Original designs and birdhouse structures dotted the display walls and showcase floor at the Room & Board furniture store, 55 E. Ohio St., for Chicago House's 20th annual auction. Designs from people from all around the city and suburbs donated art for the silent-auction event.
Chicago House CEO the Rev. Stan Sloan explained that the birdhouses symbolize a safe space for birds and Chicago House offers that same thing for Chicago's least fortunate. The Chicago House has been operating since 1985 and started as a hospice for people living with AIDS. Now, in its nearly 30 years of operation, they have expanded their services to offer housing assistance, case management, HIV/AIDS prevention services and they have opened a TransLife Center.
The center focuses primarily on the trans community providing what they call, "affirming legal services," housing/employment assistance and resources to quality health care.
"We studied and found that many trans people, especially trans women of color, couldn't access emergency services," said Sloan. "We help to bridge the gaps for people in the trans community to those services."
Sloan said that Chicago House makes it a point to battle economic disparities in the Chicago area and provides help to people within, and outside, of the LGBTQ community. One program helps clients apply for the federal HUD program and Section 8. They work directly with individuals and families in need to obtain monthly rental assistance. These families would otherwise become statistics among Chicago's homeless.
Supporters Terry Burns and Robert Graziano, whom Sloan married, have been volunteering and donating since the inception of Chicago House. Burns is even a former board member.
"Stan is a dedicated individual. He is one of the reasons we keep coming back. The other is that I like to contribute to the community in a way that affords people direct housing and, in essence, self-respect," said Burns.
Mandi Siegel, a contributing artist for a third year, said that she and her mother, Skeeter, have made contributing art to the auction a family affair. Her mother, who works for Room and Board as a salesperson, say their way of showing appreciation for what Chicago House does for the overall community is to donate their artwork.
"I like the idea of their openness to anyone. They aren't discriminatory. There's a place for everyone [to get help]," said Siegel.
Additional photo coverage by Jerry Nunn. www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Chicago-House-holds-birdhouse-auction/43387.html .
