Selling magazines becomes a lifeline for Chicagoans navigating the intersecting barriers of incarceration, addiction, and housing instability.
by
For decades, Keith Hardiman heard the same answer when he tried to move his life forward: “You don’t qualify.”
After recovering from substance use disorder and returning home from prison, Hardiman discovered that social and legal barriers prevented him from securing steady work and stable housing.
Keith Harriman sells copies of StreetWise magazine each morning on Michigan Avenue and Lake Street. | Photo by Jack Austin
From the Article:
“The number one structural driver that creates the conditions of homelessnes is racism,” said M Nelsen, a policy manager at the Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness.
That racism shows up in housing policy–from redlining to the demolition of public housing like Cabrini-Green without full replacement. It also shapes who has access to homeownership — and who builds generational wealth.
“It’s not that there’s a lack of housing,” Nelsen said. “It’s a lack of access.”
