Cook County Shelter Sign-On Letter
On January 19, we asked advocates to sign on to a letter to  Cook County officials and staff, asking them to support development of new fixed-site homeless shelters. This is an ongoing issue. So far, 135 organizations and 1,025 individuals have signed on. Click here to read the letter, see sign-ons so far, and add your name or organization.

SB 3066--State Legislative Package for Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention
On January 9, we asked supporters to file witness slips in favor of Senate Bill 3066. In less than 24 hours, partnering with Housing Action Illinois and other advocacy groups, we generated 1,031 witness slips in favor of the legislation, more than the opposition (841), and the bill was approved by the state House of Representatives. Unfortunately, the bill was not called for discussion or vote in the Senate. The bill's originator, Representative Delia Ramirez, released this statement. 

Key Provisions:

Elections for Evanston's mayor and aldermen are coming up in April 2021. Joining Forces has asked organizers of candidate forums to include questions on affordable housing, if they hadn't already planned to do so.

What we are finding so far is that 1) forum organizers are asking the most general of the questions, and 2) candidates are giving the most general answers.

What we'd really like to know are much more specific ideas and opinions. However, these questions are both tough and controversial. Some of the candidates are moving towards them, and we are encouraged by that--but impatient for more momentum.

REAL Housing Questions for Evanston Candidates

• Where in your ward do you feel you could advocate for a new building with at least 12 units of deeply affordable housing? How would you advocate for it?

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• If the only place to create new units in your ward would require you to choose between minimizing change in the neighborhood and creating new units, which would you choose and why is the one more important than the other?

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• What would you do to make sure that a new affordable housing plan does not "get put on the shelf"?

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• If you would object to allowing multi-family buildings of 4 units or less in currently single-family-only zones, why? And what strategies would you propose instead that would allow at least the same level of new affordable units that such zoning changes would allow?

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• If a new building will not include as many affordable units as you think it should, what alternative do you see OTHER than the following: 1) Approve the building in order to get the affordable units offered, or 2)Nix the building and not get any affordable units?

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• What ideas do you have for increasing the amount of money the City has to spend on housing subsidies and new affordable housing to at least $5 million a year?

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. ​

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. ​

​The COVID-19 pandemic is highlighting and exacerbating so many of the problems our community faces. Housing is no exception:

• Connections for the Homeless is currently providing hotel rooms, food, clothing, and other basic necessities to about 200 people who have nowhere else to shelter in place.
• The number of calls we are receiving from people who need help paying their rent is increasing steadily.

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. ​