Center for Poverty Solutions

 Poverty loses when human dignity prevails 

America has lost the War on Poverty. After nearly 60 years and $12 trillion, the poverty rate remains stuck between 11% and 15%. We’ve focused on making poverty more bearable rather than helping people escape a trap that lasts for generations. We’ve created dependence and taken people’s dignity and purpose. There are better ways to treat people, and we will bring free-market solutions to one of the most important policy issues of our time through the Center for Poverty Solutions, starting in Chicago. Together, we can defeat poverty and build self-worth.

Building not permitted: Building permits in Illinois are a barrier to housing affordability

Building not permitted: Building permits in Illinois are a barrier to housing affordability

Illinois is in the midst of a housing affordability crisis. Over a third of residents are considered “burdened” by housing costs, meaning they pay over 30% of their income on costs related to housing. That is a greater portion of residents burdened by housing than any other state in the Midwest. The state fell 113,000...

By Joe Tabor

Sam Goldman

Sam Goldman

“I would say at a high level, our policymakers have been too focused on affordable housing, and not housing affordability. We’re not focused on sustainable, long-term economic development. We’re not focused on jobs.” “Folks will point to the West Loop and say it’s evidence the policy works. I look at the West Loop and see...

Shenita Muse

Shenita Muse

Shenita Muse leads the Hope Center Foundation, which is leading an effort to fix Chicago’s gridlocked housing market in some of the city’s most needy areas. “Reclaiming Communities” is an initiative to build or rehab 2,000 homes on the city’s South Side and West Side. The homes will then be sold to residents who have...