Latest news with #IDHR
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Illinois may ban ordinances or fines against homeless on public property
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — Illinois legislators are considering a law that would prohibit cities from imposing fines or criminal penalties against homeless residents occupying public property. would amend the Bill of Rights for the Homeless Act to prevent local governments from creating ordinances or giving fines, or criminal penalties to unsheltered homeless occupying or 'engaging in life-sustaining activities' on public property. The language of the bill does provide exceptions to maintain access to public property or address risks to public health or safety. Last month, the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) and the Illinois Office to Prevent and End Homelessness to public officials and local governments, after it learned 'several units of local government have enacted or are considering enacting ordinances that may restrict access to public spaces by creating penalties, fines and, in some instances, providing for the incarceration of persons experiencing homelessness.' 'In the last 15 months, at least 25 Illinois communities have passed ordinances . These approaches lead to increased isolation, additional barriers to housing and unnecessary cycles of incarceration,' said Chief Homelessness Officer Christine Haley. Rep. John Cabello (R-Machesney Park) told , 'You're going to see people doing what you see and hear about in different parts of California, where people are defecating in the streets. There's going to be homeless camps all over the place, and the police won't be able to do anything about it.' Cabello said the language of the bill, in relation to 'life-sustaining activities,' is too broad, adding, 'Bathing in a public area could necessarily be life-sustaining. Relieving yourself in public, life-sustaining.' He added that many homeless people have a mental illness and are unaware of their actions. In 2024, Illinois launched the 'Home Illinois Anti-Homelessness Initiative,' a $360 million initiative to reach 'functional zero' levels of homelessness (meaning that the community can house more than the number of homeless people in the area.) Rockford has already taken strides, becoming the first community to reach those levels among veterans and the chronically homeless in 2017. The Home Illinois program uses $118 million to support unhoused populations seeking shelter and services. An additional $40 million is used in the Emergency and Transitional Housing Program. The program also spends $37 million to build 460 shelter units, $30 million on court-based rental assistance, and $21 million in homelessness prevention services. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Axios
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Removing homeless encampments could be violation of human rights
State officials are reminding local governments that removing unhoused people from parks could be a violation of their human rights. Driving the news: The Illinois Department of Human Rights and the Illinois Office to Prevent and End Homelessness sent a letter last week to municipalities, emphasizing that all individuals — including those seeking shelter — must have non-discriminatory access to public spaces under the state's Bill of Rights for the Homeless Act. Why it matters: The Chicago Coalition to end Homelessness (CCH) estimates that more than 75,000 people in Chicago are experiencing homelessness. Many shelter in parks and congregate in public places like the CTA and libraries. The letter is a reminder that it is within those individuals' legal rights to be in those spaces without harassment and removing them would allow them to file a complaint with IDHR. Reality check: Municipalities could still cite trespassing laws as the reason for removal, but IDHR and advocates say removal and fines just for being unhoused is a violation. Between the lines: Congregations of unhoused communities in parks can create a "not in my backyard" response from neighbors, sometimes leading to intervention by law enforcement and the removal of unhoused people. Mayor Brandon Johnson and the city were accused of clearing encampments near the United Center last summer so Democratic National Convention visitors wouldn't see unhoused people. The latest: Chicago officials earlier this month cleared an encampment in Gompers Park in Mayfair. The mayor's office said they had connected all people who had been living at the park with a housing provider. Yes, but: One Gompers Park resident told Block Club last week that the available housing was on the South Shore, which would make it difficult to get to his job on the northwest side. Context: Peoria narrowly passed a law last year that prohibits encampments. Granite City and Alton have also enacted bans. What they're saying: IDHR would not comment on Gompers Park, but says it was not targeting any particular city or town. The letter said "at least 25 Illinois communities have passed ordinances criminalizing unsheltered homelessness." "In issuing the letter, we sought to prevent incidents of discrimination with proactive guidance," IDHR spokesperson Addie Shrodes tells Axios. "What we've also heard from a lot of these municipalities that are passing these it's not their intention, they say, often, to actually cite and fine people under them," CCH attorney Melissa West tells Axios. "We've heard them called stick or a tool to, in their minds, encourage people towards resources, which the reality is, that's not how this goes, right?"
