Wealth and property passed down from parents to their children can be a major financial boost. But as some aging parents struggle financially, they can become prey to mortgage scams or even the complicated lifeline of reverse mortgages, where homeowners trade equity in their homes for cash but won’t be able to leave their property to their family. Home repair is at the root of the ability of senior Chicagoans to stay in their homes as they age. Local organizations are trying to provide relief without depriving seniors of the ability to pass their homes down to the next generation.
Equity & Economic Opportunity
Posted inInvestigating Responses
Jobs. Block Clubs. Investment: How Chicagoans are Interrupting Violence at its Roots
The causes and solutions to gun violence are difficult to quantify—or control. One thing is clear: gun violence is highest in Chicago’s poorest neighborhoods.
Organizers in the hardest-hit communities like Garfield Park say tackling poverty is the only way to create lasting change.
Posted inStatewide Investigations
Under ‘Crime-Free Housing’ Laws, Families May Be Evicted for Minor Offenses
In some Illinois cities, shoplifting, calling 911 too many times or even being a victim of a crime can get you kicked out of your home.
Posted inEquity & Economic Opportunity
The Promises and Pitfalls of Quantum Computing in Chicago
South Chicago teenager Silvestre Luna wants what so many young people plan for: a job he likes, good pay and opportunities to grow in his career. He hasn’t had it […]
Posted inEquity & Economic Opportunity
Explainer: What is Quantum Computing?
What can a quantum computer do? What if instead of going through years of trial and error to see which mixture of chemicals and organic molecules are effective against a […]
Posted inFollow-Up
After Turbulent Tenure, CHA CEO Tracey Scott Out: ‘Residents Were Suffering In The End’
Scott’s exit after four and a half years is a sign Mayor Brandon Johnson is finally overhauling the CHA, housing advocates say.
Posted inEquity & Economic Opportunity, Follow-Up, Investigating Responses, Investigations
CHA Residents Rip CEO At Hearing: ‘We Need Something Much Better Than This’
Resident leaders and even a member of the Chicago Housing Authority board called for CEO Tracey Scott to go, but some alderpeople praised “progress” at the agency.
Posted inInvestigating Responses
Chatham Flooding Mitigation Program Flounders, But Oak Park Sees Success
A program called RainReady has proven to help mitigate flooding – so much so that there’s a waitlist in Oak Park. But despite Chicago’s promise to launch in 2019, it’s not yet off the ground.
Posted inInvestigations
Las Inundaciones Son la Catástrofe Natural Más Amenazadora de Illinois. ¿Estamos Preparados?
Cuando se trata de prevenir inundaciones graves, no hay una solución única. En las próximas semanas, Illinois Answers Project examinará lo que están haciendo los municipios y los departamentos estatales para proteger a sus habitante.
Posted inInvestigating Responses
For Many Illinoisans in Flood-Prone Areas, Buyouts Are the Only Way Out
A state government home buyout program has helped hundreds of people move out of harm’s way. But for many, it takes too long.
