WBEZ: As the 60-day shelter stay limit looms, a WBEZ analysis reveals most migrants stay longer

Posted on by Ella Weaver
Carolina Gonzalez of Venezuela carries supplies into the Chicago City Life Center Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023.

Thousands of migrants who lived in city shelters have stayed longer than 60 days — the length of a looming city deadline that will start affecting the first wave of migrants next month.

A WBEZ analysis of the lengths of their shelter stays finds that roughly 7 in 10 have stayed longer than 60 days, and that an average stay was 76 days for migrants who had exited shelter before Nov. 1.

If housing hasn’t been secured by the time a migrant’s shelter stay is up, they will have to give up their spot and return to the city’s landing zone for new arrivals and put in another request for shelter. Only under extenuating circumstances, such as a medical crisis, extreme cold weather or a pending move-in date with a signed lease, will extensions be granted, according to the city.

It’s difficult to discern how the 60-day deadline may impact the city’s overall homeless services system, said Sam Paler-Ponce, the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless’ interim associate director of policy, who stressed that long-term housing solutions are ultimately needed.

“It looks like the new arrival system and the Chicago homeless services system have been kind of separate,” Paler-Ponce. “And at the 60-day mark, we might start to see these populations overlap quite a bit.”

Volunteers and advocates are fearful the policy will disrupt the modicum of stability asylum-seekers may have achieved.

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The Daily Line: Housing Industry, policy groups react to appointment of new city housing commissioner

Posted on by Ella Weaver
A woman in her mid-30s smiles in red lipstick, wearing a black top.

By Michael McDevitt (The Daily Line)

Doug Schenkelberg, executive director of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, said Castañeda’s appointment is likely to aid in the success of the Bring Chicago Home proposal, which would raise the real estate transfer tax on the sale of properties above $1 million and decrease the tax on property sales that are under $1 million. Bring Chicago Home will appear as a question on the March primary election ballot, and the revenue raised from the increased tax if it’s approved would be used by the city to fight homelessness. 

Schenkelberg told The Daily Line in a statement that the organization, which is one member of the Bring Chicago Home coalition, was “ecstatic” about the appointment and appreciated her work with “pillar community organizations.” 

“[Castañeda] understands what it takes [to] create the types of affordable housing our communities need and knows we need to center the voices of those most impacted,” Schenkelberg said. “As we look towards winning the ballot in March and passing the Bring Chicago Home ordinance soon after, her leadership and commitment to creating permanent housing and solving homelessness will aid in Bring Chicago Home’s long-term success.”

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Latino News: ‘Doubling Up’ Homelessness: An Invisible Crisis

Posted on by Ella Weaver
A cartoon girl sits in front of a brick wall with a suitcase and briefcase near her.

By Jacqueline Cardenas (Latino News), December 15 2023

Over 68,000 Chicagoans are experiencing homelessness, and nearly 45,000 of them live doubled-up, according to a 2023 estimated data report from the Chicago Coalition For The Homeless. Out of nearly 20,000 Latinx people experiencing homelessness, 91% are in doubled-up situations, according to the report.

Research suggests that members of the Latinx community who lived doubled-up have been undercounted in homelessness data because multigenerational living is a common practice.

The Latino Policy Forum and Illinois Latino News (ILLN) are partnering to create a 2-year long public awareness campaign that will illuminate the most common form of homelessness experienced in the Latinx community, which is through ‘doubling-up’ or when a person temporarily lives with others.

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Chalkbeat: As Chicago’s shelter rule for migrant families takes effect, here are three student rights to know

Posted on by Ella Weaver
A group of children run around a classroom in Chicago.

By Reema Amin (Chalkbeat), November, 27 2023

Chicago educators and advocates are concerned about how Mayor Brandon Johnson’s new 60-day limit for shelter stays for migrant families will impact attendance and stability for migrant students.

The new rule comes as the city has struggled to house migrants. More than 22,000 have arrived from the Southern border since August 2022, many fleeing economic and political upheaval in Central and South American countries. City and state officials have promised to boost efforts to help families get resettled and find more permanent housing, a commitment that comes just as a state-operated rental assistance program will no longer apply to newly arrived immigrants who are entering shelters, Block Club Chicago reported.

About 50 families have already received the notices, and another 3,000 will get them on Dec. 4.

Advocates said losing shelter could mean more absences among migrant students who are homeless — formally known as students living in temporary living situations. That designation includes children in shelter, living doubled up with another family, or living in a public place. As of Oct. 31, average attendance rates this school year for homeless students are 5 percentage points lower than their peers with permanent housing, according to Chicago Public Schools data shared with the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless.

