Face.
15.
Why is that funny?
Good afternoon everybody. Welcome
These.
This meeting on the committee on housing, a real state is
Coldwater. Welcome, everyone. And I need a pleasure to see
such so many people here today. Thank you, very much for
everybody for participating. Thank you to all the council
members for being here. Today, we have a subject matter
hearing on which no vote will be taken. We're going to
start with roll call. So please call me. I have your Mike's
ready. When you are going to order,
By.
By Sarah Mitchell.
By.
Vashawn Mitchell. All the window, almond Robinson.
Luminaries.
Altima.
Old McQueen, McQueen stressing out more than other women
Taylor.
All the materials present, all the women Coronavirus.
Aluminum.
Aluminum car is present. Other person pointed all different
is presented Alderman, Burnett.
All the members present, Alejandro Sanchez.
all the
I'll do.
I'll do a mitch.
all the
All the women play Altamont, Place Preston. Other women are
helping words with present. I'll do a Manhattan.
Volume.
All of my heart in person they are.
The 15 members including the chair. We have Corum. Now
we're going to start with bubbly coming up and I'm sorry we
weren't able to recognize and we'll make a motion to accept
all their women Super Saiyan would like to be joining us
via a zoom if I can have a motion to accept her request. So
moved by all the most badass so what we also welcome no,
remember all the women Silverstein
Thank.
Thank you.
I was looking for.
I was looking for the roll call cuz I remember anybody else
was me being recognized?
Yeah, all the McQueen was who was recognized as well as a
non-member.
All right. We have everybody as well. Excellent. So we can
have my speakers.
Open that 60. So we also have knowledge commissioner
Anthony Casada for joining us today and also yeah you can
also submit everything coming.
Thank.
Thank you so much. We have
We've.
We have sixteen members of the public. I'll sign up for
public comment. We also have received six written comments,
including one by commissioner cassata, send to the members
prior. We also have included a report about all the other
person Jesse Fuentes from Humboldt Park. That's also being
sent to and also you have a copy in front of you. We today
we have we have extended a little bit, the public comments
given that we have more than more participation than that
often times, and that's a great thing. So we can have more
speakers today. Since we have 16 people in sign up, to be
able to hear everybody today. We going to have a few
minutes each to speak.
And I will.
And we also thank you very, very much for coming there.
First speakers is going to be by Zoom for speakers, Nancy
Hill. I hope that you can you can hear us Nancy.
Yeah.
Yes. Good afternoon. My name is Doctor Nancy Howell. I am a
retired pediatrician and I chair the housing committee for
the Illinois. Chapter American Academy of Pediatrics.
Anyone experiencing homelessness Flappers Brave health
effects. I'm an expert on how homelessness affects
children. Like other pediatricians, while I was in
practice, I saw the devastating effects of homelessness on
children, the experience of homelessness harms infants,
even before birth pregnant, women suffer higher rates of
premature, labor leading, and severe outcomes. Then House
women, depending on the study about half of pregnant women,
experiencing homelessness have a history of depression. 40%
are survivors of domestic violence. And compared to house
pregnant person, many already have major health problems
like asthma high blood pressure, diabetes and substance use
disorder. They need
Care and support services during and for at least 12 months
after pregnancy at the time of birth, their infants are two
and a half times more likely than other infants to be
either low birth weight, or premature conditions, which
increased risk of Life on repercussions, like through both
palsy a bras and other chronic health problems. They are
almost three times more likely to spend time and neonatal
intensive care following birth, young children, face
developmental delays, and or health, while they are on
house. They may not be ready to start school on time and
often have academic failures as well as behavioral
problems. Once they are in school, for complex reasons
which include biological responses to stress during
pregnancy, is homelessness, may become multi-generational.
If a Humane Society is Our obligation to stop the cycle by
providing permanent Supportive Housing so that all children
can Thrive housing is a human
This.
This is the time to implement bring Chicago home. Thank
you.
Thank.
Thank you.
Thank.
Thank you, Nancy.
The next week.
The next speaker is Bishop Todd, Whitney Bishop. This is in
person.
Good afternoon. My name is Bishop, David Todd Whitley. I
serve as senior pastor of Corinthian Temple Church of God
in Christ, on Chicago's West Side in the 28th, Ward and I
am here to speak passionately about my favor in favor of
bringing Chicago home, certainly where our church resides.
And in the area, where we do ministry, there is
homelessness and we need a dedicated stream of Revenue to
address the need of those who for whatever reason are
without shelter. And of course, providing shelter in our
community, also helps to reduce crime helps to lift up the
morale of people. And so, whatever I can do as a faith
leader to join with other Faith leaders and partnering with
our elected officials.
We?
We are.
we are ready to
We are ready to work with each of you bring home, Chicago,
come on, bring Chicago home.
let's,
Let the church say, Amen. So again, again, I'm here. Bishop
David Todd Whitley. And whatever time I have not to give
into this presentation, we are committed to working with
the leaders of this group. Other Faith leaders to make sure
we set aside Revenue to address the homelessness problem in
the city of Chicago. Thank you very much. Thank you.
Thank.
Thank you, Bishop Whitley and now we have Amy.
Amy Masters, Amy Masters.
But after
Good afternoon, Sherman, 60 Lopez, and numbers of the
housing in real estate committee.
The mic.
Tomorrow.
Good morning, chairman signature Lopez and members of the
housing in real estate committee. My name is Amy Masters. I
am the director of a government and external Affairs or
bonus, Chicago Retreat Association of 245 office building.
Catch me.
Catch my breath that house, more than 18,000 businesses.
Before the pandemic Worlds, Apart of the Coalition of real
estate business and contractor groups that were unable to
secure spots, unfortunately, to speak today. Today, I'd
like to address to bring Chicago home initiative that would
increase transfer taxes. A whopping 253% in dollars.
This increases the city's transfer tax from $7,500 to
$26,500 on a million-dollar property and that doesn't
include additional transfer taxes assessed by the CTA the
county and the state will their Office Buildings. Don't
contribute to homelessness our buildings to house over
hundreds of thousands of workers, and support 64500 jobs.
Many of those other union jobs with good wages, and
benefits. Yet our office buildings or be hit exceptionally
hard. If his transfer tax were the past to shift, to remove
the shift to remote workers, created. Incredible challenges
for Chicago's downtown office building that will last for
years to come less than half of workers are in the offices.
In the busiest days, will Tennant vacancy rates in our
buildings are 22% highest levels in
35 years. In fact, there's enough unused space to fill 16
Willis, Tower's Market study suggests that Chicago's Office
Buildings has have lost 50% of their value and we have to
make it almost half of Chicago's office buildings are in
some state of financial distress. This will ultimately hurt
Chicago's. Homeowners, we would like to work together to
tackle the issue, providing services to the end housing,
for alternative ways to fund this initiative. We would also
like to better
Understand the amount of funding needed, Chicago. Believe
that together we can develop a plan to serve Lyon house
while growing our economy and growing and creating more
jobs, benefiting our neighborhoods across the country.
Thank you.
Thank.
Thank you for your coming next week. I'll chat with Greg
Adams.
Mom said always got a lot of boys, but good afternoon to
the Chamber of Commerce to everyone here in Chicago.
I am here on behalf of the Illinois, Union homeless board
and I am in favor of bringing Chicago home.
What?
What I do, I do want to say this, I do want to say this
wrong was not built in one day, so if we going to bring
Chicago home, we're going to have to work with them, okay?
We're going to have to work, we're going to have to settle
down because even when I cook my barbecue is cooked at a
slow pace. I can't cook barbecue and sell it the next hour
and you get tender meat. So I was homeless for seven years
here in Chicago. I slept in the bus, the train, I slept
with bed bugs, were I slept at the airport I survived, I
know it. God knows it and I'm going to tell you you can
make it but I don't want to see nobody else in Chicago. Go
to homelessness like I did I now reside at revive housing
for healing.
If?
It's at 1668 West Ogden and whatever I can do to help you
guys to bring Chicago home. We're going to bring Chicago
home with the help of the Lord. Chicago is the best city in
the country. My dad always said, it is the best city. It is
the best city, okay? No matter what crime goes on, Chicago
steel is the number one city. There's not another Skyline
that looks like Chicago.
So let us bring Chicago home, I got 15 seconds left but we
will bring Chicago home. Anything I can do, I'm at
708-996-2175.
Thank you. Thank you. Jeff Greg next week of Daniel woke,
Daniel.
You're?
And you hear me?
When?
My name is Daniel woke. I'm the founder of a new
organization, called Chicago Solutions Forum. The purpose
of our organization is to upgrade the level of public
discussion on contentious issues in our first, or I'm going
to be on bring Chicago home. We are proud that our
organization is diverse demographic lie, economically and
ideological e. Many of our members have strong opinions or
we will not to take a stand on this or any other public
policy issue. We are concerned that the bring Chicago home
ordinance with your committees on the way to approving is
not well known at all of a sudden, the vast majority of
public is clueless about it. We all agree that the current
situation of the homeless or the temporarily on house is
appalling and tragic and that we need more funds to meet
the needs of them and to and services and incentives to
keep them house. The idea of creating a dedicated fund for
the home.
Does a?
Is appealing, it is likely to inoculate against future cuts
and but in the budget to preserve the funding but it also
it triples, the real estate transfer tax for larger.
Properties attacks has an obvious appeal, but some experts
on the real estate economy have aired, worries about his
unintended consequences, owners of small multi-unit
dwellings, might be subjected to the tax without being
Wealthy by any stretch of the imagination. They may be
forced to raise rents. I'm currently affordable units and
make them unaffordable to low-income tenants. And since the
higher tax might inhibit prospective developers of
affordable housing from buying properties the task and
could conceivably reduce the amount of affordable housing.
there are a
There are other objections that have been raised against
the Chicago home, but our point is that we need more
discussion if you all consider attending, our first Chicago
Solutions, warm in October, and engage with discussion,
with top experts, both for and against the plan. Thank you.
