The coalition unites those in poverty, social service organizations, Southern Illinois University researchers and students, civic leaders, and faith communities. These groups are working together for compassionate and sustainable responses to the unmet needs of those on the margins. They include the homeless and those on the edges of homelessness such as parolees, veterans, the unemployed and unde
remployed, those with mental and physical challenges, and those struggling with substance abuse. Our goal is to address conditions that contribute to poverty and facilitate community-wide responses to its consequences. Our vision is to help people gain self-sufficiency wherever possible, and if not, to help people attain the kind of care they need to live lives of dignity. An important aspect of the Sparrow Coalition is that those who are living in poverty or who have experienced it are members and leaders of the coalition. Their lived experiences and input are helping to shape local solutions.
