Rosenwald Apartments

This is a current photograph of the Rosenwald Apartments, also referred to as the Michigan Boulevard Garden Apartments. This image speaks to my ongoing work in researching the Housing First model, and my continuing work with homeless individuals and those with a low socioeconomic status. This structure was constructed in 1929 in order to provide working class African Americans with quality affordable housing. For decades, it was a desirable place for families to live and it contained multiple storefronts on the street level. The structure had 421 units and 14 stores. Mr. Julius Rosenwald built this structure in response to significant overcrowding in African American communities in Chicago at this time. There was both extensive racial segregation, and a large migration of African Americans in the 1920’s in search for work. Today, the structure is in extreme disrepair. The only signs of life are the desperate individuals who come here to steal scrap metal, or inject illicit substances. I continue to strive for social justice in many areas, one of them being decent affordable housing for all people.