Thank.
Thank you.
Thank you for your coming.
Neck.
Next week, I have Cynthia McFadden.
Cindy.
Cynthia.
Thank.
Thank you. My name is Cynthia Mack.
Stop.
Sorry, my name is Cynthia McFadden and I'm just a voter's
citizen. I live in the 49th Ward, I'm concerned about that,
Spaniard Chicago home. I have been reading it and studying
it and like Daniel said, I don't think it's enough Dialogue
on it. My concern is, I have family member that owns
property and they've been on it for a long time. On the
southside of Chicago on Woodlawn and Bronzeville. Are they
going to be double tax? Because your property happens to be
over a million dollars right now. And I live in the coop
with the Bella 1st and Rogers Park on showing on the lake
is my rent going to go up because they are being
double-taxed, is that going to trickle down on me. Those
are just my comments and my questions and my concern. Thank
you, thank you, Cynthia.
let,
Next.
Next week. Josiah Gardner Josiah
so,
science.
Thank.
Thank you. Hello. And I'm at SEIU idea that I feel like
would help with homelessness and my idea is construction,
workers, people are home and should be employed as
construction workers and she get a little less pay and be
rewarded Free Housing, when they are construction workers,
Once they get their certificates to get with Roy, this and
want to pay when they move out and get their own homes, but
why they're getting their diplomas in their construction
benefits? Do I get paid a little less to be awarded with?
That's why I did, and I feel like we give jobs, help the
economy and give them places to live and give them skills
that they can you use. Once they are out of the program and
working at SEIU Healthcare, I've seen him cover. A lot of
people who have no homes and help with the union and help
give a fordable rights to everyone. And I feel like there
is programs that could help homelessness by the same time,
I'm not putting burners on other people but showing that
they are not people to be looked down upon. They are people
who can carry themselves as well without people and
fantasizing homeless people and acting like they don't have
the ability to do with anyone else has or can do it. And I
was my idea.
Thank.
Thank you. Thank you for the Sia next week.
let,
Latoya.
Hi, my name is Latoya. She Wofford and I am here to share
my testimony on homelessness. I am currently homeless. Now
this has been an ongoing situation since 2019 on and off.
So right now I'm currently living in the 42nd Ward last
month. I was in the 24th Ward so I want to share that being
homeless is a hard process.
Family have been split up and everything. And I am here
like
just want to bring notice in you know just want to let
everyone know that everyone, you know, we need like some
type of stable home where we can you Noah for like low
income apartments or something because even though this has
been going on for 4 years,
Upon.
Apartments, you lose Department, you lose placement with
jobs and everything or you know, you you're not making
enough at the job and then you can't afford the bills and
that is what happened with me once you can't afford your
bills because of the the work that you, I mean the price
that you are being paid it, paid at work, hourly you lose
your place of, you know, the ability. So I just wanted to
bring notice the dead that low income housing.
You.
you know, it's
You know, it's something that we should like really
considering everyone should consider for everyone and I am
here. Representing CCH. I'm about a bear or thank you all.
Thank you.
Thank.
Thank you for sharing Latoya. Now, we got Reverend dr.
Jacqueline treats Atkins.
Good afternoon. I am Reverend dr. Jacqueline Trisha cans,
Asaf minister at Christ, Universal Temple and organizer of
the interface Roundtable. Chicago Coalition, for the
homeless. We are group of Faith leaders from congregations,
across the city. We've been working together for over a
couple of years. More than eighty of us wide variety of
Faith, Traditions Islam, Judaism Protestant Christianity,
Bhai new thought, Christianity Buddhism and Roman Catholic
Catholicism have been working to have bring Chicago home
implemented. We are proud supporters of The Bean Chicago
home campaign because we know that homelessness is a
failure of our system, not a failure of individuals,
homelessness is a product of decades. And in fact, in fact,
centuries of systemic racism, and Chicago has a moral
obligation to do something about it. And that's something
is bring Chicago home. I'm here today.
call a
Call on you to support the campaign. So that we can create
permanent housing with need a Supportive Services for
people experiencing homelessness. Chicago is recognized as
one of the greatest cities in the world yet over 65,000,
people with 17,000 school children experience homelessness.
This is an urgent matter. The time is to act as now as
Faithfully as we have a face and we are united in our call
for the action to change a real estate transfer tax on
properties over $1000000 creating a dedicated Revenue
stream to pay for permanent housing and to provide needed
Services, you know, in the various holy books, whichever
one you study, we are told to feed the hungry and clothe
the naked and to love our neighbors as ourselves. I am
certain, I am certain that the house, the homeless is an
inherent part of that message and his shirt certainly is
our responsibility. Thank you.
They?
Thank you. Thank you, rev Dr. Jackling. Now, we have Lucien
Foster Lucien pusher
I've
Hi, everyone. My name is Lucy and Foster and I'm a resident
of the 35th Ward.
I'm with the Chicago Coalition for the homeless I'm here
today and score to bring Chicago home and to share his
personal points to me.
When I?
When I was 12 my family I became homeless sleeping
affected. Next year-and-a-half was a whirlwind of anxiety
fear and uncertainty really good. I know where or when I
was sleep at night the concert of appointments and threats,
my safety and feel helpless and press. We're at an age
where I should been worrying about school and lip gloss.
Although, it happens daily house. Since you just 14, my
experience has had a profound impact on me, experience
homelessness, I see how it is, hurt them, exhausted them.
Amy.
It made them feel insecure and unworthy.
although,
although I
Although I currently face no risk of homelessness, it does
storm and my biggest fears.
I'm
I know.
I never want anyone to experience with I or any of my loved
ones have
I tried.
I truly believe bring Chicago home with lower suicide and
depression rates especially among Chicago's use by
providing a brighter future.
Although,
How do I?
All the way.
although, I cannot change the past or anyone, I have to
broaden Opportunities and show compassion for those who are
homeless and anyway, but I can
that's,
that's why I stand for you today and hope that you'll
support bring Chicago home.
How?
Housing is a human, right? Not a privilege or something to
be learned. Thank you.
Jacket women.
Thank.
Thank you next week out. Jackie Eden's, Jackie.
but after
Good afternoon. My name is Jackie eating some, the CEO of
inner voice and here today to speak in support of the
Rings. Chicago home campaign. My passion for this cause
began in 1975. When I started working for the city of
Chicago is a mobile crisis intervention worker in a 24/7
365 program working in conjunction with a c p d and the
Uptown community. That was my first introduction to
homelessness and while we are assisting people living
outdoors in parks along the lakefront. It was a rare
occurrence, 48 years later, 10 cities proliferate
throughout the entire city of Chicago burnt during my 29
years of city employment employment. I also served as the
first director of homeless services,
Play the last song.
For the last six years before my return.
For the last six years before my retirement in 2004, I
served as commissioner of the mayor's office of Workforce
Development as head of a homeless Service Agency for the
last 11 years and I can tell you, it's the hardest job I've
ever had. The problem of homelessness is an epic epic
proportions, but there is hope and a solution in sight.
Every elected official here today was voted into office in
part to solve problems by listening to those impacted and
then with them and others, develop a plan to solve the
problem and implemented the option for the homeless, has
spearheaded to bring Chicago home, campaign for the past
few years in collaboration, with, and supported by a
diverse and inclusive cohort of Advocates providers and
persons with lived, experience to develop a sustainable
Equitable solution to homelessness, bring Chicago home
campaign as a well-developed well-researched and
well-documented landed his enthusiastic. We received by
those who appreciate the gravity of the situation and are
committed to taking.
Action. Now,
Action. Now the small price to be paid by financially,
Fortune of home buyers should be of less concern than the
well-being and quality of a wife of the citizens of
Chicago, living, precariously, in the streets and a do you
not ask yourself as I do still, after all these years, how
do they do it? How do they survive the frigid winters of
Chicago, or the incredibly life-threatening temperatures?
We are experiencing today. The benefit Necessities by just
running water or electricity.
Thank you very much.
Now.
Now we got Justin Allen back, Justin.
Grab.
Good afternoon. My name is Justine. Allenbach, I'm here,
representing bring Chicago home and the center for housing
and health, which is one of the largest organizations
fighting homelessness in Chicago.
My life has been.
My life has been filled with many privileges. I have never
known the unnerving ambiguity of whether I'd have a safe
place to rest. I've always known where my next meal would
come from and what bathrooms were available to me and
Truth, many of the hardships, confronted by our neighbors
facing homelessness are invisible to my experience, my
career and housing came to me by chance. Five years ago, a
chance opportunity that I am deeply indebted to as I see
clearly now the tremendous significance of this work.
In.
In my ear.
In my ears.
In my years of housing service, I have seen the best and
worst of humanity, the joyous moments derive from the
strength and the people. I've supported people who have
survived while vastly under resources, the worst stemming
from the ignorance and Silence of our political leaders,
who fail to act.
In.
In This Moment, our constituents can make a difference. Do
not Shield yourself from the painful reality that Chicago
coexist with the most beautiful architecture in the world
and 17,000 children homeless in are Chicago Public Schools.
It.
It doesn't have to be this way. Let me say that again. It
doesn't have to be this way.
They?
There is.
They?
There is a resolution with bring Chicago home. Join us in
our fiery for justice and to restore the human right to
housing. Thank you.
They?
Thank you. Thank you. For sharing next week. I was
sleeping. One child, Steven.
Benjamin.
