CCO Christmas Letter
Tag: shelter guest
Fund Forward Campaign Letter
$2,400 will cover the cost of one person for an entire shelter stay.
$520 will cover the cost of one person for 20 days and nights of shelter and care.
$260 will cover the cost of one person for 10 days and nights of shelter and care
$130 will cover the cost of one person for 5 days and nights of shelter and care.
$26 will cover the cost of one person for 24 hours of shelter and care.
Click the button below to donate to provide shelter and transform lives!
Download the 2024 FU
Statement on CTA Murders of 4 Unhoused People
It has grieved Cornerstone Community Outreach to learn of the murders of Sean Jones, Simeon Bihesi, Adrian Collins, Margaret Miller, and one unnamed person on the CTA Blue Line. All of the victims were unhoused and sleeping on the train. Two were seniors over the age of sixty.
The crime has sent shockwaves through Chicago’s community of unhoused people and those who are committed to providing shelter and care. We want to offer our enduring sympathy to the friends and families of those who were lost.
Back-to-School Party Photo Album!
The CCO Back-to-School Party was a hit! Children at CCO enjoyed games, art projects, new books, high-energy dancing, face painting, and academic motivation! Parents and children alike were thrilled the kids got new backpacks, shoes, school supplies, and support to start the academic year off right. Each year, staff, volunteers, and donors go all out to make the B2S party memorable. Scroll down to enjoy the 2024 Back-to-School Photo Album & Sponsorship logos!
Sponsorship is an integral part of making CCO events remarkable. This year’s generous sponsors were Baird & Warner, Tiny Giants Early Learning Center, Twinkling Stars, and Lakefront Roofing Supply. Thank you to these fabulous local businesses who put their time, energy, and financial support behind kids sheltered at CCO! We couldn’t do it without you!
Thank you!
Do you want to learn how CCO cultivates every child’s potential? Click here to learn more.
Many thanks to our generous and dedicated donors!
Click on the logos below to learn more about these generous local business that support CCO’s mission, shelter guests, and events.
Click the link below to give a gift that will improve the lives of unhoused children while supporting CCO’s mission to Address Homelessness, Provide Shelter, Accept People,
and Help them find a Home.
Child at CCO to Medical Technician!
This story is from the CCO Archives.
When Lillian’s* family came to CCO, she was 12 years old, but she wasn’t new to the homeless experience. For years, she and her family had shuffled from one extended family member’s house to another. At each new destination, disputes erupted, and she and her family were again displaced, forced to move on to the next couch, floor space, or basement. Lillian grew up with a front-row seat to the destabilizing effects of homelessness but she found hope.
“It was always the same, every day after school. I would make up a story to tell my friends why I was walking the other way. ‘I’ve got to go to my uncle’s house.’ I didn’t want them to know I was homeless. I was ashamed of it. I never shared it with anybody, and they never knew.
Cultivating Every Child’s Potential
In 2023, 244 children called CCO home; over half were school-aged. Education has a powerful influence on the life of a child. CCO aims to equip children with confidence and support to begin and maintain an exceptional school year. The Back-to-School Party and its Sponsors ensure children receive backpacks, supplies, and other essentials to start the year right. Academic support is part of each child’s experience at CCO. Through one-on-one tutoring, specialized family support, dedicated open-air play spaces like the CCO Rooftop Playground and Garden, computer labs, and advocating for children’s academic rights, we work to ensure children at CCO have every opportunity to learn and grow.
In the 2023-24 school year, Chicago Public Schools identified 26,800 students as experiencing homelessness, a more than 50% increase from the previous year. The data reflects a shocking acceleration in homelessness among school-aged children. Research studies in the U.S., U.K., and beyond say that homelessness leads to adverse educational outcomes.
Your 2023 Annual Report!
“Cornerstone gave me the chance I needed. It was so hard to find a decent job
when I was sleeping in my car every night.
I had no place to wash up, no rest, nothing to eat.
I couldn’t get past the first interview.
Thank you for everything!
You helped me get my life back!”
