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Chicago Tribune
12-06-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Elgin's pilot program to help the homeless seems to be working, officials say
Of the 42 homeless people moved into an Elgin hotel by the city this winter, two have relocated to supportive housing, one is in a nursing care facility and one now lives in Wildwood Commons, an affordable housing complex in Elgin. Four others have received supportive housing referrals through the state and another is on a waitlist for DuPage County housing, said Deidra Trout, director of behavioral health for nonprofit Association for Individual Development (AID). More than two dozen have received safe, supportive living case management, Trout said, and social service agencies have reached out to another dozen whose basic needs were not being addressed while they were homeless. In other words, Elgin's Unsheltered Pilot Program has had many successes since the decision was made in December to shut down and dismantle Elgin's 'tent city' along the Fox River and move its residents into Lexington Inn & Suites on Route 31, the Elgin City Council was told during its Wednesday night meeting. 'This project has truly assisted with closing the mortality gap for those who have experienced unsheltered homelessness with evidence-based housing first model,' Trout said. 'Lives have been stabilized. … While we are still early in this pilot, the progress is real.' That said, the task of addressing homelessness in the city remains daunting, said Jena Hencin, the city's homeless response coordinator. The success is part of the 'fluid movement of progress and change,' Hencin said. 'This is long-term work, but we are seeing progress. It is leading to real outcomes.' Elgin partnered with AID on the pilot program in which the homeless encampment residents were moved into hotel rooms where they could be assured access to food and social service assistance. 'Our priority was getting tent city residents to safety,' Hencin said. 'This monumental feat of getting 42 people to the hotel involved numerous moving parts. … City departments acted quickly to support the relocation effort with coordinated, compassionate action while ensuring the protection of those individuals' lives.' Beyond helping with their immediate needs, the goal has been to connect the residents with services that will lead to long-term housing and access to assistive programs, such as therapy and disability support, she said. 'The reality we face is affordable housing remains scarce,' Hencin said. 'Shelter capacity is limited in Elgin, and solutions do take time. There are fewer than 50 beds available for individuals, and none are available on demand.' Kane County also continues to have a shortage of affordable housing, she said. The vacancy rate in the county is about 1%. Elgin recently hosted a landlord fair attended by about 70 property owners. Hencin described it as 'a win for access and equity,' but more needs to be done, she said. City officials have considered buying the Lexington for continue use as homeless housing — possibly a less expensive alternative to paying for rooms by the night — but no decision has been made, city spokesman Jeff Knox said. That possibility does not sit well with some parents of students who attend the Elgin Math and Science Academy (EMSA), the campus entrance for which is located across the street from the hotel. Parent Marcia Rodriguez said she has been unable to obtain information on the due diligence the city did before deciding to use the Lexington to house homeless people. She charged that the city has failed to respond to her Freedom of Information Act requests. She also claimed there have been many incidents at the hotel reported to the police since the homeless residents moved in, the number of which constitute a violation of the city's nuisance ordinance. City officials did not respond to her Rodriguez's allegations. However, the city's homeless program has garnered wider attention, winning the Recognition of Service for Local Government award at the 2025 Home Illinois Summit, which is held by the Illinois Office to Prevent and End Homelessness. The agency's Chief Homeless Officer Christine Haley cited Elgin's 'proactive compassionate approach to address homelessness,' Assistant City Manager Karina Nava told the council. According to Haley, 'Elgin is setting an example for municipalities across the state,' Nava said.
Chicago Tribune
25-04-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Guest column: Illinois must act now to solve affordable housing crisis by passing tax credit bill
Every day, the Association for Individual Development (AID) witnesses the growing demand for affordable homes. Individuals facing developmental, intellectual, physical and mental health challenges as well as those who are chronically unhoused are struggling to find homes they can afford, putting their stability and well-being at risk. We know how to meet this need — by building more affordable housing — but we need the right tools to make it happen. The Build Illinois Homes Tax Credit is one of those tools. This proposed state legislation will help shovel-ready developments cross the finish line and bring urgently needed homes to vulnerable communities across the state. Our nonprofit, based in Aurora, provides services across seven counties in Illinois, including the far western suburbs of Chicago. We have just finished building Wildwood Commons and Trace in Elgin. This development took vacant, unused acres and converted them into a beautiful neighborhood complete with artistic murals that provides housing for 74 families who need it most. The waiting list for these units is more than 600 people long. We secured highly competitive federal tax credits for the development but found it necessary to leverage other financing to move the development towards construction. If the Build Illinois Homes Tax Credit were in place now, we would be able to create more affordable homes for residents in need. We are also in the process of constructing Las Rosas, a permanent supportive housing development in Aurora. The property was the previous home to an unused religious school but will be transformed into homes for individuals and families with disabilities or facing homelessness. These properties are excellent examples of how the Build Illinois Homes tax credit program could unlock increased development and address the shortage of housing across our communities. Illinois currently faces a shortfall of more than 289,000 affordable rental homes for its lowest-income residents. This is not just a crisis for those directly impacted — it weakens our entire state. When individuals with disabilities, unhoused individuals and extremely low-income families cannot access affordable housing, they are more likely to face unnecessary costly institutionalization and chronic homelessness. When families and individuals are forced to spend the bulk of their income on rent, they have less to invest in local economies. And when housing insecurity rises, so do emergency services and health care costs, putting additional strain on public resources. The Build Illinois Homes Tax Credit (HB 1147/SB 62) is a proven, bipartisan solution to this crisis. This proposal has already been adopted in more than 25 other states, and it would create a stable and predictable funding source for affordable housing development. The state does not spend a dime until developments are completed. This minimizes taxpayer risk while maximizing public benefit and ensures that private investment flows into Illinois communities, helping to build high-quality housing without requiring state funds upfront. Illinois cannot afford to wait any longer. The cost of inaction is far greater than the investment needed to solve this crisis. If we do nothing, housing costs will continue to rise, pushing more families into instability and making it harder for businesses to attract workers. But if we act now, we can create a stronger, more resilient Illinois where our workforce and vulnerable populations have the security of a home, and communities thrive. The Build Illinois Homes Tax Credit is a smart, common-sense investment in our state's future. We urge lawmakers to pass HB 1147/SB 62 and take decisive action to address our housing crisis. The time to act is now.