Thank you, mr. Chairman and Alderman my name is Steve
Rothchild. I live in the 34th Ward where my wife and I
raised our two children who CPS graduate. I am also a
family physician. I worked on the west side. For 38 years,
including providing care to men and women living in
shelters overnight. I'm here as a member of the Jewish
Council Urban Affairs to speak in favor of bring Chicago
home.
as a
As a physician, I sometimes see my patients misinterpret,
the symptoms with the underlying problem and that happens
with homelessness all the time.
People.
People see people on the CTA or on the street on the
viaduct and they go do people get the cops. Let's get them
out of here.
but,
but I
But I will tell you that that is a wrong diagnosis and it
sure as heck is the wrong treatment.
The good news is research shows, there is an effective
treatment and that's called housing first, the treatment
called housing, first, providing housing with wraparound
Services can help you keep people stay healthy and bring
Chicago. Home will fund housing first models in the city of
Chicago.
Read.
Reese.
Research shows, we would not only be providing decent
shelter for our neighbors in the city. It would reduce
crowding in the emergency rooms. It would reduce
unnecessary hospital. Stays it would lower healthcare
costs. The US Veterans Administration has done this and
they've cut a veteran homelessness in half.
If city council gives us the chance, these people here,
today will mobilize our neighbors to vote in favor of an
ordinance to pass bring Chicago home.
Your car.
Chicago can show Chicago can show United States, how you're
supposed to take care of our homeless neighbors, I'm a
physician. My prescription is simple, put bring Chicago
home on the back and let's create a path towards funding
permanent Supportive Housing in this city.
Play.
Thank you.
Thank.
Thank you. Stephen. Next week, I have Darrell Brown
Thank.
Thank you.
Okay.
Good afternoon. My name is Darrell Brown. I am the director
for social justice at Trinity United Church of Christ where
rev. Otis Moss. The third is our senior pastor. I'm here
today. To register the support of my church and my
congregation for the PCH ordinance.
We're.
We have four years now, along with other Facebook has a
shins in Chicago called and our elected officials to
implement a moral budget. A budget that reflects the moral
backbone. That is, within all face, love your neighbor as
yourself or do unto others as you would have them. Do unto,
you are Core Concepts of all major pics from Christianity
to Islam. From Judaism to Buddhism from Confucianism and
Hinduism and Beyond you will find this commonality. It is
no secret. That Chicago has neglected to provide the
resources needed to address the issue of homelessness while
recently. We have done better with the help of federal
coated dollars. The reality is that a sustainable and
consistent funds are needed to provide
Real relief to.
Real relief to the over. 60,000 people. That need our help.
When I?
When other cities like New York Los Angeles, and San
Francisco are committing billions of dollars to dresses
Challenge and even smaller cities, like Seattle or spending
over 150 million dollars. The bch ordinance provides a
solid beginning or moral connection between care for those
in need in our community and Chicago's budget.
The Old Testament scripture Proverbs 29, seven states. The
righteous care about Justice for the poor but the wicked
have no such concern. I'm here today with hope that Chicago
city council is righteous and that a moral lens will be
applied to your work as we speak sustainable, funding to
help address homelessness here in Chicago. Thank you for
this time.
Thank you. Thank you Darryl next week and Fulton and
Good afternoon. My name is Ann Holcomb, and I'm the manager
of the only Southside homeless Youth Shelter is run by
unity parenting and counseling.
I want.
I'd like to start with a show of hands. Raise your hand if
you happen to be a baby boomer.
If?
If you're a boomer like me, you might remember a time when
you didn't see Mass homelessness on the streets, like you
did today, and that should give us some hope, almost us
doesn't have to exist.
Are.
I remember the first time, but I ever saw a homeless
person, it was when I looked in the mirror.
The year was 1976 and the mirror. I was looking into was in
the girls bathroom in my high school where I was going to
sleep at night because my dad was having another violent
mental health episode
I will.
I was 14 by the time I was in college.
I will.
I was literally living on the street. I was able to put
homelessness behind me, but nine of my peers did not. They
all died before they turned 30. What is the cost of those
nine unlived lives Mass? Homelessness has been a problem
since the seventies. So why are we having a 20th century
problem now
In my shelter that I run 129 young. People stayed the night
last year, but only 11 got picked by the city's, waiting
list for housing.
How many homeless fuse will be the next generation of
homeless adults? How many of them won't make it to age 30?
And what is the cost of those lights?
We have to do better.
Housing is a human, right? We can't as a city, keep jumping
from crisis to crisis, putting Band-Aid on a virgin season
2, require long-term Solutions, what's a solution, we know
the answer.
More permanent housing with services to help the young
house. Today is a new day for Chicago. We have a new mayor
do city council and I have hope that you all in this room.
Thank.
Thank you, hun. The speaker is a little difficult to read.
The name is a truther bath.
Add.
Address is 2516. North Laramie love you cuz it was hard to
read the
I think.
well, I think this concludes our public comment before we
go to the first or do business with all their other women
wear your hat and wishes to be recognized.
Thank you.
Play German.
just,
Just wanted to take a moment to thank everybody, who's here
every public comment or that we had and to thank you
Sharon, for making space for the subject matter. Hearing it
wasn't that long ago when we were attempting to hold a
hearing right on this in the last term and couldn't get
couldn't get the attendance. We needed at that special city
council meeting.
so, I
So I know a lot of the public that's here today were in
attendance and I appreciate you all, making your way back.
I appreciate your continued work and I appreciate all my
colleagues who showed up for this Committee hearing today
so thank you. Thank you, thank you. All the woman, had him
A.
Our first order of business, is the rule 45 report from
July 10th 2023, which was sent out to the committee. Can I
get a motion to recommend approval of this report?
And before we start of us would like to recognize other
members of the quorum.
and,
An alderman, Brockington is where can I get a motion to
recommend approval of these report Alderman. The spotted
some moves, all those in favor. Say aye. All those opposed
say nay in the beginning of the chair that I sounded the
rule, 45 report has been approved.
Stop me from now to the public subcommittee. Hearing this
afternoon that committee on housing. Real estate will be
holding a subject matter hearing to collect testimony and
discussed proposals to increase increase the real estate
transfer tax to come back, homelessness by providing
permanent affordable housing on the services necessary to
obtain and maintain permanent housing in the city of
Chicago. I want to remind everyone that there would be no
more taking for this item continuing the theme of this
week's committee hearings. We respectfully request that all
members take the car, the car to talk to car that doesn't
want to start today by City departments as one of The
Advocates. What time is he working to? Make sure.
One more job.
One more Johnson vibrancy Repro question, be here until oh,
presentations! Are completed. All pressure that keep to the
matter in hand. And I will give 1 Route, 1 route to
committee members of the committee members as space to ask
questions that are there more. We would return for round
two with us today from the Department of Family and support
services. Commissioner Brandy, can I see that? We thank you
for the presents us with us today is commissioner Maria.
Maria. Janna Maria from the Department of Housing but
Commissioners would be give testimony on the State of
Consciousness and housing from the state. For the city's
perspective, we have members of the breed Chicago home
Coalition presenting their proposal and testimonies with us
today or married to rule associate director of policy. And
its petition campaign at the Chicago, Coalition for the
homeless Carla Johnson from the Chicago Coalition for the
homeless Electro, Pea from the community United and Pete
talk to her from the center for housing and health in the
Box are additional representatives from the mayor's policy
team.
FSNB Home Green Beach, Eva policy, mayor's office Juan
Sebastian area, for a deputy mayor of policy of the mayor's
office Merrimack McCauley managing director, commissioner
of the FSS and Gabriella, Nelson, Senior policy Analyst at
the Department of Housing. These now, it starts or
representation would like to start with commissioner, can I
see? And then we will be commissioned in the bar.
Thank.
Thank you.
Thank you, share.
Thank You, Cher.
Thank you.
Thank you, share, and thank you members of the committee.
Good afternoon. My name is Brandi kanazi and I'm
commissioner for the Chicago Department of Family and
support services. So, first this afternoon, we want to
start by making sure that we talked about what are the
defining terms, right? I want a level set so that we're all
on the same page and so the definitions of homeless that we
used the first, is the hood. The definition of literal
homeless, meaning that individuals are sleeping in shelter,
or in unsheltered locations throughout the city. And that's
required by the US Department of Housing and Urban
Development, the city of Chicago and the Chicago Continuum
of Care, a stipulation of our funding is that people are
literally homeless. And so that could be people sleeping in
a CPA riding trains or buses. People sleeping in encampment
or other places that are uninhabitable the second
definition that is used, when defining homeless is people
who are unstable the house. And so those
Insert it into.
Individuals who are doubled up or couch surfing. And they
may be staying with friends or family or relatives, and
that's really because their economic and security, maybe
they lost their housing or something, that was unfortunate
happen to them and that's a much larger number of
individuals that bring Chicago home. I'm hopes to support
next line.
I think, I
I think of
I think about the numbers. They are a number of different
numbers that are put out there and all of them are
relevant. The first number is the point in time, count
number that we use that is a snapshot of homelessness of
one day. One night during the year and part of again of our
funding that we received from the US Housing and Urban
Development requires is that in order to get funding we
have to count individuals and sell. This is every city is
going through this process for the 2023 counts, which was
the last Thursday of January of this year. The number was
6139 individuals. We counted people again that were in
shelters and that were sleeping in unsheltered locations.
The thing that I want to point out is that this year's
point-in-time count was a little different because we had
asylum-seekers and over 2120. 100 asylum-seekers were also
in shelters across the city and that was both in our
regular homeless system and our silence speaker shelters.
The second
Number.
number to,
Number that.
Number that we have is the individuals that are
experiencing homelessness through the Chicago, Continuum of
Care. And so, this is throughout the year, how many people
interact with the homeless system and agencies throughout
the larger Continuum of Care? And that number is 11297.
Third number is the number that is considered for people
who are literally homeless and who are doubled up that
number is 65601
11.
11:00 last week as the number of students who are
considered unstable the house or literally homeless in
Chicago public schools, that number is 17773 for the year.
