Chicago: Jennifer Hudson's childhood home looks like many in the violence-ridden Chicago neighbourhood where she grew up: It has boarded windows, chipped paint and crumbling front steps.
About the only difference between it and thousands of others in the notorious Englewood neighbourhood is that the Oscar-winning actress and singer grew up there - and her mother, brother and nephew died there, allegedly gunned down by Hudson's brother-in-law, a known gang member.
While cities nationwide have seen a drop in homicides, Chicago slayings jumped by a whopping 60 per cent the first three months of the year.
In Englewood alone, there have been 15 slayings, nearly double the number reported during the same period a year ago.
Experts say the area's downward spiral started when families moved out and gangs moved in.
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