‘Ambassadors’ to help improve quality of life on State Street

21-Oct-13 – From Wacker Drive south to Congress Parkway, “street team ambassadors” will soon be working to make State Street a better place. Chicago Loop Alliance announced on Monday a program to put people on State Street, one of downtown’s busiest streets,

to help with “quality of life” issues ranging from providing directions to connecting the homeless with social service providers.

The non-profit organization that promotes the Loop describes the team as “a group of highly trained individuals with nearly 100 years of combined experience in supportive service programs.”

The team will work closely with the City of Chicago and social service agencies that offer existing services, providing “extra eyes on State Street and day-to-day support.”

Betsy Benito (right), director of Corporation for Supportive Housing, said in a news release the ambassador program “will help connect people in need to tangible services, including supportive housing referrals for the most chronically homeless.”

The program is paid for at least through the end of 2014. CLA says similar programs have been done in New York and Los Angeles.

Photo: Macy’s on State Street near Washington Street on January 9, 2011.