And so just want to make sure as we use numbers. We
understand that there different snap shots in points in
time, either for a day or four-year. The next slide is the
people who are experiencing homelessness and where they
are. And so this map shows where individuals are across the
city who were unsheltered, so we have nearly 100 in
Cantonment across the city. The majority of the
enchantment. Seventy-five of them are what we consider a
level three, so they have less than five individuals.
However, the remaining encampments are be between 5 and 10
people when we are working with individuals, we want really
want to make sure that we keep encampments less than 10
people. We don't want to see enchantment. Sabroso the
numbers of twenty or Thirty people are steam at GFS
You have.
You have a?
we have our
You have Outreach workers who were specifically dedicated
to make sure that we're going out into the community. And
we're engaging with individuals and making sure that they
understand what supports are available supporting their
medical needs, connecting them to public benefits, in
really, making sure that they are able to look at their
options for going in the shelter or taking up housing
opportunities. We also fun delegate agencies that we worked
directly with to do this work as well. Next thing is
homeless youth, in our point in time,
Not that we did.
not that we did this year, they were
Not that we did this year, they were 604 unaccompanied youth
between the ages of 18 and 24, nearly half of that number
where a new arrivals. And so, these are young people off,
some of them are lgbtqia, some of them are parenting, you
and are leading their own household. And so this is another
group that we work with the between, are you shelters? And
are you dropping centers and then just last week when you
think about the makeup and profile of individuals of what
does homeless look like or individuals that are in our
point in time, count in 69% are African-American. The
majority of them are men. When you think about, you know,
individuals who are doubled up, 37% of them are Latin X and
they're living with their friends are family. And I think
it's just important to understand the Dynamics and what
that looks like next Friday.
so, when
So, when you think about the spectrum of homelessness in
the city's response, the first thing I want to say is that
we have a three-prong approach, right? We want to prevent
homelessness before it happened, so individuals who are at
risk of becoming homeless. You really want to make sure you
have early interventions to help keep them in their home on
this slide, you see programs that are in red velvet
programs that the Department of Housing provides
information of. Our will talk more about that during her
presentation, the programs and blue of the ones that do FSS
provides. Second approach is crisis response, right? The
My family has.
Family Support Services is the city's crisis response,
front door, line of act and write our job is when people
show up our responsibility is to make sure we can help week
to quickly stabilize them. And then last housing support. I
think what's really important to say is that we all agree
that housing is Annie, right? That housing is the solution
to homelessness. However, when you look at the Spectrum of
these, the three-pronged approach that we have, you have to
have multiple Tools in your toolbox. You got to be able to
attack the problem from all different sizes. And so again,
with the prevention really work with rapid rate, we work
with rental assistance, to make sure that we can get people
money quickly to keep them in their home will also talk
about the court dates for mention that we also have through
the Department of Housing in terms of the crisis response
and shelters. Really, we want to be able to bring people
inside right when we think about cold weather, when we
think about people having different needs, we really need
to get them off the street. And so shelter is amazed
part of
Part of what we do. But we also have the Outreach teams
that I talked about earlier. Last part is housing and
support. And so later in the presentation, I'll talk about
the work that we do with rapid rehousing permanent
Supportive Housing, but it's also about creating affordable
housing, and preserving and sorrows, and other affordable
housing opportunities. In terms of the current system. For
homelessness is really, it's very robust and dynamic on the
city of Chicago side there, four main players.
Where do I?
Are doing this work, even though it's a really, an
all-hands-on-deck approach. So you have the Chicago
Department of Housing. You have the Chicago Department of
Public Health DFS sencha. I am really what we do is all of
our department. We are in our working together, to make
sure that we're coordinating and making sure that we're
providing the right wraparound resources to address
homelessness in Chicago. In addition to that we have the
mayor's homeless interagency task force. And as a password,
we meet with our government Partners. We're really looking
at. How do we make sure we're leveraging Resources with the
Chicago Transit Authority, with the park district to
address homelessness that are in the parks that you see.
We're also working with the mayor's office and other
departments and so we come together with streets and stand
on a quarterly basis to talk about what are the gaps that
we're seeing, how are we coordinating and seeing each other
and how we leveraging our dollars when you think about the
funding for the city,
We're.
We're really support a that front door line of action. But
we also partner with the Chicago, Continuum of Care, the
Chicago, Continuum of Care is required federally by cities
that use federal dollars from the US Department of Housing
and Urban Development. And so, all Chicago is the lead
Agency for the COC and on the CLC bore you have the four
departments that I mentioned. So commissioner Navara myself
chanced pH we all sit on the board and we helped him. Make
sure that we're hearing what are the needs of this member
or
When is?
Innovation, the Chicago Continuum of Care is made up of 100
organizations. And really, our goal is to make sure how are
we leveraging our resources as a city? How are we
supporting the COC and how we filling in gaps in the COC is
the main source of providing housing for dedicated units
for people who are homeless in Chicago,
Add.
Additionally okay, you go back. Sorry I'll speed up. I
think the other part about that is just the understanding
of the crisis response and how we go back and forth and
leveraging and setting priorities. At the COC is how we set
priorities for the city of Chicago up. Our resources will
be used.
Ohio.
Highlights of the work that we've done it. So I'll give two
examples that I think the team has done really great work
during the pandemic. The first thing that we realized was
that having people living Outdoors was not safe. I think
everybody realized, you know, when you talked about having
your own bathroom, having your own private bedroom and so
in order to get people off the street, especially those who
are medically vulnerable, we knew we had to decompress
shelters, right? Because large congregate spaces, were not
safe when you talk about the spread of communicable
diseases and so moving people into housing was really,
really important. And so we were able to leverage 35
million dollars, and chairs funding. And with that funding,
we were able to support between October 2020 and September
2022.
1880.
1888 households, not people. But household were able to move
into housing that freed up space for us to move people out
of shelter. Bring people off the street and put them into
shelter. We were able to do over three hundred and fifty of
those 1800 household. Your household for people who were
living on the street, that that process of coordinating
working together, bringing providers together to do
accelerated moving events, we were able to reduce the time.
It takes to connect people to housing. We were able to have
in one room. People were able to select their apartment,
fill out their application and pick out their furniture.
All of the things that was really a deconstructed process
that sick time. We work together to speed that up in the
2023 budget. This Council leverage corporate dollars and a
few dollars to provide another 35 million dollars that this
year, is allowing us to support 1200 new household through
Rapid rehousing and then maintain a thousand existing
house.
that we
That we had found it in that last round. I think what's
important to know is that this is not long-term sustainable
funding, right? It's a r p and so if we're going to
continue the need, we need additional funding to keep
programs like this. Going
The other thing I want to highlight is the work we're doing
with improving our shelter system. And so, Shelter Systems
have a bald typically, you know, the grant that we received
have not allowed us to do shelter. Infrastructure, shelter
maintenance and so are nonprofits of have security that
burden on their self by themselves and raise that money in
that Capital dollars on their own. So with our ARP dollars
we have some really big project. One is in conjunction with
the Department of Housing where we're acquiring 5 hotels
and motels that will be used to bring beds back online that
we lost during covid-19 decompression.
That.
That's why.
That's really important when you think about converting and
reusing, and reimagining, how we use properties in Chicago.
The second thing is around of The Rehabilitation of
existing shelters and so we have 40 million dollars. That's
where you leveraging to take existing spaces and helping
are nonprofits. Turn their large congregate, spaces into
private rooms and do the facility in accessibility upgrades
that they need and we have 10 agencies that have been
shortlisted to go to the next phase of that. The second
thing is the work that we're doing with our loberia
shelter. Some people may be familiar with the low-barrier
shelter that we have until then we started that around
2017. 2018, it allows individuals, when we're doing
enchantments, to encourage people to come in from
enchantments, they can come and go as long as they pleased,
as long as they check in within 48 to
2 hours.
Two hours they can.
2 hours, they can eat at whatever time they want. They're
not the traditional rules, they can bring their pets, and
they can come in, under the influence that we have one on
the south side, but we are actually putting out an RFP next
month to have a second on the North side. That's really
important. If people want to stay in their Community,
people have ties to their community, that have medical
appointments, they have jobs. And so this allows us to do
that. The third is really about the stabilization
housing.org dph have recently announced their ward of a
motel that they're using in the 40th, Ward for
stabilization housing, not everyone is ready to go straight
into housing and so this will allow for people who are
medically vulnerable, who have maybe medical needs, or they
need to deal with substance abuse to go in and have a place
to go. Where they'll be received Medical Care and so their
number full bet you need in order to move people want in
the continuum.
Good afternoon. My name is Marissa Novara. I'm commissioner
of the Department of Housing. I will be covering three
different areas in which the Department of Housing.
Addresses, the needs of people experiencing or at risk of
homelessness, but the first one that I'm going to talk
about his rental assistance, over the past several years,
the Department of Housing has distributed more than 170
million in emergency rental assistance that has helped
30,000 Chicago households avoid homelessness. Those funds
are now exhausted.
and,
And the two programs that you see on this side or what
remained of those federal emergency rental assistance
funds. So we do have a right to eviction counsel pilot
program. For the first time, we have pro bono legal
assistance launched, in July of 2022 with 8 million
dollars. It has provided legal assistance to more than 860
households in danger of addiction.
We're.
We're working with the loss center, for better, housing and
Beyond Legal Aid, on that. We are also providing Court
based emergency rental assistance for landlords and tenants
who do end up in a fiction Court, due to non-payment of
rent, that is a 25 million-dollar program of which we have
spent about 18 million.
and,
And we had assisted more than 1,900 households to this
point.
