People living doubled up with friends or family due to economic hardship, sometimes called invisible homelessness, is not always clear to communities or even those experiencing it due to stigma and lack of resources. The Chicago Coalition for the Homeless teamed up with advocates and researchers to develop a unique way to count people living doubled up using U.S. Census microdata. In this episode, we talk with researcher Molly Richard, a student at Vanderbilt University, Samuel Carlson, manager of Research and Outreach at Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, and Edrika Fulford, a community organizer with lived experience of doubled-up homelessness.
We dedicate this episode to Edrika who died shortly after this recording. Those who knew her said that Edrika brought immense passion and resolve to all that she did as a leader and advocate, whether speaking at rallies, testifying at press conferences, officiating events, or providing interviews with the media. She will be deeply missed and forever part of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless’s mission and legacy.
Recommended Reading
Go Fund Me for Edrika Fulford’s Funeral
Bring Chicago Home (campaign to create dedicated revenue to address homelessness)
Chicago Coalition for the Homeless
Learn how to do a doubled-up estimate in your community
Research: Quantifying Doubled-Up Homelessness: Presenting a New Measure Using U.S. Census Microdata
- KBOO