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The Alliance to End Homelessness in Suburban Cook County’s regional council for the Northern District (AHAND) held a December 13 legislative breakfast featuring a discussion with elected officials, people who have experienced homelessness, housing service providers, and affordable housing experts and developers to discuss growing homelessness in the region.
Just days later, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released the 2023 point-in-time count that showed homelessness is at an all-time high in the U.S., adding further urgency to the issue.
This year’s event focused on the pressing need for affordable housing investments in the long run as well as bringing additional temporary shelter space online in the short run. Bob Palmer of Housing Action Illinois and Jessica Berzac of UPholdings, Inc., kicked off the event with a survey of novel legislation being passed in other states to expedite affordable housing development.
Following this introduction was a panel of elected officials drawn from various levels of government discussing how to advance key housing priorities in the northern suburbs. Kylon Hooks, Deputy Chief Homelessness Officer for Illinois, will moderate the discussion. The panel will feature Illinois Sen. Ann Gillespie; Andrew Gozckowski, Mayor of Des Plaines; Illinois State Rep. Lillian Jimenez; Jonathan Nieuwsma, Councilmember for the City of Evanston; and Erica Reardon, District Director for U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley.
"This event brings together key stakeholders at a critical time to discuss how elected officials and service providers can work together to secure the resources people need in this region, both those who are unhoused and those who can't find affordable housing," said Sonia Ivanov, Executive Director of Northwest Compass, which provides homeless services in the northwest suburbs.
“This is a crucial time to have this discussion: we are seeing unsustainable increases in rental rates across the region while new affordable housing developments are being delayed by municipal zoning policies and practices,” said Michael Mallory, Chief Government Relations Officer for Connections for the Homeless. “And so it's urgent for government officials, community leaders, and housing providers to enter into a dialogue and collaboration to secure additional resources. It’s exciting to see growing coordination among different levels of government at this critically important moment.”
Just days later, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released the 2023 point-in-time count that showed homelessness is at an all-time high in the U.S., adding further urgency to the issue.
This year’s event focused on the pressing need for affordable housing investments in the long run as well as bringing additional temporary shelter space online in the short run. Bob Palmer of Housing Action Illinois and Jessica Berzac of UPholdings, Inc., kicked off the event with a survey of novel legislation being passed in other states to expedite affordable housing development.
Following this introduction was a panel of elected officials drawn from various levels of government discussing how to advance key housing priorities in the northern suburbs. Kylon Hooks, Deputy Chief Homelessness Officer for Illinois, will moderate the discussion. The panel will feature Illinois Sen. Ann Gillespie; Andrew Gozckowski, Mayor of Des Plaines; Illinois State Rep. Lillian Jimenez; Jonathan Nieuwsma, Councilmember for the City of Evanston; and Erica Reardon, District Director for U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley.
"This event brings together key stakeholders at a critical time to discuss how elected officials and service providers can work together to secure the resources people need in this region, both those who are unhoused and those who can't find affordable housing," said Sonia Ivanov, Executive Director of Northwest Compass, which provides homeless services in the northwest suburbs.
“This is a crucial time to have this discussion: we are seeing unsustainable increases in rental rates across the region while new affordable housing developments are being delayed by municipal zoning policies and practices,” said Michael Mallory, Chief Government Relations Officer for Connections for the Homeless. “And so it's urgent for government officials, community leaders, and housing providers to enter into a dialogue and collaboration to secure additional resources. It’s exciting to see growing coordination among different levels of government at this critically important moment.”