In regards to permanent Supportive Housing, the Department
of Housing, first began investing in permanent Supportive
Housing, back in 1995. And over time, our approach to that
has refined, I'm what you'll see in the next two bullets,
is that in our last two funding rounds, we have tried a set
aside approach in our low income, housing tax credit. So,
what that means is you have an affordable rental
development. It's not necessarily permanent Supportive
Housing. It is a development that provides reduced rents,
but we asked the developer for the property owner to set
aside 5%.
The unit.
The units to be part.
The units to be permanent Supportive Housing. We first
started that in our in 2021, we think that will lead to
about 10. Developments, with about 72, permits power of
housing units, spread out over multiple development again
in our last funding Round. We doubled down on that. We
learned some things and wanted to really spell out the way
that tenant selection guidelines and trauma-informed.
Design needed to play a part in that
Then for the first time in our funding round this year, we
actually did a tract. That is focused on permanent
Supportive Housing where we were asking for proposals. That
we would fund that are stand-alone developments that
provide services on site, we have 30 million dollars
dedicated to that and that's a combination of our funds in
with the Department of Family and support services.
In.
In in that funding round in our funding round from this
year, we also included preferences regarding low-barrier
tenant, selection, trauma-informed, design and service
provision. We did talk to tons of folks more than 100
people with lived experience to inform those aspects.
And finally, I like to touch on the creation and
preservation of affordable housing, that is the bulk of
what our department does. And one particular Avenue
through, which we do. That is single room occupancy
buildings. Since the passage of the SRO preservation
ordinance in 2014, 19 buildings with a
Stop.
1700, you know.
1700 units have been preserved either in full or in part
and then in 2022 the council passed the SRO preservation
loan fund. It is funding the rehabs of struggling sros in
exchange for long-term affordability. So we made an initial
5 million dollar commitment to that and those dollars were
expended very very quickly.
It will.
It would cover about 250 units across five building. So we
know the need is there, we have put in an additional 3.5
million to keep that forward movement. All of that funding
is from the Chicago recovery plan and those dollars are
also winding down. My last Point, here is really to note
that nearly three-fourths of the population that we
considered low income. In the city of Chicago is on the
very low, end of that spectrum. And that means people
making 30% of the area median income or less, the first
single person that's about $23,000, a year for a family of
four. That's about $33,000 a year and funding that we have
in general and specifically for that population has
extremely complicated requirements.
and it's been,
And it's very difficult to combine funding sources on. And
what I, what I really want to drive home about that is that
our current funding is insufficient. But it is also in
sufficiently flexible. We really need more funding sources
that are flexible. That allow us to reach the very lowest
incomes, which is the bulk of our low-income population in
the city. So we need more funds. We need more funds to
affordably House, Chicago, and so desperately need it.
Thank you. Thank you.
Thank.
Thank you Commissioners. We, before we turn into the Dave,
bring Chicago home presentation. We want to recognize to
chill with my Harry's for purposes of road, as well as new
members of the family. All day, women with the aerosol
nerving. And if you have where I recognize All the Other
Woman Jello Gutierrez women, Julia, Altima more as well.
Anyone else?
Okay. Yeah. Before we before we need to stop with the
questions. When are we going to turn for a presentation
from the green Chicago home? So we start maybe with Mary or
outside with me first.
Not.
No. Actually we're going to start with the Coalition with
Karla. Thank you. Thank you.
Play.
Thank you, Carlos and chamber. I mean, I'm sorry, I'm
nervous. Hello, my name is Carla Johnson and I'm a
Grassroots leader of the Chicago Coalition for the
homeless, and a member of The Horizon speakers Bureau.
My goal here today is to tell you a little bit about myself
and my situation with homelessness in Chicago. And why is
it important to me?
Like others here you might look at me and not think I was
homeless, I might not look like the people you see on the
streets on doorways but I was a person without my own home.
I'm a mother for and have been Couchsurfing for years. I
had no place of my own, it was until I was introduced to
bring Chicago home that I realized I was living with his
now called double down over 65,000. People are homeless in
shelters on the streets or doubled up in Chicago. A
majority of them are experiencing. What I did, living
doubled up.
The map.
The map of Chicago show that 17,000 students experience
homelessness in Chicago. That map also showed that
homelessness is a Citywide issue and it clearly impacts
minorities on the south and west side more decades. The
policies and disinvestment have created this problem and
it's resulting in
Auto.
One out of four.
1 out of 4 black students experiencing homelessness at least
once in their time in public school.
The next slide that was available was homelessness shows
House, Chicago spins, just a tiny fraction of what other
major city spends on addressing the need. We spent only two
per-cent of what New York stands and only 7% of what La
spends we must do more.
City.
Cities like Denver, Seattle, Los Angeles and San Francisco
have taken action to create their own, designated revenue
streams to address the problem. So can Chicago
We?
We proposed to increase the real estate transfer tax by 1.9
percentage points on property sold over $1000000. This is
not a property tax. This is a one-time tax on properties
when they are sold. Other states across the country rely on
the real estate transfer tax to create dedicated revenue or
fordable housing without the 15 states. Already doing this,
the Coalition estimates that I proposed rate structure
would generate at least 150 million dollars, annually.
this would make a
This would make a huge impact on homelessness and
wraparound services to sustain permanent Housing Solutions.
and,
In order to change the transfer tax, we must get approval
from Chicago, boaters. So this means, we have to follow the
three steps passed the resolution. That puts the referendum
question on the ballot. A simple majority of Chicagoans
must support the referendum and only then can city council
actually changed attacks by way of an ordinance, but we can
do this. I want to turn it over to Alexa.
Did.
Good afternoon, city council members.
My name is he like the bay? She her hers Community Church,
United Westridge, leader and a housing Outreach
coordinator. When I first got involved with, see you. I was
traveling between Rosslyn and Westridge, getting my
grandkids to school.
I would cough syrup cost search and double up with friends
and family members at the time. I didn't think I was
homeless, but the more I'm working for housing Justice. I
came to realize I was experiencing a type of homelessness.
We chose to concert concert and live double up because I
wanted to keep my family together, rather than be in the
shelter. Most shelters won't allow males over the age of 13
to stay together with families of females Below in the same
family.
We?
We finally found a home in Westridge. My family, we were
very excited but again, we would find another hurdle. My
husband, my husband of 46 years passed in 2019 and an
amount of time, would it be 24 months later? We were
evicted again, I found myself, but this time we were able
to stand at church with my whole family. While looking for
apartment, I had applied for Housing Voucher over 10 years
ago and as I was looking for a pub in my number, finally
came up.
What's?
Once I got my own stable place to live things changed, I
can cook meals. My family is always buying food from Fast
restaurant, fast food restaurants. Once we stop back and
forth, my grandkids were happy, it was playing with their
friends, going to after school program to get into sports.
See, my grandkids, I did.
See, my grandkids, I didn't want them to feel.
Akshay.
a shame, or
Tapped.
Set the light because they were traveling back and forth.
And we have been evicted, that's real hard for children to
deal with. As we all know, a house is more than a home. It
is actually a part of our identity, a safe place to be not
having a stable home and have a negative effect on mental
health and made me feel like a failure.
It impacts by the job.
Ask.
A step above a stable place to lay your head. Most
important it leaves, you open to become a victim or witness
the crime that happens when you find yourself, traveling
back and forth on the bus in the middle of night.
In the past, five years since living in West Ridge, I have
moved two times.
I'll be.
Because it's hard to find.
Upon.
Apart.
Apartments affordable housing when you have a house voucher
and people who will accept your housing, voucher Federal
programs, like home about, just take forever to come
through.
It's okay.
It took my fam.
It took my family over 10 years and it's not right 10 years
for the federal resources, created barriers to housing for
people experiencing homelessness. That's because those for
funds can only support or paralyzed. People experiencing
chronic homelessness living on the streets and in shelters
for over a year and with a disability federal funds are
also insufficient, we must do more. We need a city to step
in and do more. Chicago can do more by creating a city
dedicated revenue streams for families who find themselves
in situations. Like, my family was in
City.
City resources can create housing for people retention from
prison, undocumented households and people living double
up.
Is.
Is a housing Outreach coordinator and Westridge area.
During my time, I talked to many families who I live in
double up because rent is in the neighborhood is going to
be too high because they lost the jobs and housing doing to
the Pandemic. Those stories are part of the 65,000,
experiencing homelessness and over. 75% of them would
double up like me and my family.
Where you live and what resources are available. Impacts
every part of your life. Having a dedicated Revenue stream
will create an equable Community invest in education.
Transportation. In a long-term affordable housing.
There will always be one crisis after another and always a
need to address these crises as they come or within the
structure and capacity for our city to have a solution
ready to address these crisis, we need big Solutions, not a
piece by piece of proulx. The solution is bring Chicago
home.
Beef.
Bch will create long-term affordable housing, moving
families, experiencing on the verge of becoming homeless,
to permanent affordable, housing, minimizing the need for
shelter and keeping families together. Thank you.
but,
Good afternoon. My name is Mary cerullo. I used to her
pronouns and I'm the associate director of policy and
strategy with the Chicago Coalition for the homeless bring
Chicago home is a solution that begins to address. The fact
that homelessness is a failure, not of individuals who are
experiencing it but of our society that allows it to take
place. We as Chicago in, can be active participants in
getting our city closer to what we want it to look like a
place where everyone has the chance to survive and just
arrived and housing is crucial to that Vision. This is why
our proposal is for funds. To be primarily spent on the
need for permanent housing with wraparound Services. A
model that has been in place for decades that has been
proven to permanently end homelessness. Housing would be
for people living on the streets in shelters and doubled
up, it were
Rendezvous.
Find a variety of different types of housing, such as slide
tenant-based rental subsidies or operating subsidies for
development Capital, funding to acquire and preserve
naturally occurring, affordable, housing, like as a rose
and two to four flats and new construction funds will also
be used for services for those in housing to make sure they
have support to remain house and achieve their personal
goals case managers support.
