A COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH PROJECT BETWEEN LOYOLA UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

AND MERCY HOUSING LAKEFRONT’S TENANT LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE

Mercy Housing Lakefront

Background and History

1989 – A group called Lakefront SRO converts a single-room occupancy hotel in the Uptown neighborhood into a 69-unit building. Provided rooms and social services to people who had long

experience of homelessness. 2006 – Lakefront SRO combined with the national organization,

Mercy Housing, to become Mercy Housing Lakefront MHL has 12 permanent supportive housing buildings in Chicago

providing 1,307 units to some of the city's most vulnerable residents. Buildings in Uptown area:

Harold Washington Major Jenkins/Delmar Apartments Malden Arms Apartment Miriam Apartments Carlton Apartments

Context for Research

Mercy Housing Lakefront is funded by a mix of city, state, and federal housing programs along with private and philanthropic donations.

Major Budget Spending cut proposed in 2011/2012 Illinois State budget

Cuts of up to 8% to Department of Human Services.

Proposed cut would affect the services offered to Mercy Housing Lakefront tenants.

Raises concerns for some of the tenants Could be any other ways to buffer the effects of the proposed

budget cut?

Research Questions

Where are the free food resources in the area available to Uptown Mercy Housing Lakefront tenants?

Has the increase in food prices and decrease in federal assistance strongly impacted the tenants of Mercy Housing Lakefront in Uptown?

How are tenants coping with these changes through their spending habits, grocery store preferences, and food pantry visits?

MAP OF THE FREE FOOD RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THE TENANTS LIVING IN

THE MERCY HOUSING LAKEFRONT BUILDINGS IN THE UPTOWN

NEIGHBORHOOD

Map

Data Collection & Methodology

Need for knowledge of free food resources established at first tenant meeting

Data Collection Online research Resource from tenant compiled by Alderman James Cappleman’s

46th Ward Community Service Office direct2food.org

Looked for: Eligibility based on boundaries Reliability of information

Recorded: Name, address, hours of operation, telephone numbers, any

additional services

Data Analysis

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping Visual representation of quantitative and qualitative

dataMap is meant to be a resource that is easy for

anybody to use

IN ORDER TO FIND OUT IF THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN HAS EFFECTED TENANTS OF MERCY HOUSING LAKEFRONT’S ABILITY

TO OBTAIN FOOD

Survey

Survey

Data Collection

30 question survey, split into 4 sections Neighborhood Food budget Food pantries Grocery stores

Surveyed 50 Mercy Housing Lakefront tenants

Conducted structured interviews following CITI guidelines

Data Collection

Quantitative Direct questions with a

narrow range of answers could be classified along nominal, ordinal, or scaled measurements.

Focus on statistical trends in food budgets at Mercy Housing Lakefront.

Qualitative Open-ended questions-

giving the tenants the opportunity to expand and elaborate on their answers.

Focus on the “Hows?” and “Whys?”

Data Analysis: Quantitative

Social Statistics Software: SPSS 19Provided a statistical method for analyzing

our community collected data and produced averages and proportional statics to support our research question.

Presentation of Data: Quantitative

Presentation of Data: Quantitative

Presentation of Data: Quantitative

Presentation of Data: Quantitative

Presentation of Data: Quantitative

Results and Findings: Quantitative

Statistical trends support food cut backs in the Mercy Housing Lakefront community

Increase in food pantry usage, 67% frequent food pantries in last 6 months.

Almost unanimous agreement that food prices have risen in the last 6 months

Downturn has affected access to quality food resources

Data Analysis: Qualitative

Read through each survey multiple times focusing on one section at a time

Recorded all answersGrouped responses based on similarities in

order to find common themes.Compiled all responses into a single fluid

narrative

Results and Findings: Qualitative

Neighborhood Pro: Location,

Diversity Con: Gentrification,

Homelessness Changes: Decrease

Crime, Increase JobsFood Budget

Food Prices Increase Link card unchanged General Assistance cut

Food Pantries Increase in wait time Only go as a last resort “Doing the best they

can”

Grocery Stores Shop the sales Quality vs. Cost Traveling for savings

Limitations of Research

Spoiled surveys Misunderstandings and miscommunications Survey variation

Sample size and population

Implications

The area is becoming gentrified: Housing cost are increasing, cost of living is increasing, a growing backlash against homeless and tenants of supportive housing.

Due to the budget cuts and increasing food prices, tenants at Mercy Housing Lakefront are becoming more depended on resources in the area. Resources which are becoming depleted.

Growing tension between what Uptown is and who lives there and what Uptown is becoming and who wants to live there

Must ensure the food budget crisis does not escalate and advocate for the tenants’ right to food.

Suggestions for Further Research

Originally, “Background and Community Information” section was intended to give context to responses; however, it ended up serving as a general interest and suggestions component to the survey.

Many of our suggestions are based off tenant concerns Safety Effects on Local Food Pantries Tenant Diet Tenant Rights Community Building

Conclusion

Map of free food resources will be useful for Mercy Housing Lakefront tenants

Survey provided information about issues affect tenants and areas of interest

Entirely collaborative process This is the tenants’ map, tenants’ survey, and the

tenants’ results to use as they wantStrongest and most powerful resource –

tenants