From the desk of Betty A. Bogg, Chief Executive Office
Dear friend,
Since Election Day, supporters, staff and friends of Connections have repeatedly asked me, “What will the incoming Trump administration mean for Connections and the clients we serve?”
I have been struggling to answer this question. Like many of you, I am trying to navigate what feels like a fine line between despair and defiance, between panic and hope.
I have had moments of complete and utter fear for the people we serve and for our organization’s survival. I’ve experienced waves of anger and anxiety, but lately I’ve started feeling more steady and clear that, though we will face difficult times and have to make difficult decisions, Connections is prepared to weather the storms that come our way.
Why the change of heart? In the simplest terms, we’ve been here before. When I came to Connections in 2015, we were in the midst of the State of Illinois budget crisis. Immediately after the 2016 elections, we formed our Advocacy program Joining Forces for Affordable Housing. When the pandemic hit, we responded with the launch of our hotel shelter program and expanded our eviction prevention and housing programs — and we weathered that storm too.
When Connections was born 40 years ago, it was in response to our community realizing that our systems were not working and our neighbors were hurting — literally left out in the cold. This drive to “do something” and provide solutions is part of our origin story, but not only that, it’s become fundamental to who we are: it is our DNA.
I often talk about Connections as the scaffolding by which the community addresses issues of housing and homelessness, and as long as the community continues to see us that way and continues to support our work by volunteering, donating, advocating and supporting us, then Connections will help and support neighbors regardless of what party is in power, what policies are passed, or who is at the helm of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The investments we have made in our programs, people and places have made Connections more resilient and stronger than ever. We did not just survive the pandemic; we emerged better equipped to serve more people with programs that are more effective.
We did not simply wake up one day and decide to buy a 100-year-old hotel. We fought for it, and we built a coalition of neighbors to stand up for it and confront the backlash against it. And while we were fighting for what sometimes felt like the life of the agency, we also raised millions of dollars not just to purchase the Margarita Inn, but to deepen the services there and across the agency, hire more staff, pay them better wages, and end the experience of homelessness for more people than ever in our history.
What gives me hope is that I know that so long as our community continues to stand with us, then Connections is ready for what comes our way.
When we look back to the last Trump administration, we have some ideas of what might be facing us in the future. During his first term, the administration tried but failed to make cuts to federal programs like Section 8, housing assistance grants, and federal investments in affordable housing. The administration also sought to force mixed-status immigrant households to break up or face eviction. However, resistance to these harmful measures by housing advocates and our allies derailed most of these proposals. Under the last Trump administration, our federal funding ultimately remained flat thanks to the efforts of Congressional leaders, housing officials, and grassroots activists. Will that happen again? I wish I knew. But we will keep doing the next right thing, no matter what comes our way.
When, inevitably, the new administration attempts to cut federal funding for housing or roll back evidence-based strategies for addressing homelessness that we employ, we will be ready to mobilize and stand shoulder to shoulder not only with the those who may be directly affected by bad policies, but also with neighbors who, although they may not be personally affected, care deeply about equity, fairness and opportunity for everyone in their community to thrive.
Neighbors like you.
Although I am by nature an optimist, I am no Pollyanna. In order to weather the challenges in front of us and the likely surge of people in need of our help, we need to redouble our efforts to bolster our agency and to draw on the incredible community of volunteers, advocates, and community partners who believe in, support and participate in our work.
We also continue to enjoy the support of local and state leaders, including Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Gov. JB Pritzker, State Homelessness Chief Christine Haley, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, and Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, who continue to prioritize the needs of those who will be most-directly impacted by the Trump administration's agenda.
Our advocacy wing Joining Forces for Affordable Housing will be critical as we knit together the efforts of our neighbors and community allies so we can continue to provide support to those who turn to us when the systems around them have failed them.
Today my hope for you — whether you feel despondent, energized, enraged or joyful — is that you are able to channel that energy into action, because doing good feels good. If you are seeking connection to a community that never gives up, that always is looking for the next right thing to do, we are here for you.
Here are just a few ideas about how you can make a difference whenever you’re ready to jump in.
Finally, I would like to hear your thoughts about what this election means for our community and for Connections for the Homeless. Please feel free to send me a message at [email protected].
With the deepest gratitude for your partnership and support,
Betty A. Bogg
Chief Executive Officer
Since Election Day, supporters, staff and friends of Connections have repeatedly asked me, “What will the incoming Trump administration mean for Connections and the clients we serve?”
I have been struggling to answer this question. Like many of you, I am trying to navigate what feels like a fine line between despair and defiance, between panic and hope.