Support residence, in many ways depending on the need of
the household. Such as help with writing a resume to making
sure they pay the rent on time and connecting participants
to services such as slide. Please, thank you, mental
health. Care substance abuse counseling and Healthcare
educational opportunities and job-training bugs can also be
used for for homelessness prevention and services to help
people obtain housing funds. Generated will not only create
new permanent housing with services but they will also
create jobs in the construction industry and Social
Services sector elect talked about how housing is about so
much more than a home. It's about stabilizing gentrifying
communities by preserving affordable housing and investing
in neighborhoods that have seen Decades of disinvestment to
the races policies. And laws, it is about addressing one of
the key root causes of violence, lack of a stable place to
live, funding public goods to meet. Our needs keeps us also
It is about.
It is about connecting p.
It is about connecting people to health care, and Mental
Health Care. Housing is itself a form of how Healthcare and
mental health care. But this proposal also connects people
to the care, they need beyond the basics of a roof over
one's head. This proposal is about the creation of new
jobs, to housing, rehab in construction and service
provision. It's about supporting small businesses by
stabilizing residents in their homes. Businesses cannot
Thrive when residents are pushed out of communities.
An.
And we can generate Revenue to do this in a fair and
balanced way. Only 4.3% of property sales would be impacted
by this fee, which again is only on properties over
$1000000. Furthermore in order to afford a 1 million dollar
home a household would need to earn between $200,000 and
$240,000 a year. Only 6% of Chicago's population, earns
that much, at the same time, much of Chicago is struggling
to make ends meet. According to a report by The Institute
for housing studies at DePaul University from last month.
The city's affordability, Gap is the highest. It's been in
at least a decade and in 2021 the number of Chicago renter
households were cost burden or spending more than 30% of
their income on housing grew to about 51%.
Brings.
Bring Chicago home is one needed solution to help address
the affordability Gap. We faced and Chicagoans agree with
our plan 72% of likely voters, support the bring Chicago
home. Proposal 73% thinks, Chicago city council has not
done enough to address, homelessness and 75%. Support the
city's stepping in to create housing for people who are
staying with someone else or doubled up. Furthermore,
Chicagoans have a track record of supporting measures
similar to this one with fairtax passing with 70% approval
in Chicago and the Cook County forest preserves referendum
passing last year with 75%, 75% approval in Chicago. So it
is time to bring Chicago home. Thank you very much.
Good afternoon, good afternoon, councilmembers, my name is
Peter. Tepfer, my pronouns, are he him? And his and I serve
as the executive director of the center for housing and
health? Which is a nonprofit organization here in Chicago?
We know, the permanent affordable housing couple of
Supportive Services is the proven solution to ending
homelessness. We simply have never had adequate resources
or the political will to provide for all who need it.
This.
This model couple.
This model, couple of coupling housing with wraparound
Services, allows people to maintain stable housing at a
rate of 98%, we know, it works safe and stable, housing is
a solution, not just a homelessness, but the other pressing
challenges facing our city such as gun. Violence among
young people. People returning home from Jill's, a prisons
and Health Equity.
In partnership with the city of Chicago, the center for
housing and health operates, a project called the flexible
housing pool, which serves people that are cycling through
public crisis systems, the flexible housing pool or F A P
uses the model of hermit housing with wraparound services.
Are we?
A research evaluation recently, demonstrated several
important successes when compared against a similar group
of people were not in the flexible Holland pool.
During.
During the covid-19 pandemic, deaths. Among the reasons,
people experiencing homelessness tripled
The flexible.
The flexible housing pool showed a trend toward toward
survival with 37% reduction in mortality.
And see.
Consistent with a racial Equity value. Three-quarters of
participants in this program. Identify as black or
African-American just like the overall homeless population
in Chicago.
This project values black Life, and prioritizes Health
Equity.
What's?
Participants have also maintained their housing and seeing
their life greatly improved, with fewer visits to the
hospital, as well as returning to jail.
Fa.
Fht saw a 33% reduction in emergency, a 33% reduction in
inpatient days in the hospital and a 19% reduction in
emergency department visits. It also saw a 22% reduction in
jail registrations.
What's?
What's the benefits of this model are not only for program
participants before society as a whole.
How?
housing people, rather than criminalizing them or putting
them back in the hospital saves taxpayer dollars. The
flexible housing pool, demonstrated cost, offsets of over
1.4 million dollars during a two-year.
We?
Week.
We can do the right thing and we can be good stewards of
taxpayer dollars.
What?
one of
One of the key reasons, the flexible housing pool was able
to achieve these outcomes is because of the trusting
relationships that supportive services staff members had
with people experiencing homelessness, it was the glue that
bound the bottle and dumped them all together and insured
success for people in the program.
The Flash.
The flexible housing pool is one of many examples of the
Innovative tools that are already in the city's toolbox,
but that can scale so that we can actually serve the needs
of all our neighbors. Bring Chicago home is part of the way
we're going to get there.
We want housing options to be permanent, not temporary.
We?
We can't do everything with this Revenue source. And so,
with this unique funding, we want to focus on what we know
permanently ends homelessness, and that's housing.
We?
We are asking a few people to pay a bit more on an existing
tax one time when they sell a property, over $1000000 to
ensure that staus ends of people and have a home to call
Iran.
This.
This is a common-sense proposal and homeowners will put it
in perspective of what it cost to buy or sell. High-value
real estate.
I'd like.
I'd like to ask.
I'd like to ask this committee to consider who we want to
prioritize with our policy choices.
I'm a.
Imagine that you are 20 years old. I've already been to
prison or caring for your two. Children are living in a
community struggling with gun violence. And just had your
life threatened by your partner.
This.
This is Jayda. She's one of the flexible housing for youth
residence.
Should.
Should we ensure that Jada has a safe home? She can afford
so that she and her children can Thrive or should we
prioritize? Someone who has the resources to sell a
property worth over $1000000. So they pay a bit less when
they sell it.
Are.
Are we going to uphold the status quo? Or we going to
choose to chart a different path for our city and for our
neighbors, thank you.
Thank.
Thank you, I think that concludes or for my presentation.
Thank you to the Commissioners as well as the panelists and
representative in Chicago home. Now we're going to open up
to question for a council members and then no members. So
it all the members
Thank you very much mr. Chairman
You know it was a funny thing. This morning my wife and I
was walking our dogs, as we were walking, our dogs, elderly
lady was standing outside and she asked us for money. Of
course, we walking the dogs early in the mornings like 1. I
have no cash on me, right? Then on my way, back home from
walking, my dogs, I see a young couple sitting in the van
and then the van. You can tell they're living in the van
because it was filled up with their clothes and everything
and and they sitting out there struggling in the heat cuz
they living in a van.
and then,
And then I find myself after getting dressed and getting
ready to go to an event driving through some vydox with
tents everywhere. You know, my park down the street from my
house. I have tents everywhere, people sleeping in and then
under all of that, our people are sleeping under the bad
acts, but then I find myself going to buy the pan club. And
right next to them is at Church, Pastor John's Church and
he's passing out food.
In.
and for,
And Food Lion is like 2 blocks long and you know he has a
lot of some of the migrants there but also a lot of people
from all over the city are they aligned to get food and you
know it's like I'm like men so do God know I got this
hearing today because it's like people you know it's you
know it's this is challenging.
I've never seen as many people homeless in my life. I mean,
can't jog around the park. Everywhere you go. My, my, my
Parks, my children's sprinklers in the Parks guys, there
washing up in the morning. It's just it's just a
challenging thing. We, we have so many homeless people in
the city and we don't have enough resources. I want to
commend both of the commissioners of both of the
Department's, who have done a lot of things since I've been
Alderman to try to deal with this, but it's not even the
dead. You know, it seems like the more we do. It gets
multiplied by the need and it's starting to come out. And
the crazy thing is you starting to see it more and more in
the affluent areas. I'm having more homeless issues and
influence areas, then I'm having an employee area, right?
And maybe because the homeless folks feel safer in the
affluent areas,
but I
but if
But it is becoming very challenging. I was one of the ones
who first signed on to this ordinance, but open
transparency, your former board member of Coalition. For
the homeless, I believe in this, this is something we had
to do, not how we get there. I'm not sure. But it is, first
of all, want to thank you for having this hearing, or we
can have this hearing for the past four years. So I'm glad
we're able to have his hearing. I want to commend, you
know, I'm going blank right now, but want to come in the
ottoman? I can patent, you know, her. And I try to over and
over again have discussions and conversations with the past
administration. In order to try to deal with this, at least
have the hearing, at least let it be heard and all we doing
is trying to introduce an ordinance to put it on the
ballot.
The.
Did.
To give people the opportunity to vote on it and say what
they going to say.
You know, it and I've been blessed in my world. I probably
have most of those shelters that that was saved in my ward.
Have a lot of, I have a lot of high-end housing, but I have
a lot of homeless people, in a lot of portable housing in
my ward, and we try to keep that balance and we blessed to
have healthy chips, and chips and I'll whoop, everybody
else don't have them, right? So everybody else don't have
those opportunity to subsidize developments in order to
have some affordable housing in those developments. But
we're blessed in that way, you know, we just want this to
get a boat as an opportunity to decide on this and you
know, they boat
Did.
Did the?
The Coalition for the homeless.
Be.
BP.
Before I even bought this to the table, did a study, they
did a poll. They actually took money out of their budget
and pay for a poll to see how Chicagoans feel about this is
over 70% of the people in Chicago, feel that we should have
his own a referendum and they do want opportunity to try to
vote on it and they said that they would support it because
people, I'm literally getting people not just in Parks,
people are just getting in Lots city, lies behind people
houses, and putting up tents, right? I think it's like
everywhere since I've popping up everywhere, and then,
somebody supplying them.
