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.

‘Inclusionary zoning’ excludes Chicago’s poor from housing

They call it “inclusionary zoning,” but in reality the government mandate for a portion of developments to be “affordable” limits supply and drives up costs. Chicago should pull back from this form of rent control.

By LyLena Estabine

REPORTS

Unlocking Opportunity: How Occupational Licensing Reform Would Promote Equitable Empowerment in Illinois

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

Regulatory reform can make housing more affordable for Illinois families  

Common-ground solutions to empower Chicago’s poor: A model for America’s cities

Center for Poverty Solutions: How to better assess poverty in Chicago and America

Over 1M Illinois families to get federal help with Thanksgiving

Over 1 million Illinois families will put turkey on the table this Thanksgiving with the help of federal food assistance, including more than half of the households in Pulaski and Alexander counties.

By Patrick Andriesen

Illinois No. 3 for highest unemployment in October

October job numbers for Illinois remained disappointing, with an unemployment rate that was third highest in the nation. There are 346,000 Illinoisans who need a job.

By Ravi Mishra, Jon Josko

Martin Sahagun

“My name is Martin Sahagun. I’m the CEO of Sahagun Siles Partners. I have a bachelor’s degree in architecture and a master’s in urban design.” “This city has provided me almost everything. Skyscrapers, nature, landscape. I always say if I didn’t move to Chicago, I might be in some other career. This city is a...

Over 1 in 7 Illinoisans get food assistance

Nearly 2 million Illinoisans – or more than 1-in-7 – received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits in July 2024. One-quarter of county offices reported more than 1-in-5 residents received food help.

By Patrick Andriesen

Just 3,200 Illinoisans complete apprenticeships each year despite potential to fill nearly 150,000 job openings

Declining reading and math scores decrease opportunity for students in Illinois. Apprenticeships, which provide paid on-the-job training and classroom instruction, are an in-demand alternative to a college degree that can build key skills and help meet future employment needs.

By Lauren Zuar

Illinois can learn from Massachusetts, Washington D.C. for career programs

Illinois can learn from other programs on how to prepare residents facing a benefits cliff, where low-income families are penalized for advancing in their careers.

By Aayush Goodpaty

Unlocking Opportunity: How Occupational Licensing Reform Would Promote Equitable Empowerment in Illinois

Illinois finds itself at a crossroads: will it empower minorities and poor people to unleash their potential, or will it perpetuate an inequitable status quo? For far too many Illinoisans, opportunity is unfairly and unnecessarily out of reach. Illinois ranks in the bottom ten among all states in social mobility and last among Midwest states...

By Josh Bandoch, Larry Han

Apprenticeships can be lifeline for 177,000 idle Illinois youth

Apprenticeships are a great alternative to a college degree, and there is high demand in Illinois. They can help the 177,000 Illinois youths who are out of work and out of school.

By Lauren Zuar

Food assistance rises, with nearly 2M Illinoisans getting benefits in June

Nearly 2 million Illinoisans – or nearly 1 in 6 – received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits in June 2024. The number of Illinoisans needing federal help with groceries was the highest since September 2023.

By Patrick Andriesen

Chicago neighborhoods see unequal housing restrictions

The current Chicago ordinance on separate residences on the same lot puts extra limits on the Southeast, South and West sides that hinder development. Those are areas with some of the greatest need.

By LyLena Estabine

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