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2024 Spring Session
This was Joining Forces' second Lobby Day. 21 advocates, including Connections for the Homeless staff, people with lived experience, and Joining Forces members attended.
Increased funding for the HOME Illinois Plan
Connections for the Homeless, Joining Forces for Affordable Housing and our statewide advocacy partners are calling for a $92.2 million increase to the HOME Illinois line item. The HOME Illinois line item supports the State’s 4 primary homeless service programs and the Illinois Office to Prevent and End Homelessness. Following last year’s historic increase in funding for homeless services, providers across the state are still struggling to provide enough services to meet the needs of people experiencing homelessness in Illinois. By providing an additional $92.2 million to the HOME Illinois line item, the state can close this service gap.
The Community Safety through Stable Homes Act
The Community Safety through Stable Homes Act (HB 5432/SB 3680) is an important bill which aims to protect renters from discriminatory local Crime-Free/Nuisance Ordinances (CFNOs). This bill would prevent local governments from using CFNOs to:
Amendment to the Homeless Prevention Program (HB 5564)
During Lobby Day, our very own Jori Kovarsky, the Supervisor of Prevention Programs at Connections for the Homeless, provided expert testimony to the House Housing Committee in support of HB 5564. This bill would increase the percentage of funding that providers can use for Administrative and Case Management costs related to operating their homeless prevention program from 15% to 20%. This is important because agencies have seen an increased amount of funding for homeless prevention services in recent years but have struggled to properly staff programs due to the 15% cap on indirect costs. This bill will allow agencies to properly staff case managers to work with participants in the homeless prevention program.
Increased funding for the HOME Illinois Plan
Connections for the Homeless, Joining Forces for Affordable Housing and our statewide advocacy partners are calling for a $92.2 million increase to the HOME Illinois line item. The HOME Illinois line item supports the State’s 4 primary homeless service programs and the Illinois Office to Prevent and End Homelessness. Following last year’s historic increase in funding for homeless services, providers across the state are still struggling to provide enough services to meet the needs of people experiencing homelessness in Illinois. By providing an additional $92.2 million to the HOME Illinois line item, the state can close this service gap.
The Community Safety through Stable Homes Act
The Community Safety through Stable Homes Act (HB 5432/SB 3680) is an important bill which aims to protect renters from discriminatory local Crime-Free/Nuisance Ordinances (CFNOs). This bill would prevent local governments from using CFNOs to:
- Force or encourage landlords to evict tenants based on alleged criminal or “nuisance” behavior.
- Classify any emergency service contact as nuisance behavior.
- Require or encourage landlords to use criminal background checks.
- Require or encourage landlords to evict entire households for one member’s interaction with law enforcement or conviction of a crime.
Amendment to the Homeless Prevention Program (HB 5564)
During Lobby Day, our very own Jori Kovarsky, the Supervisor of Prevention Programs at Connections for the Homeless, provided expert testimony to the House Housing Committee in support of HB 5564. This bill would increase the percentage of funding that providers can use for Administrative and Case Management costs related to operating their homeless prevention program from 15% to 20%. This is important because agencies have seen an increased amount of funding for homeless prevention services in recent years but have struggled to properly staff programs due to the 15% cap on indirect costs. This bill will allow agencies to properly staff case managers to work with participants in the homeless prevention program.
2023 Spring Session
This was Joining Forces' first Lobby Day. 22 advocates, including Connections for the Homeless staff, people with lived experience, and Joining Forces members attended.
AHPAA Reform Bill (SB 1476)
State law since 2004, the Affordable Housing Planning and Appeal Act (AHPAA) (310 ILCS 67) requires municipalities with a lack of affordable housing options—homes for sale or rent—to develop and implement plans for increasing the local stock of affordable housing. While well intentioned, AHPAA has lacked teeth to ensure that municipalities were truly working to increase access to affordable housing within their jurisdictions. With the passage of SB 1476 municipalities will now not only be required to develop affordable housing plans, but they will also be required to show that they are taking concrete steps to implement those plans.
FY24 State Budget: Homeless Services Funding
After decades of flat funding for crucial homeless service programs, Joining Forces, along with our advocacy partners from across the state, advocated for an historic investment in our homeless service programing. As federal COVID relief funds are set to end, the increased funding we advocated for was crucial to maintaining and expanding the safety net for those experiencing homelessness in our state.
As a result of the combined efforts of advocacy groups across the state, the FY24 State Budget included a historic investment of $131.4 million, an increase of $60.1 million, for homeless service programs!
Our efforts lead to the passage of SB 1476, revising the Affordable Housing Planning and Appeals Act, and helped secure a $60.1 million increase in homeless services funding through the FY24 State Budget.
AHPAA Reform Bill (SB 1476)
State law since 2004, the Affordable Housing Planning and Appeal Act (AHPAA) (310 ILCS 67) requires municipalities with a lack of affordable housing options—homes for sale or rent—to develop and implement plans for increasing the local stock of affordable housing. While well intentioned, AHPAA has lacked teeth to ensure that municipalities were truly working to increase access to affordable housing within their jurisdictions. With the passage of SB 1476 municipalities will now not only be required to develop affordable housing plans, but they will also be required to show that they are taking concrete steps to implement those plans.
FY24 State Budget: Homeless Services Funding
After decades of flat funding for crucial homeless service programs, Joining Forces, along with our advocacy partners from across the state, advocated for an historic investment in our homeless service programing. As federal COVID relief funds are set to end, the increased funding we advocated for was crucial to maintaining and expanding the safety net for those experiencing homelessness in our state.
As a result of the combined efforts of advocacy groups across the state, the FY24 State Budget included a historic investment of $131.4 million, an increase of $60.1 million, for homeless service programs!
Our efforts lead to the passage of SB 1476, revising the Affordable Housing Planning and Appeals Act, and helped secure a $60.1 million increase in homeless services funding through the FY24 State Budget.
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