Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness (CCH) appreciates the difficult financial situation the State of Illinois is in. The projected budget deficit for FY26 forces our elected officials to make tough choices. But with cost-of-living increases leading to greater homelessness across the state, maximizing the support provided to those experiencing homelessness needs to be a priority, even when resources are scarce.
”“Many Illinois residents live the scary truth of not having family support when they have an emergency like homelessness,” noted CCH grassroots leader Margaret Bingham. “Not because their family does not care, but because they are also going through financial struggles of their own. Most of us do not have money saved because many of us live paycheck to paycheck. I have a 16-year-old who depends on me to feel safe and do school without the fear of sleeping in the streets. Government funding helps me keep my child safe and focus on schoolwork."
We are disappointed by Governor Pritzker’s proposed funding cut to HOME Illinois, the state’s holistic strategy to address homelessness which engages residents, community organizations, and state agencies to increase affordable housing and strengthen the safety net to help people experiencing homelessness achieve financial stability.
After multiple years of increased funding for HOME Illinois, the proposed $7.3 million decrease is disheartening, as we know more funding is sorely needed to address homelessness. CCH has traditionally advocated for funding for specific line items, which allows us to better understand how funds are utilized and assess when and how underspending occurs. This is especially pertinent when there are delays in contracting and payment from the state.
We applaud the $2 million increase to supportive housing funding, but flat funding the traditional housing line items (Homelessness Prevention, Homeless Youth, and Emergency and Transitional Housing) means fewer people experiencing homelessness in Illinois will get the housing and services they need.
As the cost of living rises annually due to inflation and COVID housing protections expire, eligible households need the amount of assistance to rise as well. As the Governor noted in his budget address, “One of the biggest affordability challenges people are facing is housing.”
The National Low-Income Housing Coalition estimates that a third of Illinois households are renters, and the average fair market housing rate for a 2-bedroom apartment increased by more than $200 in just one year to $1,498 in 2024.
CCH urges the Governor and the General Assembly to pass a budget that prioritizes supporting the unhoused. We understand to do this there is a need for additional revenue and support progressive proposals that ensure all Illinoisians have permanent stable housing. With continued threats from the federal government to cut needed funding for housing and services, now is not the time to back away from our belief that housing is a human right.