Right.
That's right. And they got these nice things but they
popping up of Love by City And we have to do something,
right? And so, I want to ask the commissioner commissioner
Navarro in particular, you know, there's been some
discussions among my colleagues about changing the rate
structure of the proposal. Have you given any consideration
to the marginal tax tax rate has been proposed.
Thank.
Thanks Alderman. We are contemplating a marginal tax versus
the flat. I want explain what that is first, and then I can
say a little bit about why marginal would mean that. So
let's say you had a 1.2 million dollar building on if it
were flat than under this new proposal, the new dollar
amount, the new tax rate would apply to the entire 1.2
million. If it's marginal benefit, only applies to the
point to where the 200,000 that's over $1000000.
The real.
The reason for that to to consider making it marginal are a
couple things. One is that we heard from our Law
Department, that it would be much less vulnerable to a
challenge on a uniformity basis. Meaning right now, you
know, you would go from someone selling a home
like me.
Like $999,000 would pay one amount. And if you sold for, if
you bought rather for a million and $1, you pay a very
large amount more and that's very vulnerable to a challenge
on, on the uniformity Clause. Unfortunately, we have seen
that in Los Angeles that the tax that they instituted there
was flat and they are being challenged in. So the dollars
that they're collecting, they cannot spend.
We don't want to do that. We want to spend our dollars
immediately and I think the two other points I would make
their one is that, if it kind of lowers the incentive to
gain this by placing things at 999000, and because the
amount is just not going to be right. As you jump over,
that line would not be as astronomical. It also creates a
more Progressive structure cuz if you sell for 1.1 or 1.2
million, you only pay taxes on that additional amount, but
if you sell for 10 million, then the buyer is paying for a
lot more of the
Volume.
Value of a higher.
Value of a higher price. What that means is that you're
really reducing the burden on like 226 unit buildings,
which is really where we want to see, you know, apartment
buildings and neighborhood commercial buildings. Really be
able to see the least impact.
To have.
To have subsidies to help pay for affordable housing over
the years. And, you know, we have a lot of affordable
housing developments, especially with, I probably I have
three caj developments, they mixed-income. I have bigger
died. I have Marshall Field Garden apartment, so I can go
on and on, I probably got like, five co-ops in my ward,
right? Some of the first co-ops in the city of Chicago,
This real estate transfer tax. Have you given any thought
about exempting? Some of those affordable developers and
and or also some of the not-for-profit or some of those
affordable developments? I should say, and something enough
to spot we have. And the reason for that, we know what
we're looking at, is the actual affordable developments
themselves, rather than tying it to the who the developer
is. But if you looked at which developments are restricted
affordable, like there's a covenant that says they must be
affordable long-term generally, what
Happens. If
Poppins is.
Happens, is if there's a trance.
Happens, is if there's a transfer or sale of that property,
it's because there may be a refinance. But, in those cases,
when you have a a restricted affordable development, they
are built with public dollars. That's how it they become
affordable. So whether it's the city or the state, or the
Chicago Housing Authority, if you're buying now an
affordable development and now you have to pay higher tax,
actually the buyer is going to be looking to the city or
the state or Chicago Housing Authority to pay that. So
it's, it's simply kind of a cannibalizing, the same pot of
public funds. It's not like taking from the profit of a
market-rate transaction. This very, very different things.
So we are looking at it, exempting affordable developments
for that reason going to know. Even with rsr old projects,
we try to encourage other affordable housing developers to
buy those if they were to sell them and if we were to do
that, they will get hit too. So
so, I think
So I think that's a, that's a good thing, you know, it's a
funny thing. I was just talkin to my colleague right here
and I was telling her how cold it is in here. I'm cold. I
don't know about you all, but I'm call, right? And it made
me think about how do the homeless people feel sitting
outside in the cold by thank you very much. Thank you.
Thank you next week, all the other person doesn't
Check.
Chair. And I want to thank everybody that has packed this
this place today to discuss this very urgent measure. I
moved to Chicago in 2009 and it was really hard to leave
Puerto Rico. But one of the reasons why I was able to stay
in this city is because of how hard people fight.
We have been told no, so many times, and and we are here
now because of how many times will have been told. No. And
we have continued fighting and every time we are told no,
we fight harder and harder and harder. And now here we are.
Thank you so much mr. Chair for holding this hearing, it
has been a long time coming and it is about time that we
have a conversation about putting this item on a ballot and
allowing the people of Chicago to the side about it. I just
have one question and it's also for commissioner Navarra
My understanding is that with a phone like this we could we
could find housing in a lot of different ways from
subsidized, parental to building public housing, to doing
affordable, housing, through affordable developers. I have
had the experience in my ward. We're right now. We're
experiencing a lot of displacement and that has a ripple
effect in our whole Community. Sprayed, when schools lose
enrollment. Because of displacement you lose resources in
the schools and the quality of the other stations, going to
go down and then more people are not going to want to send
the kids their aid. If it creates a ripple effect, I wanted
to see if you had an idea of right now the the main
instrument that we have in order to build affordable,
housing is low income, housing tax credits, and those are
incredibly competitive. So I in my world I have had five
competing for one or Ward.
You talk a little bit?
You talk a little bit about how limited that is and how
many affordable housing projects we missed out on. That
could happen every year because we don't have the means to
be able to find them.
Well you raise a really important Point older because just
earlier this month, I think this body approved a ceding.
Some of our 4% low income housing tax credits to the state
of Illinois, develop Illinois, Housing Development
Authority. We never do that with 9% credits because they
generate a lot of equity as you noted their incredibly
competitive and and they're incredibly oversubscribed are
4%, generate a half the equity and we are challenged to
match that with the cash that it would take to turn them
into a development and because we can't we don't have the
cash to match it. We end up leaving 4% on the table and or
proactively in this case feeding them to the state to use
them for developments in the city. If we had more resources
like this, what we would be able to do is is super charge
the, the, the credits we already have in currently, can't
pair them with because we are credit risk and
pour some
4%.
for essentially as that's the way this country has chosen
unfortunately to find affordable housing. So what this does
is releases really leverages the funding that we have, an
allows us to do much more with it. What also would really
excite me to my earlier point about this being a flexible
source is that the hardest group for us to affordably house
is people making
30% of the area median income in below because if we want to
get your rent to 30% of your income, that's a lot more room
to make up. Then if you're at 60% of the area median income
of, I've got to get your rent much, much lower and I just
don't have a lot of sources to meet that need. So a
flexible source that says sometimes people need permanent
Supportive Housing. Sometimes they just need a lower rent
that they can actually afford. And if we could do both
things more flexibly and a lot more volume II, would be a
tremendous benefit for the city.
Thank.
Thank you, commissioner. I just want to offer my support
for bring Chicago home. I'm very excited for us to be able
to put this in the ballot and then I'll go give people the
information that they need in order to support this. Thank
you so much. Thank you. Thank you, other person, other
person Jenna Taylor
Thank.
Thank you, chairman. Can we go back to the slide that the
Coalition shared?
Once.
One second.
Alarm.
Knox.
that's,
I said that that I want y'all on the exact one, I want to
be on.
The.
So first, I want to thank the Coalition for coming up with
this proposal because it doesn't seem like we can get it
right and so thank you all.
We should have brought Chicago home a long time ago.
But I guess there's been no better time than now. Can you
all explain kind of what I'm looking at cuz I don't know
about anybody in the audience or anybody in here. But I was
confused when you started talking about this. I was kind of
thrown out. So can you explain to me this power this this
part of the presentation? Yes. So this is a list of all of
the revenue streams that the city manages and we want to
make the point that the city is very Adept and has a lot of
experience at managing revenue streams that have different
fluctuation. This is an argument that we've heard against
changing the real estate transfer tax but we know that said
that the city has obviously a lot of experience that with,
on predicting
When?
going to come in and
Going to come in and dealing with you do some of yours that
might have have more Revenue than you expect or less
Revenue than you expect. And in fact, the bring Chicago
home proposal has several safeguards written into it. On
one is a reserve fund which would set aside funding in the
flush years so that when less Revenue comes then we would
be able be able to. I prepare for that. But then also a
dollar amount will be determined that can be spent on
ongoing cost and that amount would be based on what we can
count on every year at a minimum coming in. And then every
year, if, if more than that comes in, when more than that
comes in, those funds can be spent on a one-time cost like
like like like a building acquisition or something like
that so we can vary you don't responsibly Implement a real
estate transfer tax here in Chicago.
When you pretentious, repeat your name again, just for the
record for the record. I married cerullo, tell me how you
all will work with the city. And I'm sorry, it's the
chances in the way I want to look at the screen but I want
to look at you. Can you explain to me? How are you going to
work with the city to kind of hold them accountable? We see
the, we do stuff like this all the time that's intended for
one thing and they do something else? Where how are those
measurements working and how are you going to work with? D,
o? H & d, f s, s.
Make.
Make sure that once we pay.
Make sure that once we pass this, the money actually goes
where it needs to go. And we are not trying to figure out
if whether, you know, we like I said, I appreciate it. And
really just being able to explain why the young lady who
came and spoke with the braids in her head. We got to do a
better job at explaining to people how these things really
working. So, can you talk about how we're going to measure
if this works? And how we going to come back and say either
way, we need more money cuz I'm sure we could always use
more money. But how we're saying that the program is work
and how will you work with the city to kind of reach
weekend? If it needs to be retweet? That's a great question
for the record. This is Mary Carillo and we've looked at
other models across the city who have revenue streams for
affordable housing and they have oversight committees that
are made up of subject-matter experts. Are people in the
community who are stakeholders and their chosen.
