The Chicago Anti-Hunger Federation tracks developments in hunger, poverty issues and welfare reform and plays a crucial role in relaying important information back to the Federation's members agencies. Many of the member agencies do not have the capacity to monitor federal and state legislation changes, so the Federation makes it a priority to do so. The Federation remains on top of hunger advocacy by partnering with hunger organizations throughout the country.
Advocacy means people helping people.
Anyone can do it. In Chicago, 33.9 percent of children under age 18 and 35.8 percent of children under age six are poor. This includes 67 percent of children under age six living in female-headed families. Children under age 18 comprise 26 percent of the population of Chicago, but make up 40.7 percent of the people living in poverty. Starting July 1997, as many as 65,000 Cook County residents may lose their welfare benefits within five years as a result of state work requirements and lack of jobs.