Rally for Homeless is a 'Symbolic Bid' for Hubble

The Better Angels of Our Nature Foundation will submit a “symbolic” bid for the former Hubble Middle School site with a rally at 7 p.m. Thursday, with hopes that someone will come forward with a financial bid to support a vision of a homeless campus on the site. 

The nonprofit, non-denominational and non-partisan organization started about a month and a half ago, according to volunteer Amy Korn, with the idea to build a campus on the property that provides centralized services for the homeless.

Founder Tom Cherrington, who owns Wheaton-based Cherrington Design and Building, Inc., said, “I want a homeless campus where we can have centralized services. It is so difficult for these people to get anything,” because they have no permanent address, no transportation or place to stay, he said.

Cherrington said that while he will not submit an actual bid for the property, the rally will serve to submit a “symbolic bid.” Cherrington has spent the past couple of months talking to homeless people in DuPage County, asking them why the system they have now isn’t working for them. 

This system doesn’t work, Korn said, because they don’t have any stability. “Everyday they move from location to location to location. They never spend a second night in the same place.”

Cherrington said it’s difficult for any of these people to get a job or any assistance without transportation, a permanent address or even a stable place to stay. He recalled one story he heard last week about a woman with a masters degree, who has “just had bad luck lately,” he said. “She said, ‘we need a can opener,’” because the food pantries give away canned goods. With no can opener, however, that food isn’t helping anyone.

He said he has mostly visited , as well as a few local churches, for his research. The rally is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday in the Hubble parking lot. It will start with Cherrington, who will address his vision for the site, followed by a speaker, candle lighting and prayers.

Editor's note: TribLocal reported on this story Monday, and talked to Mayor Mike Gresk and District 200 board president, Andy Johnson, about the organization's vision.