I have had moments of complete and utter fear for the people we serve and for our organization’s survival. I’ve experienced waves of anger and anxiety, but lately I’ve started feeling more steady and clear that, though we will face difficult times and have to make difficult decisions, Connections is prepared to weather the storms that come our way.
Why the change of heart? In the simplest terms, we’ve been here before. When I came to Connections in 2015, we were in the midst of the State of Illinois budget crisis. Immediately after the 2016 elections, we formed our Advocacy program Joining Forces for Affordable Housing. When the pandemic hit, we responded with the launch of our hotel shelter program and expanded our eviction prevention and housing programs — and we weathered that storm too.
When Connections was born 40 years ago, it was in response to our community realizing that our systems were not working and our neighbors were hurting — literally left out in the cold. This drive to “do something” and provide solutions is part of our origin story, but not only that, it’s become fundamental to who we are: it is our DNA.
I often talk about Connections as the scaffolding by which the community addresses issues of housing and homelessness, and as long as the community continues to see us that way and continues to support our work by volunteering, donating, advocating and supporting us, then Connections will help and support neighbors regardless of what party is in power, what policies are passed, or who is at the helm of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The investments we have made in our programs, people and places have made Connections more resilient and stronger than ever. We did not just survive the pandemic; we emerged better equipped to serve more people with programs that are more effective.
We did not simply wake up one day and decide to buy a 100-year-old hotel. We fought for it, and we built a coalition of neighbors to stand up for it and confront the backlash against it. And while we were fighting for what sometimes felt like the life of the agency, we also raised millions of dollars not just to purchase the Margarita Inn, but to deepen the services there and across the agency, hire more staff, pay them better wages, and end the experience of homelessness for more people than ever in our history.
What gives me hope is that I know that so long as our community continues to stand with us, then Connections is ready for what comes our way.
When we look back to the last Trump administration, we have some ideas of what might be facing us in the future. During his first term, the administration tried but failed to make cuts to federal programs like Section 8, housing assistance grants, and federal investments in affordable housing. The administration also sought to force mixed-status immigrant households to break up or face eviction. However, resistance to these harmful measures by housing advocates and our allies derailed most of these proposals. Under the last Trump administration, our federal funding ultimately remained flat thanks to the efforts of Congressional leaders, housing officials, and grassroots activists. Will that happen again? I wish I knew. But we will keep doing the next right thing, no matter what comes our way.
When, inevitably, the new administration attempts to cut federal funding for housing or roll back evidence-based strategies for addressing homelessness that we employ, we will be ready to mobilize and stand shoulder to shoulder not only with the those who may be directly affected by bad policies, but also with neighbors who, although they may not be personally affected, care deeply about equity, fairness and opportunity for everyone in their community to thrive.
Neighbors like you.
Although I am by nature an optimist, I am no Pollyanna. In order to weather the challenges in front of us and the likely surge of people in need of our help, we need to redouble our efforts to bolster our agency and to draw on the incredible community of volunteers, advocates, and community partners who believe in, support and participate in our work.
We also continue to enjoy the support of local and state leaders, including Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Gov. JB Pritzker, State Homelessness Chief Christine Haley, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, and Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, who continue to prioritize the needs of those who will be most-directly impacted by the Trump administration's agenda.
Our advocacy wing Joining Forces for Affordable Housing will be critical as we knit together the efforts of our neighbors and community allies so we can continue to provide support to those who turn to us when the systems around them have failed them.
Today my hope for you — whether you feel despondent, energized, enraged or joyful — is that you are able to channel that energy into action, because doing good feels good. If you are seeking connection to a community that never gives up, that always is looking for the next right thing to do, we are here for you.
Here are just a few ideas about how you can make a difference whenever you’re ready to jump in.
- Attend our Milestone celebration tonight from 5:30 to 7 pm at the Unitarian Church of Evanston (details here). Bear witness to the stories and lives impacted by our work.
- Get involved with our advocacy work around zoning reform and help make Evanston the equitable, resilient and healthy community it aspires to be.
- Consider spending Martin Luther King Jr. Day, taking place on Inauguration Day, volunteering with us. Use this link to let us know you are interested.
- Make a gift, donate something we need like winter clothes or underwear, and/or volunteer by cooking a meal or getting involved with our advocacy work.
Finally, I would like to hear your thoughts about what this election means for our community and for Connections for the Homeless. Please feel free to send me a message at [email protected].
With the deepest gratitude for your partnership and support,
Betty A. Bogg
Chief Executive Officer
