Chicago Reporter (https://www.chicagoreporter.com/author/michelle-kanaar/)
Michelle is a photojournalism fellow at The Chicago Reporter.
These are the faces of past and present residents of El Rescate Independent Living Program, a transitional-housing program based in Humboldt Park that focuses on homeless LGBTQ and HIV-positive Latino youths.
Maria Garcia, 37, came to the United States from Mexico when she was 16. She came, as she says, to work. Six years ago she left her husband and started supporting her six children on her own while earning a little more than minimum wage. Garcia’s story illustrates what it looks like to support a family on less than $10 an hour working more than full-time.
With the economy flagging and poverty rising, homeless youth are among the city’s most vulnerable residents. Transitional-housing facilities, such as Humboldt Park’s El Rescate, can be a lifeline for young adults who are separated from their families for a variety of reasons.
The Illinois Humanities Council hosted a conversation about drag, gender and community with the creators of two well-known drag stars, Jomama Jones and Alaska Thunderf**k.
Providing a transitional home for LGBTQ youths isn’t a 9-to-5 job. That’s why it’s perfect for Jackie Gonzalez.