The Daily Northwestern
January 21, 2010
State rep candidates discuss homelessness issue at forum
By Amie Ninh
The struggles of Evanston residents did not fall on deaf ears as candidates for state representative of Illinois’ 18th District took notice.
Candidates Robyn Gabel, Patrick Keenan-Devlin, Eamon Kelly, Edmund Moran and Jeff Smith attended a candidates forum Wednesday at McCormick Tribune Center to discuss issues of poverty and homelessness.
“Rarely are issues of the homeless on the radar of candidates,” said Communication senior Ehren Dohler, a volunteer at Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. “We wanted to start the conversation early. In government, people with money have the voice, and people without money will never be represented.”
The forum was the brainchild of workers at Connections for the Homeless and Chicago Coalition for the Homeless.
After Evanston residents told stories of dealing with homelessness and poverty, the candidates were given one minute to answer five yes-or-no questions about the specific subjects of employment, health care, housing, services and the budget.
While Gabel, Keenan-Devlin, Kelly and Smith agreed on the implementation of a tax reform bill with an income tax increase, Moran said he was against a tax raise.
“During recessionary times, that’s unconscionable,” Moran said. “It would put more people in dire circumstances.”
All of the candidates agreed on the effectiveness of transitional employment programs, which help people with barriers to employment obtain jobs and stay in the labor force. Kelly said transitional employment programs are cost-effective.
The candidates committed to move 500 people out of Institutes for Mental Disease and into community-based supportive housing. IMD beds cost two to three times more than providing supportive housing. However, the state currently spends only $21 million for supportive housing, as compared to $160 million for IMD beds.
“There is no reason for us in this time and place in the year 2010 where people are still put in institutions and put away from society,” Gabel said. “The money has to follow the person.”
Restoring funds to the Homeless Prevention Program, which provides rental assistance and other services to individuals and families in danger of losing their homes, is a goal among all the candidates. In addition, the candidates agreed on protecting funds for shelters and supportive services for populations such as victims of domestic violence, people with mental health problems and homeless youth.
“We need to do better by our families that are in desperate need,” Keenan-Devlin said.
But because funding levels may not increase, Smith said a representative must be able to stand up to special interests.
The forum ended with questions from the audience about specific policies and goals for dealing with Evanston’s diverse population. Questions included candidates’ plans for advocating for more resources, advancing progressive housing policies and helping those affected by HIV/AIDS.
Dohler said the issues highlighted in the forum affect Northwestern students.
“Part of every Northwestern student’s experience is the Evanston panhandler,” he said. “At the end of the day, we are all a part of the community.”
