Joining Forces for Affordable Housing
  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • VISION
    • Advocacy
    • Impact
    • Membership >
      • Becoming a Member
      • Member List
    • Open Position
    • Contact Us
  • Resources
    • Housing Help
    • Development Tracker
    • Local Planning Documents
    • Housing Publications & Advocacy Groups
    • Books, Movies, Songs & More
  • Blog
  • Get Involved
    • Workshops
    • YIMBY Committee
    • Zoning Committee
    • 2021 Candidate Committee
  • Calendar

Blog

Updates on January Calls to Action

2/10/2021

0 Comments

 
In January, Joining Forces for Affordable Housing made several calls to action. Here is an update on results. Many thanks to those of you who participated!
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:

Read More
0 Comments

Candidate Discussions of Affordable Housing in Evanston

2/8/2021

0 Comments

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

improved--and new--housing workshops

12/28/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
​​


Read about the content of our workshops on our Workshops page.
​See the schedule for workshops on our Calendar.
Register for a workshop by sending an email to 
​
sloellbach@connect2home.org.

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. ​

Read More
0 Comments

Fact Sheet on Housing Authority Proposal for The Emerson

11/18/2020

0 Comments

 
See our Fact Sheet on 51 New Units of Affordable Housing: The Emerson, at 1900 Sherman.

Read More
0 Comments

Letter to City Council Supporting the Emerson

11/18/2020

0 Comments

 
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. ​

Read More
0 Comments

here's evanston's opportunity to choose affordable housing

10/19/2020

0 Comments

 
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. ​

Read More
0 Comments

Advocating for Affordability and Equity in North Shore Zoning

8/4/2020

0 Comments

 
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:

Read More
0 Comments

Impact of COVID-19 on Housing Needs & Advocacy Response

5/4/2020

0 Comments

 
​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.

Read More
0 Comments

Current Responses to COVID-19 from Housing-Related Agencies

4/13/2020

0 Comments

 
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. ​

Read More
0 Comments

Call to Action in Evanston: Choose Affordable Housing!

1/22/2020

0 Comments

 
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.

Read More
0 Comments
<<Previous

    Categories

    All
    COVID Response
    Evanston
    Joining Forces News
    New Developments
    Research & Learning
    Zoning

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • VISION
    • Advocacy
    • Impact
    • Membership >
      • Becoming a Member
      • Member List
    • Open Position
    • Contact Us
  • Resources
    • Housing Help
    • Development Tracker
    • Local Planning Documents
    • Housing Publications & Advocacy Groups
    • Books, Movies, Songs & More
  • Blog
  • Get Involved
    • Workshops
    • YIMBY Committee
    • Zoning Committee
    • 2021 Candidate Committee
  • Calendar