Chicago has been in the news.  Crime rates in 2016 reached highs that haven’t been seen in 60 years, with a total of 762 homicides, more than New York and Los Angeles combined.  In 2016, there were 4,365 shooting victims, up by 1,000 from 2015 (NY Daily News, 2017). 

 

Across Chicago’s 77 districts, Roseland ranks 9th in number of violent crimes per month (Chicago Tribune, 2016).  In Roseland alone, there were 88 violent crimes, 159 property crimes and 94 quality-of-life/drug crimes in one month (November to December, 2016, Chicago Tribune).

 

Along with high crime rates, Roseland residents struggle with poverty, hunger, homelessness, and an increasing number of abandoned houses.

• Per capita income for residents in Roseland was $17,974 compared to $27,148 for Chicago residents overall (2010 Census). 

• Approximately 32% of Roseland’s children are in poverty and 97% are eligible for free lunch (Public School Review, 2014). 

• There were 12,186 youth between the ages of 14-21 who were homeless by the end of June 2014 (Chicago Coalition for the Homeless)

• The Institute for Housing Studies (2013) notes that some areas of Roseland have over 25% of homes foreclosed. 

• Almost 25% of the households in Roseland do not own a car, compared to 5% nationally.

• 35-57% of residents of Roseland are “food insecure” and do not know where they will obtain their next meal (Map of the Meal Gap 2016).