Homeless Youth Task Force

The Homeless Youth/Police Relations Task Force is a group of youth, service providers, congregational representatives and other local residents who seek to make the Lakeview community reflective of their values.  The Task Force works to make Lakeview a welcoming place to the homeless, runaway and otherwise at risk youth who come here. 

            The Homeless Youth Task Force is currently working on a few fronts.  Leaders have been working for years to improve the way that police treat homeless, LGBT and at risk youth.  Currently, we have been working on the issue of how the police treat transgender individuals.  As the police policy is inadequate, LAC member institutions and allies have been crafting a policy and will be bringing it to the police by the end of 2010.  We have a commitment from several police officials to work on the CPD-wide policy, as well as on local police training and implementation.

            The task force is also working on the issue of youth shelter beds.  As there are only 189 designated youth shelter beds in Chicago, and the adult shelter system can be particularly hazardous for young adults, age 18-24, we are working to gain an emergency shelter for that age group. 

            In a joint project with Center on Halsted, LAC also is working to organize local youth on issues that impact them.