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Community Corner

Homeless in the Suburbs: A Continuing Problem

George Chapp, featured in first installment of the Patch series, remains homeless two months later.

The economy may officially be on the rebound, but the recovery is lost on George Chapp, who is still job hunting and homeless.

Chapp, who was featured in Patch's  earlier this year, has been homeless and looking for a job for several months. He eats and sleeps at various DuPage County PADS shelters. A trained printer, Chapp said that he would happily accept any job for which he is qualified, including warehousing or handyman work.

After he was featured in the Feb. 7 article, a reader anonymously donated a cell phone plus minutes to Chapp with the hope of facilitating his ability to connect with potential employers. A friend printed resumes and business cards, which Chapp said he has handed out by the hundreds. With the weather turning, he is hoping to find work—any type of work—that will enable him to afford living accommodations.

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Ironically, the onset of spring does not bode well for the homeless. While the elements are less harsh, many PADS shelters close for the season. “Being homeless is a 365-day-a-year problem,” said Carol Simler, executive director of PADS. The organization seeks to have two shelters open somewhere in DuPage County each night during the summer. The ability to do so is driven by the availability of space and volunteers. The summer schedule has not yet been determined.

Even with some PADS sites likely to remain open, the location will change nightly. Chapp said transportation to the designated site is a challenge; sometimes one that is insurmountable. Without a room or apartment, Chapp said he will probably sleep outdoors somewhere and shower at the YMCA at a price of $10 per day. Hoping to avoid the probability of being homeless and shelterless for the summer, Chapp said that he is ramping up his effort at finding a job.

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