We don't have all the answers. But we provide the data we have access to, share information about what other communities are doing around the country, give opportunities to explore housing alternatives, and facilitate discussion of different viewpoints.
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November 18, 2020
According to the DePaul University Institute for Housing Studies, there is a shortage of more than 6,900 affordable units in Evanston and Skokie combined. (Click on the link at the bottom of this page to access this data in the Appendix to the study cited.) Dear City of Evanston Aldermen and Mayor Hagerty: Members of Joining Forces for Affordable Housing would like to reiterate our support of the The Emerson at 1900 Sherman, up for your vote on Monday, November 23. Last, January, Joining Forces members spoke at a special City Council meeting, exhorting the City to "Choose Affordable Housing!" Shortly, after that, the pandemic set in, and momentum on most issues stopped. Now, however, there are inklings of action, and it is time for the City to respond by choosing affordable housing-usually over other easier or more popular options. Here is one great opportunity.
The Emerson On October 14, the City's Plan Commission deliberated on whether to recommend approval of a new residential apartment building on Emerson and Sherman by the Housing Authority of Cook County. Joining Forces has reviewed the portions of the Evanston City Code related to housing in light of affordability and equity. We believe that both Evanston and the surrounding communities should expand this effort and overhaul their municipal codes to accomplish the following:
The COVID-19 pandemic is highlighting and exacerbating so many of the problems our community faces. Housing is no exception:
Joining Forces for Affordable Housing held its first meeting since COVID-19 struck Illinois on April 6, 2020. One of the things we talked about was how local housing & homeless agencies are responding.
Evanston's City Council meeting on Tuesday, January 22, was focused on affordable housing. Here is the packet for the meeting, and here is a video of the meeting. During public comment, 13 members of Joining Forces spoke, asking the City Council to "Choose Affordable Housing" in 13 different ways. And one of our members added both beauty and meaning to the evening by singing. The core of each statement made is listed below.
Many thanks to all the Joining Forces members who spoke (or sang)! These statements will provide a good foundation for our advocacy in Evanston this year. In October of 2019, Joining Forces for Affordable Housing held several community meetings at the Civic Center to review and discuss the Undesign the Redline exhibit that was on display. Our focus was on considering the exhibit's suggestions for future action that would help to dismantle the restrictive limits that redlining imposed on Black communities and the resulting long-term dis-investment and segregation that have resulted.
Here is a brief summary of what we discussed: I attended Housing Action Illinois' annual conference, called "Housing Matters" on October 24 and 25. It was excellent, and I recommend everyone interested in housing issues in Illinois watch for this next year and head to Bloomington in October.
Here's a link to descriptions of the sessions from the conference, that includes links to the PowerPoints that were presented. |
