This spring the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless (CCH) is advocating for several statewide measures in Springfield that would help remove barriers for people experiencing and at risk of homelessness. CCH policy and organizing staff, along with our grassroots leaders, are currently leading efforts to pass four bills that will impact students experiencing homelessness, extremely low-income families and children, and provide additional funding to homeless and housing service providers.
Click on a bill to learn more about what we are advocating for this session, including quotes from our Grassroots Leaders across the state.
Take action with us this legislative session:
Click on a bill below to find an action link while it moves through committee, or reach out to your elected officials directly.
Our 2023 Legislative Agenda:
HB3116 Learning to Support Students Experiencing Homelessness
For students experiencing housing insecurity, school is often the only place where things are stable and provide some form of normalcy. This legislation will provide training to teachers and staff to assist and support students experiencing homelessness.
Sponsors: Rep. Stuart and Sen. Villa
Update: March 3, 2023 – Passed House Committee Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools
HB2302 / SB1580 Creating Opportunities For Illinoisans in Need (COIN Act)
This legislation will increase monthly TANF grants to 50% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Increasing the cash grant amount to at least 50% of FPL would lift a quarter of Illinois children living in extreme poverty out of extreme poverty, which would lead to improved economic, health, and educational outcomes.
Sponsors: Rep. Evans and Sen. Johnson
Update: March 3, 2023 – Assigned to Appropriations Health & Human Services Committee (House), Assigned to Appropriations-Health and Human Services (Senate)
HB2481 / SB2241 Commit to Funding and Ending Homelessness in Illinois
The recently completed state plan required by Governor Pritzker’s executive order, Home Illinois, creates a framework for achieving functional zero homelessness. This legislation will increase the housing and homeless service line items.
Sponsors: Rep. Mussman and Sen. Johnson
Update: March 3, 2023 – Assigned to Appropriations Health & Human Services Committee (House), Assigned to Appropriations – Health and Human Services (Senate)
SB1367 Public Housing Access Bill
The Public Housing Access Bill (PHAB) created standards for Illinois Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) to use in the criminal background screening process, improving equity and access to affordable housing for individuals with criminal records. The current legislation will clarify data collection and the programs covered by PHAB.
Sponsors: Sen. Belt, Sen. Peters, and Sen. Simmons
Update: March 3, 2023 – Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading
How Legislation Moves Through Springfield
Once a bill is introduced in the House and/or Senate it must be assigned to a committee, where it will be discussed till the committee decides it is ready to pass. After the committee the bill will move to the floor where the entire House/Senate will discuss, amend, and hopefully pass it. This process is repeated in the next chamber, and once it passes through both the House and Senate the Governor will be able to sign it to law.
We have created the above graphic to help guide how legislation will progress, you can see an updated version of this graphic for each of our legislative items on their details page.
Chicago Coalition for the Homeless does not accept government funding. Instead, when CCH advocates for public support, it is for the programs that shelter, house and assist homeless youth, students, families, and vulnerable adults.
Bills pass through the Illinois Legislature in the following timeline, you can keep track on the current status of a bill here on our website, or on https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/