News and Archives

JANUARY

Evanston Roundtable: Connections for the Homeless backers rally for Envision Evanston

Evanston Roundtable: Connections hit by Trump's order to freeze federal funds - Evanston RoundTable

MARCH

Evanston Roundtable: Changing zoning and adding housing encouraged by expert at Connections fundraiser

Evanston Now: Connections advocates zoning reform

JANUARY

Chicago Tribune: Evanston’s Connections for the Homeless purchases Margarita Inn after nearly four years of operation​

Evanston Roundtable: Margarita Inn launches pilot program to provide ‘medical respite’ to shelter residents

FEBRUARY

WGN: Former boutique hotel in Evanston to provide shelter for unhoused people

The Daily Northwestern: Connections for the Homeless celebrates purchase of Margarita Inn in open house

Fox News: Former Evanston boutique hotel to serve as temporary homeless shelter

Evanston Roundtable: Margarita Inn opens doors to residents and public officials to celebrate building purchase

WTTW: Cook County Funds Purchase of Two Hotels in Effort to Provide Stable Housing, Necessary Supports

JUNE

Evanston Roundtable:Margarita Inn council reports quiet Q1 as shelter preps for repairs

SEPTEMBER

Evanston Roundtable: The beginnings of a homeless shelter in Evanston

Evanston Roundtable: Connections for the Homeless honors Blue Line victims in memorial service

Chicago Sun-Times: Evanston shelter mourns Blue Line victims, reaffirms its mission

Chicago Tribune: Homeless support organization holds memorial for Blue Line shooting victims: ‘It never really occurred to us that this would happen’

FEBRUARY

Evanston RoundTable: Biss, homeless group leader sign Margarita Inn agreement

Evanston Roundtable: Letter to the editor: Why I support the Margarita Inn

Evanston Roundtable: Court delays Margarita Inn permit

MARCH

Evanston Now: Another delay for Margarita decision

APRIL

Evanston Roundtable: Open letter to the mayor, city council and LUC: We support Connections’ application for a Special Use Permit

MAY

Evanston Roundtable: Margarita Inn shelter application returns to City Council agenda

Evanston Roundtable: Margarita Inn homeless shelter plan advances

Evanston Roundtable: ‘It’s a mess’: City housing experts say zoning code, comprehensive plan need updates

Press Release: Three Years of Shelter Transformation in Cook County

Evanston Roundtable: Connections receives $2 million to renovate, reopen Hilda’s Place shelter

Evanston Now: Homeless dilemma hits home

98XRT: Congresswoman instrumental in securing much needed funding for Evanston homeless shelter

OCTOBER

Chicago Tribune: Cook County approves funds to help nonprofit purchase Evanston hotel The Margarita Inn

NOVEMBER

The Daily Northwestern: Connections for the Homeless’ annual winter gear distribution helps individuals gear up for the cold

DECEMBER

Evanston Roundtable: Connections for the Homeless completes purchase of Margarita Inn

MARCH

Evanston RoundTable: From hotel to homeless shelter: A peek into the Margarita Inn

Evanston Now: City: Hotel at Margarita not permitted

Evanston RoundTable: Nonprofit to pursue permit needed

Evanston Patch: Connections for the Homeless Needs New Permit For Margarita Inn

Margarita Release

Evanston RoundTable: Emotional meeting about homeless housing at Margarita Inn draws hundreds

Evanston Patch: Evanston Patch: Connections for the Homeless Looks to Buy the Margarita Inn

MAY

Crain's: Homelessness Interrupted: How Chicago took innovative approaches to house people on the margins during the pandemic

The Daily Northwestern: In Focus: As Connections for the Homeless looks to purchase the Margarita Inn, residents remain divided on the buildings future

JULY

Evanston RoundTable: Block Party, a 'thank you' to the Fifth Ward, was a big hit

NOVEMBER

Evanston RoundTable: What the Margarita Inn means to the residents who live there

DECEMBER

Evanston Now: LUC backs Margarita Inn special use

Evanston RoundTable: Land Use Commission recommends Margarita Inn’s ‘special use’ status

JANUARY

Chicago Tribune: As need for shelter explodes during pandemic, Evanston-based agency receives $80k from public, private sectors to feed households

Evanston Now: Funding target reached in homeless assistance program

Evanston Patch: Local Chefs Feed Formerly Homeless Through New Program

The Daily Northwestern: Council approves grant for rent assistance program

Evanston Now: Housing homeless during pandemic to cost $7.3 million

MARCH

Community Solutions Blog: Cook County leans into a client-centered approach to make strides throughout the Covid crisis

Evanston RoundTable: Interdependence: Restaurants, Customers and Community Rally for Each Other

WTTW News: For Advocates Serving Homeless, Outreach Efforts Can't Wait for Virus to Go Away

APRIL

Evanston RoundTable: Joining Forces Opposes the 'Three-Unrelated' Ordinance

Evanston RoundTable​: Pandemic Silver Lining: Ending Homelessness in Evanston

The Daily Northwestern: Stimulus checks prove inaccessible for people experiencing homelessness

Chicago Tribune: Surprising Silver Lining: In fight against homelessness, hotel settings could be a game-changing model

MAY

The Daily Northwestern: Connections for the Homeless honors participants, volunteers and staff

JULY

Evanston Now: Expert: Pandemic’s housing impact could last two more years​

WTTW: Advocates Call for More Resources for Homelessness as Eviction Ban Ends

OCTOBER

Chicago: Donate Your Time and Money to These 10 Chicago Nonprofits

MARCH

Chicago Tribune: Homeless shelters brace for coronavirus outbreak amid closures, larger prevention efforts

Evanston Patch: Community Groups Collaborate To House Homeless Amid Coronavirus

The Daily Northwestern: ​“This virus isn’t going to go away” — Evanston organizations rush to assist the city’s vulnerable homeless population

APRIL

The Chicago Tribune: Evanston hotels are being used to house homeless during coronavirus pandemic

Evanston Patch: Hotels Shelter Homeless During Coronavirus Stay-At-Home Order

MAY

Chicago Tribune: During the Pandemic, Swanky Gold Coast Hotel Becomes a Safe Haven for People Living on the Street and Other Living at Risk

Evanston Now: City Council to vote on aiding homeless

AUGUST

Evanston Now​: Gridlock in D.C. Means more homelessness in Evanston

OCTOBER

The Daily Northwestern: Community leader help people experiencing homelessness vote

NOVEMBER

The Daily Northwestern: In Focus: In an industry ravaged by COVID-19, Evanston

The Daily Northwestern: Businesses go cashless, but risk alienating low-income individuals

The Daily Northwestern: Despite city, community response, eviction threat persist

DECEMBER

Chicago Tribune: Evanston approves new 16-story apartment building downtown with 34 units of affordable housing

Evanston E-News: Community Spotlight: Connections for the Homeless in City of Evanston