Almost 200 residents from the 18th State Representative District gathered Jan. 20 at Northwestern University’s McCormick Tribune Center for a candidates’ forum on poverty and homelessness.
The event was organized by the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless (CCH), working with the following resident groups: YWCA Evanston/North Shore, Sheil Catholic Center at Northwestern University, Northwestern Community Development Corps, Lake Street Church, Interfaith Housing Center of the Northern Suburbs, Interfaith Action of Evanston, Housing Options for the Mentally Ill, Evanston Alliance on Homelessness, and Connections for the Homeless.
Democratic candidates Robyn Gabel, Eamon Kelly, Patrick Keenan-Devlin, Edmund Moran and Jeff Smith attended.
When long-time State Rep. Julie Hamos decided to run for Congress, it left the 18th District without an incumbent. This provided an opportunity to hold 18th District candidates accountable to the needs of Illinois’ indigent population. Leaders from a CCH core team at the Sheil Catholic Center built a team of community members to educate the candidates and secure commitments on issues involving homelessness.
The forum presented each candidate with yes-or-no questions in five categories: transitional employment and job training services, healthcare services, funding homelessness prevention grants, supportive services, and state budget reform.
All five candidates promised to restore vital services for the poor and vulnerable, but only four support state income tax reform as outlined in House Bill 174. Candidate Moran said it would be irresponsible to raise income taxes in a recession, saying he would focus instead on eliminating waste in the state budget. Moran also claimed that raising the income tax would create more poverty and economic insecurity.
The other candidates denied Moran's claims, responding that because income taxes are affected by one’s income, the system ensures that one is not paying more than a relatively small percentage of what one earns and therefore can afford. They noted that HB174 also offers property tax relief to homeowners and additional relief to low-income people.
- by Becca Kupferberg, Organizing Intern
