They’d announced last week that they would close in the spring, but instead shut down Friday. Of course, I’m sure Mayor Rahm would have done something to help if he’d known! (Not.) The settlement house model was a successful one, but a lot of people are invested in the idea that spending money on poor people is a waste:
CHICAGO (AP) — Hull House, the Chicago social services organization founded more than 120 years ago by the Nobel Peace Prize winner Jane Addams, closed Friday after running out of money.
The agency said the poor economy resulted in more demand for its services but also made it harder to raise money to cover its costs. Hull House has been providing child care, job training, housing assistance and other services for 60,000 people a year in the Chicago area.The agency had announced plans to close in the spring, but Friday’s shutdown was unexpected, striking some 300 employees with a devastating and unexpected blow. They received layoff notices and final paychecks and then spent the day packing their belongings and saying tearful good-byes. Many said they were startled to learn their insurance ended almost two weeks ago.
“It’s been my life,” said Dianne Turner, who spent 25 years teaching families in Chicago housing projects how to break the cycle of poverty. “It wasn’t about the pay. It was about seeing a family go from feeling hopeless to being hopeful and feeling like they can do things.”
Turner said she knows what it’s like to live in the projects and dream of something better. She got her first job as a teenager through Hull House and said the organization helped teach her the value of education, how to save money and how to be a leader.
Founded in 1889, Hull House was the best known of the 400 settlement houses in the United States in the early 1900s. The settlements were designed to provide services to immigrants and the poor while uplifting them through culture, education and recreation. At its peak, Hull House served more than 9,000 people a week, offering medical help, an art gallery, citizenship classes, a gardening club and a gym with sports programs.
Rahm is a truly horrible person. This is a crucial part of Chicago history, something to be really proud of.
It’s part of American history as well.
To me, it’s closing is America on NeoCorporatism and One Percenters.
“…`At this festive season of the year, Mr. Scrooge,’ said the gentleman, taking up a pen, `it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the Poor and Destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, sir.’
`Are there no prisons?’ asked Scrooge.
`Plenty of prisons,’ said the gentleman, laying down the pen again.
`And the Union workhouses?’ demanded Scrooge. `Are they still in operation?’
`They are. Still,’ returned the gentleman, `I wish I could say they were not.’
`The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?’ said Scrooge.
`Both very busy, sir.’
`Oh! I was afraid, from what you said at first, that something had occurred to stop them in their useful course,’ said Scrooge. `I’m very glad to hear it.’
`Under the impression that they scarcely furnish Christian cheer of mind or body to the multitude,’ returned the gentleman, `a few of us are endeavouring to raise a fund to buy the Poor some meat and drink. And means of warmth. We choose this time, because it is a time, of all others, when Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices. What shall I put you down for?’
`Nothing!’ Scrooge replied…”
We should change the national motto from “in God we trust” to “Bah, Humbug”. We’ve reached the point where we out-Scrooge Scrooge.
Well, it had to close. How else will Our Corporate Masters get a steady supply of towel-boys and hookers.
Rahm – front of the line for the guillotine