ChicagoBreaking the Cycle of Povertyand Homelessness in ChicagoFor more than seven years, <strong>Argosy</strong> <strong>University</strong>, Chicago Doctorate of Clinical Psychology graduate Brandon Crow hasbeen working to end homelessness and poverty in Chicago through <strong>The</strong> Cara Program (TCP). Since 1991, the agencyhas placed more than 2,700 homeless and at-risk adults into quality, permanent jobs.According to the 2010 Report on Illinois Poverty produced by the Heartland Alliance Mid-America Institute onPoverty, more than 400,000 people in the state of Illinois have fallen into poverty since 2007. As a result, 20.6% ofChicago residents live in poverty and another 20.7% are at risk of falling into poverty.TCP prepares and inspires motivated individuals to break the cycles of homelessness and poverty, transform their lives,strengthen communities and forge paths to real and lasting success. Founded in 1991, the agency was inspired by thework of Mother Teresa and moved by the global challenges affecting the poor. <strong>The</strong> agency, which was founded byentrepreneur and philanthropist Tom Owens, today serves hundreds of Chicago residents each year at one of its threefacilities – a main training center and two community centersIn addition, the agency has two social enterprises, CleanslateNeighborhood Beautification Services and 180 o Properties (a jointventure with Mercy Housing Lakefront), which serve as a propertypreservation business for homes in foreclosure.Crow, now the vice president of programs for the agency, is amember of the senior management team, working on traditionalprograms that service the community. Those programs includeadmissions, job and life skills training, job placement, supportiveservices and clinical services. “I am fortunate to have had professorsand training supervisors who helped me develop the skills that I usein direct service and in managing and training others. With this, weare able to provide Chicago’s homeless and at-risk population withthe best possible support and services that put them on the road toself-sufficiency,” said Crow.After one year of employment, 75% of those who had enrolled inTCP remained in their initial jobs and more than 82% lived inpermanent housing – a radical improvement from the 19% that hadpermanent housing when they entered the program. “Being a part ofliterally seeing the end of the cycle of poverty for an individual andhis or her family has, and always will be, the high point of my workhere,” said Crow.According to the agency, “<strong>The</strong> goal of TCP is not simply to see eachstudent gain quality employment, secure permanent housing andestablish sustainable financial habits. It is to know that they havebuilt a solid foundation for the future and that they are setting andachieving goals. We want our graduates to have the self-knowledge,the inner strength and the practical skills that they need to createlasting success and lift themselves and their families out of poverty.”