Where I Stay

Where I Stay

Welcome to the 51st Ward. Rivet 360 + StreetWise are proud to present a second season of the Shorty Award finalist documentary series, WHERE I STAY, exploring homelessness and the housing crisis in America. ABOUT SEASON 2: Welcome to Chicago’s 51st Ward, where the unseen and unheard find a voice. In Season Two of the Shorty Award finalist documentary series Where I Stay, Rivet 360 + StreetWise delve deep into the heart of Chicago’s housing crisis. As winter’s chill grips the city, thousands are forced to seek shelter wherever they can—many in makeshift communities known as “tent cities.” This season, we explore the roots of these camps, the policies that have left so many without a home, and the challenges of a city grappling with an influx of migrants and a critical lack of affordable housing. Through the eyes of StreetWise vendors, who have lived the reality of homelessness, and our team of dedicated reporters, we uncover the untold stories of Chicago’s forgotten residents. Our goal is to challenge perceptions, spark conversations, and, most importantly, inspire change. Join us as we navigate the complex web of segregation, public policy, and community resilience. Together, we’ll ask: What do we owe each other? Where I Stay isn’t just a podcast—it’s a call to action. Your support can make a difference. Listen, share, and join us in raising awareness and funds to combat homelessness in America. ABOUT SEASON 1: Angelica first became homeless at the age of twelve, but she didn't live on the street. Prisons. Vegas condos. The living room of an Iowa drug queen-pin and an inpatient facility for adolescents. This is WHERE I STAY. Over the course of 8 gripping episodes Host Jesse Betend explores the issue of invisible homelessness through Angelica's story. Season 1 has been called a “wonderfully empathetic telling of a story you will be richer for knowing” and “an incredibly impactful and illuminating podcast about hidden youth homelessness.” WHERE I STAY is a serialized podcast designed to challenge the way people think about homelessness. Each season dives deep into a single story to unravel the many interconnected threads that can leave someone without a home. The show also serves as a grassroots campaign to raise funds and awareness. About StreetWise magazine StreetWise has been part of the fabric of Chicago for 31 years, covering everything Chicago from its people to its social issues, politics, nonprofits, arts, culture, and neighborhoods. Over the past 31 years more than 14,000 StreetWise vendors have found dignity on street corners in many neighborhoods across the city as they are empowered to earn an income with a hand up and not a handout. About Rivet360 Rivet360 is a business to business podcast agency. It was founded in Chicago in 2013 with a simple mission: Tell the world’s stories, making them engaging and fun. An obsession with elegant solutions and devotion to editorial integrity have been part of the company from day one—along with a flexible, can-do attitude that customers love.

Episodes

November 6, 2024 60 mins

An effort to revolutionize Chicago's approach to homelessness, more than five years in the making, ended in a defeat at the ballot box in March, 2024. 


The bill, known as Bring Chicago Home, sought to create a dedicated stream of funds to provide housing and services by taxing properties valued over $1 million.

We talk to Maria Hadden, Alderperson of Chicago's 49th Ward, and an architect of Bring Chicago Home, a...

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In this final episode of Season 2 of Where I Stay, thousands of asylum seekers are showing up on the streets, and in shelters across Chicago. 


A political stunt by the Governor of Texas blossoms into a full blown humanitarian crisis in Chicago, imperiling a new progressive mayor's plans to address homelessness. as well as, provide emergency shelter for tens-of-thousands of new arrivals stuck in political limbo. 


We a...

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It's knives out in Chicago, as election season draws near.. and there will be mud

On March 19th 2024, Chicagoans will see the end of a story multiple years in the making. Voters must decide if the city should create a dedicated source of funds to fight homelessness, but a million dollar astroturfing campaign from the real estate lobby is committed to preventing its passage. Once again. 


Meanwhile Streetwise Editor Suza...

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January 18, 2024 55 mins

Tensions flare over the homeless camp in Touhy Park after the Park District decides to shut everything down. The appearance of mysterious flyers claiming the tent city will be relocated to a fancy hotel causes rampant confusion and amps up emotions on all sides. With the election looming, what paths remain for the local alderwoman to get everyone housed before a potentially lethal winter?


Special thanks to Musician Andr...

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December 21, 2023 58 mins

Chicago may have 50 official wards, but there’s a 51st Ward where over 65,000 people reside without a home. In our season premiere, join reporters Jesse Betend, Suzanne Hanney, and A. Allen as they seek out Tom Gordon, the enigmatic “Mayor of Uptown,” to understand the rise of tent cities across Chicago.

What they find is a tightly-knit community formed out of necessity, existing in the shadows of a city that often overlook...

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For most, living in a shelter or on the street is the last resort. As a result, the majority of people experiencing homelessness are “defined out” of accessing aid. In fact, the Department of Housing and Urban Development doesn’t even consider them homeless. Are we obscuring an exponentially larger looming crisis?

On this bonus episode host Jesse Betend and StreetWise Magazine Senior Editor Suzanne Hanney host a live panel ...

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January 11, 2021 50 mins

Angelica meets Anthony.  

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January 4, 2021 42 mins

A fateful encounter in Arizona changes everything.

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January 1, 2021 32 mins

On the run.

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December 21, 2020 42 mins

Angelica is headed to prison, but what does that mean for her son, Anthony? 

 

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December 14, 2020 33 mins

There was someone who could’ve prevented a lot of what was going wrong in Angelica’s life.

This week: who they were and why they didn’t.

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December 7, 2020 19 mins

Angelica moves in with the queen-pin of an Iowa drug ring.

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November 30, 2020 29 mins

Angelica decides the quickest way to get help is to lie.

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November 20, 2020 27 mins

Fourteen places, two-toothless threats, one diary and countless family secrets. How does a 12-year-old become homeless, anyway?    

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November 11, 2020 2 mins

Angelica first became homeless at the age of 12, but she never lived on the street. Prisons. Vegas condos. The living room of an Iowa drug queen-pin, and an inpatient facility for adolescents. This is WHERE I STAY. 

From Rivet + StreetWise. 

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