August 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010

For November 29, 2010 - Keep Looking Up

What does it mean to you if someone were to tell you to KEEP LOOKING UP?  These are words Robin lives by. He tries to keep looking up....

           - to God who helps him

           - to the case managers and others who know more about how to reach his goals than he does (or did)

           - and to stay optimistic despite difficult challenges

This is rather amazing, since Robin has been homeless off and on since he was 17 years old. He is now 54 and has been housed for two years now. You can see and hear Robin for yourself at our YouTube site at  www.youtube.com/franoutreach.  If you are on our mailing list, watch your snail mail boxes for a letter with more details about Robin and his road to success. You'll enjoy Robin's refreshing optimism!

You can help us help people like Robin by participating in our Keep Looking Up Appeal. Our goal for the end of this year is to raise $297,190 to keep our programs operating and end the year in the black and another $37,597 to hire a second case manager for the shelter.  We've already raised $125,961.  Click here to see how we're doing.

If you are doing your holiday shopping online this year, consider using Good Shop or iGive and naming us as your charity of choice. You can raise funds for us and save money as well.

For August 6, 2010 - Help Get Chronically Homeless Persons into Housing

Do you want some direct contact with our homeless brothers and sisters? Do you want to make a big difference in their lives?  Franciscan Outreach is participating in a nationwide effort by Common Ground called 100,00 Homes Campaign that seeks to house the most vulnerable homeless persons in each city.  The goal is to get 100,000 homeless persons housed nationwide by 2013. Chicago is participating in this project and hopes to get homes for around 300 or more homeless persons. You can read details at

www.cityofchicago.org/fss/Chgo100kHomes  Efforts in the first three cities that have done this have been very well received.

The first step in this process is to survey persons who might be considered good candidates for this housing. As part of this initiative, we are recruiting dedicated volunteers to help us survey guests at our Franciscan House of Mary and Joseph shelter (2715 W. Harrison St.) on the evenings of August 22, 23, and 24th from 6:15 to 9:30 pm.  Eight volunteers are needed to work from 6:15 to 9:15 pm each night to help register guests who choose to participate. We also need a volunteer to invite guests to participate and direct traffic within the shelter on these nights. There are a total of 27 volunteer slots over the course of 3 evenings. It is helpful if you could volunteer all three nights, but it isn't necessary.

We are also recruiting volunteers to help the City survey homeless persons wherever they might be found, such as under viaducts or in parks. Teams or two or four will be going out on the mornings of August 23rd, 24th and 25th to talk to homeless persons. Gift cards will be provided to encourage their participation. 

Training will be provided, with training session on Thursday, August 19 and another on Sunday August 22, both during the day. Only one training session is required.  Training will cover such issues as how to ask homeless persons to participate, what to do if someone wants to talk too long, and how to complete the survey.  

If you are interested, please contact Chris Curran, Director of Mission and Community Outreach, at 773-278-6724, ext. 17 or email her at the email address found on the Contact Us page.  Previous volunteer experience at the shelter is helpful, but not necessary.