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WTTW: What Homelessness Among Latinos Looks Like Amid Growing Need for Housing

Posted on by Ella Weaver

By Acacia Hernandez (WTTW), December 1, 2023

Research suggests that Latinos are dramatically underrepresented in data on street and shelter homelessness.

According to the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless’ recent report, which just became available in Spanish, an estimated 68,000 people are homeless in Chicago.

Meanwhile, 91% of Latino Chicagoans who are experiencing homelessness are expected to be in doubled-up situations.

“People experience homelessness in different ways. They could be at shelters on the street or doubled-up, which some people consider couch surfing,” said Arturo Hernandez, a senior attorney with the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. “This is when someone is staying at someone’s house where they have no legal right to be at and they can be asked to leave at any time. So they don’t have their own house, their own apartment, they might be staying with a relative or a friend, but they don’t have the right to be there.”

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NBC5: Chicago voters to determine fate of property transfer tax referendum

Posted on by Ella Weaver
Mayor Brandon Johnson looks to the side.

By NBC5, November 7, 2023

Chicago voters will be asked to decide whether to allow the City Council to assess new property tax transfer levies as part of an effort to combat homelessness. The City Council voted on the “Bring Chicago Home” referendum on Tuesday, passing it by a 32-17 margin. The decision will place the decision on the bill’s ultimate fate before Chicago voters in the upcoming primary, which will take place on March 19.

According to supporters of the bill, it would implement a new tiered tax rate on all property transfers, with additional funds being raised to help combat homelessness in the city of Chicago. The transfer tax would be reduced on the first $1 million of property value on eligible transfers, but would then increase on property valued at more than $1.5 million, then again for property valued at $2 million or more. If approved by voters, the new tax rates would go into effect in Jan. 2025, according to officials.

Chicago Coalition for the Homeless is a proud coalition member of Bring Chicago Home.

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WBEZ: Here’s what you need to know about the tax increase Chicago voters will consider in March

Posted on by Ella Weaver
The Night Ministry's case manager Sylvia Hibbard offers services from the street medicine van, such as free health care, food and other survival supplies, at a homeless encampment near North Green and West Kinzie streets, in January 2022.

By Tessa Weinberg (WBEZ), November 7, 2023

This spring, Chicago voters will be asked whether they want to increase a tax on the sale of high-end properties to fund homelessness prevention.

Chicago’s City Council approved the citywide referendum Tuesday, handing Mayor Brandon Johnson a political win on one of his major campaign promises and achieving a long sought-after milestone for advocates that aim to prevent homelessness.

The campaign, known as Bring Chicago Home, seeks to adjust the real estate transfer tax, a one-time tax imposed on the sale of property. Voters would be asked to authorize City Council to adjust Chicago’s current, flat tax to a tiered, marginal tax that would increase the tax rate on portions of property above $1 million — while implementing a tax cut on property valued under that amount.

Chicago Coalition for the Homeless is a proud coalition member of Bring Chicago Home.

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Axios: Voters to decide Bring Chicago Home tax hike for homeless services

Posted on by Ella Weaver
Mayor Brandon Johnson and a crowd of Bring Chicago Home supporters celebrate outside of City Hall.

By Monica Eng, Justin Kaufmann (Axios), November 7 2023

After months of debate, the Chicago City Council is putting one of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s campaign cornerstones — a high-end real estate transfer tax to fund homeless services — on next year’s ballot.

Why it matters: Chicago voters will decide in March whether to approve the tax that could raise more than $100 million a year to supply wraparound services to unhoused people.

Driving the news: The council voted in support of the Bring Chicago Home ballot initiative Tuesday with progressive alders overwhelmingly backing the measure.

What’s next: Expect intense lobbying on both sides as they try to influence voters before they head to the polls in March.

Chicago Coalition for the Homeless is a proud coalition member of Bring Chicago Home.

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In These Times: How Chicago Took a Major Step Toward Tackling the City’s Housing Crisis

Posted on by Ella Weaver
Bring Chicago Home supporters rally with banners and signs inside of City Hall.

By Kari Lydersen (In These Times), November 7, 2023

Each night, over 68,000 people experience homelessness in Chicago, according to a recent report — a number that has been on the rise. But that dynamic might change, if voters embrace a new progressive taxation policy. Under this approach, the city would raise hundreds of millions of dollars to holistically address its homelessness crisis, with an increased real estate transfer tax on buildings sold for more than a million dollars.

The plan, known as Bring Chicago Home, has been promoted by advocates for several years but for the first time has a chance to become reality thanks to support from new Mayor Brandon Johnson, progressive members of City Council, and grassroots groups across the city. Chicago residents will vote on the proposal in a referendum next spring, after City Council members on Tuesday approved putting the plan in front of voters on the March 19 ballot. The final vote was 32-17.

Chicago Coalition for the Homeless is a proud coalition member for Bring Chicago Home.

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