become a part of the solution. Inspiration Corporation clients and staff are informed and active in public policy and legislative matters. Staff members make daily announcements of community events so guests and alumni have an opportunity to make social change and urge city leaders to listen to the voices of the homeless and impoverished.

What makes Inspiration Corporation unique is the Cafe Too program, a restaurant training program that provides skills and employment opportunities within an atmosphere of dignity and respect. The 13 week training program focuses on a variety of subjects, in which each participant qualifies for a food-service sanitation and safety license. In addition students gain hands-on experience by working for nine weeks in the restaurant. Students work lunch, brunch and dinner shifts to gain a broad range of skills.

Cafe Too helps individuals and families become housed, employed, self-sufficient and ends or reduces poverty for individuals. Café Too not only supplies a supportive environment a participants with a safe space for transforming their lives, it also is the epitome of social enterprise that provides funding for Inspiration Corporation programs.

Inspiration Corporation will use the Harry Chapin Self-Reliance Award to support Café Too. Support from the Harry Chapin Self-Reliance Awards program is instrumental in enabling Café Too to provide individuals who are homeless or low-income the opportunity to learn the culinary skills needed to embark on careers in the food service industry.

The Harry Chapin Self Reliance Award is administered by (HCSRA) Reinvesting In America (RIA). The HCSRA is awarded as a cash grant to outstanding grassroots organizations in the U.S. that have moved beyond charity to creating change in their communities. Winners are judged outstanding for their innovative and creative approaches to fighting domestic hunger and poverty by empowering people and building self-reliance.