– Former CCO Guest
Your support has paved the way for many CCO success stories! The 2023 CCO Annual Report offers information about the good things that have happened at CCO in the lives of shelter guests. We thank you for ensuring shelter residents access shelter beds, enjoy nourishing meals, and get individualized professional care leading to housing.
Your donation will guarantee stabilizing opportunities and housing for those experiencing homelessness.
Wrap-Around Services Fight Poverty!
Wrap-around services are a daily extension of the care shelter guests experience at CCO. Most shelter guests arrive with no income, support, and limited resources. Once guests enter CCO, immediate needs are met, such as meals, clothing, bedding, and hygiene items.
However, CCO’s wrap-around services go far beyond the immediate needs of families and individuals. The support needed for success is different for each person. A young mother with two children will have different needs than a senior with a chronic health condition. Case managers work alongside guests to create an individualized plan to link shelter guests with practical assistance that brings income, health, and housing stability.
Cornerstone needs your financial support to continue to provide services and shelter. Click here to donate today and make a difference in the lives of families and individuals experiencing homelessness.
Cornerstone Helped Me
“To live under a dictator is like slavery. There is no justice. There is no peace. It is not a free country.” Over fifty years of living under a Congolese dictatorship was long enough for Ildevert Mboungou. In the Congo, Ildevert worked as a chef for the employees of a major oil company. The authorities found out that he was a supporter of the Democratic party, and the dictatorship that ruled and mistreated the Congolese people for decades took revenge. Ildevert had to leave his employment, home, and all he knew. He escaped his homeland and fled to America.
“I flew directly to Chicago. I did not know anyone. I was alone and deeply sad. I was living near the El train station. A man approached me and spoke my language. He told me he knew where I could get help and brought me to CCO. I do not know who he was.”
Homeless shelters do not exist in the Congo, and Ildevert was unaware that help was available or how to find it. This kind stranger took him from being isolated and living outside to CCO where he could find a sense of community, support, and help for the future.
“I came to CCO with only a plastic bag that held my Bible, documents, passport, and coat. That is all I had, but I was happy to find shelter. I met Franke, Andre, and Jeremy, and they made me feel welcome. I could have meals, clothing, showers, and a bed. I am no longer alone and outside. Coming to the shelter was extraordinary.”
As Ildevert began to rebuild his life at CCO, he learned about the resources available to help those who have faced difficulties, including the possibility of traveling freely without the weight of past mistakes. Many individuals who have experienced hardships may feel trapped by their history, often unaware of the options for pardon services that can open new doors.
The journey to obtaining a pardon can feel daunting, but it is a vital step toward reclaiming one’s future. With the right guidance and support, individuals can navigate this process, allowing them to pursue opportunities they once thought were lost. For those seeking assistance, the best-in-class www.pardons.org provides invaluable information and services to help individuals understand their rights and the steps necessary for moving forward. The thought of traveling, of experiencing new places and opportunities, became a possibility, instilling in him a sense of excitement for what lay ahead.
During Ildevert’s stay, he worked closely with his case manager to access an ESL course at Truman College and certificate training in Food Service through a local non-profit. He became an active volunteer at the Kolver Center for survivors of politically sanctioned torture. CCO staff rejoiced with Ildevert when he received his political asylum certificate. Ildevert was reunited with his family when they came to Chicago, and they found a home. It has been a joy to see great things in Ildevert’s life.
- Ildevert Mboungou, as told to Beth Nicholls and translated by Franke Moukiama
A Happy Holiday for Everyone
“Christmas isn’t just a day; it’s a frame of mind.” -Kris Kringle, Miracle on 34th Street
Christmas is for everyone! Cornerstone works hard each Holiday to celebrate and remember every shelter guest. Join us in making this time of year memorable for children, parents, and single adults experiencing homelessness.
We’re looking for volunteers to work in Santa’s workshop sorting, wrapping, and labeling Christmas gifts. Most people arrive at Cornerstone with little more than a backpack or duffle bag. We hope you will help us spread Christmas cheer through gift-giving. You can shop and donate gifts through the Cornerstone Wishlist. Or make a financial donation to ensure people coming to Cornerstone right before Christmas get gifts, too. Please use the QR codes below to get involved!