5 by city council and and they would you know, help keep
the city accountable and make decisions for you. Don't make
decisions with with with the two departments on health
funding, is spent to make sure that the ordinance is being
followed. We definitely want to make sure that this is
being implemented. Well and according to our intentions, as
a city, is there, rain in the ordinance, we are looking at
those possibilities and those are in, in, in in
In discussion.
In discussion with the city. Can I add? Share. This is
Marissa Novara. I would also add all their sailor. That the
proposal hearing was contemplated, is that it would go to a
designated fund for this purpose. It does not go to the
general fund of of the city as listen to my last question.
Can you go back another slide?
Uncle one more bag. It was something with a 4.3, that's it.
Can you reiterate that? Cuz I don't think people heard you
when y'all talked about this. How many people would
actually affected? Cuz it's amazing to me. If you can say,
if you could have forwarded, the property that's a million
dollars or you can sell it for a million dollars. You
coming up with this small percentage and can you talk about
how many people in the city don't make nowhere near that
much? Can can you reiterate that?
Yes, I for the record is married to Marlo and I don't
deserve to be keep saying that or not. I thought it was
their first time here as you all know.
What's?
That's why I say it for the people in the back.
so,
So we can all meet me looked at you do. The real estate
transfer tax is from the the past 12 years, we got the data
from the Department of Revenue. And my colleagues am here
in the audience. I calculated that 4.3 per cent of property
sales on average, every year are, are over $1000000. And
the only 4.3% of all sales would be impacted by this. And
like we said earlier, in order to buy a home, that's over
$1000000, a household has to make to in 200,000 to 40002.76
per cent of all Chicago. And so this definitely is a common
sense proposal and we are excited to be here.
Thank.
Thank you. Thank you, mr. Chairman, thank you.
I have some questions in regards to the revenue spending
have we considered repurposing vacant commercial space post
covid into low and middle-income housing with the revenue.
Fred.
For the record, Jimmy Grigsby chief of policy for the
mayor's office. We are considering a lot of different
options for what our overall housing strategy will be
We're also.
We're also in communication with all the stakeholders around
the use of funds. But for right now, I don't believe it.
That is why this is difficult uses that we've considered,
but we are continuing to have those conversations and
listening to all the stakeholders to finalize with the that
used to be. And what about considering have we had
discussions about considering using the spending for
entry-level housing that the unhoused can call home and
eventually clean.
The right.
So right now, I'm as I mentioned before, we are,
considering you, no different uses, but we want to
prioritize, we all agree that it is important to prioritize
permanent Supportive Housing and services. But we are
looking at a range of options for the use of funds. One of
the slides, you brought up the right to counsel pilot.
Could you could someone help me understand and give me your
evaluation of the right to counsel pilot program that is
motivating the city to broaden the the pilot program with
the revenue from the tax increase. So
as I mentioned are
As I mentioned earlier, we started this with a federal
emergency rental assistance funds in July of 2022. For the
first time, we are providing pro bono legal counsel to
people, in eviction Court, what we know traditionally is
that generally about, 90% of property, owners are
represented by legal counsel in eviction court and the vast
majority of tenants that are there are not. And so what
we're trying to do is is just in the similar way that you
provide a public defender, we want to provide legal
assistance for people on both sides. And so at the moment
what we have for that is is about 8 million dollars. It
goes to both the Law Center for better housing and Beyond
legal aid, and we do have a grant from Polk Brothers to
evaluate that over time. So that we can determine the
importance of trying to find a way to continue that.
And will there be a reasonable cap on the high-end sales?
At.
I,
I think if part of what we're here for is to come to this
body early and and obtain feedback. So if if that's
something that you're proposing, we can certainly know that
and I'm curious if the, you know, will the tax be able to
be paid in installments or
You know.
You know, Princeton Willie be phased in while the market is
low or vulnerable.
The house.
The housing market again, I think that that could certainly
be part of a discussion.
Ayo.
I also want to touch on the funding and the plan, my
colleague touched on it. You know, we, we identified the,
the revenue, the target Revenue, which has 168 million. I
believe that's the target Revenue. How did we identify, the
hundred and sixty million? And do we have an outline of the
plan and how the money will be spent?
I want.
I'll know I can start from the city's perspective. You
know, we certainly expect that revenue generated under a
marginal tax would be different than that figure, but still
a substantial and dedicated Source. We are working with the
budget office
At.
AT&T.
At to finalize those figures and we would have specific
numbers when coming back in the fall in September. How will
the taxpayers of the city of Chicago know that brings
Chicago home program is successful? Like will there be a
set goal each year?
How can we guarantee the taxpayers that this bring home
Chicago will be successful? As I mentioned earlier, we're
still listening to all of the stakeholders will be
finalized with the ordinance will be, that will be
introduced by the mayor's office. However, if you want to
know about the proposal, that the bring Chicago home
Coalition is proposing and how they came up with their
numbers. I'm happy to pass that over.
Sure, I'll reference my colleague Sam again, who looked at
the data from the Department of Revenue in the past twelve
years or so. And just didn't up was able to do an estimate
looking at the amount that was generated over $1000000 in X
1.9 percentage points. And as far as that, you know, you've
heard. We we are very committed to having the the priority
for this money. Be spent on permanent housing was
Supportive Services. It's the model that's proven to work
to end homelessness. And no, one of my colleagues touched
on, making sure that the proceeds of this tax won't be
diverted to other uses like, how, how can we be assured
that the proceeds of the stacks, won't be diverted to
other.
But it's going to go to what we are, what we wanted to go.
Hello again, what I'll do it is that the the way that the
structure is contemplated, is that it goes to a dedicated
pot, that is only to be used for the uses that we've
discussed. It does not go to the city's general fund. So it
would not, then come back up for appropriation, or debate
or discussion. That is it is that's, you know, what is
intended by it, being a dedicated source.
and,
And the last thing I want to touch up on is the Enterprise
zones. You know, under under current law, the commercial
and Industrial properties. Purchase within Enterprise zones
are eligible for an exemption from Chicago's real estate
and transfer tax.
Will that extension have an impact on development?
Just a
Just understand the question that that category is
currently Exempted already, right? So there wouldn't be any
impact from
This proposal so so there's an acknowledgement that that
this tax will not have an impact on development. Is that
where you're saying you asked specifically about the
Enterprise Zone exempt? Is that correct? They are currently
that is their current status. So that is not that's not
different under this proposal.
Have.
Have we given any consideration on an exemption for other
areas for this under this proposal?
As.
As I mentioned earlier, we are contemplating an exemption
for affordable housing.
Okay, has there been in the discussion has ever been
consideration and an exemption for like grocery store
property transactions or anything like that?
I think.
I think it's certainly a worthy discussion when we look at
amenities and communities, particularly communities that
are on Princeton food, Desert Sands and are struggling
with, you know, to keep grocery stores or things of that
nature that I think, I certainly think a worthy that's a
worthy topic of discussion as we get more into the details
of how this would work. And one last thing through the
chair, I just like to, you know, request to the chair, if
you know, Kansas City Council.
And stakeholder.
and stakeholders receive an itemized appropriation by City
department and program, an existing the City, Arvada, and
operating funds that have been spent on homeless services
Preacher. That's all I have thinking. Thank you, always
make sure to get that information to the members and
non-members follow by Alderman. A Villegas.
Then.
Then was how about them in the spot off the Red Room.
Awesome. Thank you, Cheri.
Awesome. Thank you, chair. First, I want to congratulate
you on hosting this subject matter hearing. I'm bringing
Chicago home. It's a big day for everyone. Also want to
commend chairwoman hadn't for leading this effort with
Coalition and ensuring, that we can have a robust
conversation today. Also want to state that we live in one
of the richest cities in the country and it housing
deserves to be a right and not a privilege in a city like
Chicago.
I have a very large tent encampment in the 26th, Ward.
The.
Specific.
Specifically in Humboldt Park and I walked that tent
encampment.
We?
With my team to interview each and every person that lives
there, their circumstances are diverse. Their needs are
diverse, how they ended up in those tents are diverse and
they all deserve to be housed, more importantly.
We?
We deserve a permanent Revenue stream that makes housing a
right in the city of Chicago and I've producer report share
that I've submitted to you for the record and have given to
all my college that articulates that I believe the bring
Chicago home is the solution to homelessness in the city of
Chicago.
I don't want.
I don't want to thank everyone for being here. When I think
of Coalition members, I want to thank folks who have
testified who have experienced homelessness and have
articulated to us. The drama that it has caused not only
for them and their families per neighborhoods, across the
city of Chicago. And to my colleagues, we have a moral
obligation to step up move forward and make this happen.
My question is directed to the folks that are here from the
bring Chicago home Coalition, you please articulate to me.
And my colleagues here, what are other examples of
dedicated Revenue sources in the city are nationally that
have made this possible.
things on
Hello, Carla Johnson. Dedicated funding is not new to
Chicago. Chicago currently has 18, designated funding
streams that make up nearly 1 billion dollars of the city's
budget. They include a dedicated funding for housing
funding for Road repair, funding for Library, funding for
tourism. Furthermore there 47 States, including Illinois
and 700 cities and counties with the legally designated
funds for affordable housing, this include San Francisco,
Seattle, Denver, and Los Angeles. We can share more about
that. But basically what it's saying is that this is a
reasonable common-sense approach that is popular across the
country and it's time for Chicago to bring it home.
Thank.
Thank you, sir.
Thank.
Thank you.
Thank you, other person. So now we have other person. I
want to be a ghost.
Thank.
Thank you. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I was hoping to see
that the governor's office here. I mean, you made a big
statement yesterday that he eradicated homelessness? I
thought there's a big meeting will be canceled.
I guess this question is to build a slide up there that
spoke to the CPA receiving 30%.
I'm real estate. Transfer tax. Currently right now. You
look at that last
Glass.
Last one year.
I daren't. So if you look at 8 8th special 82809 line CT a
real estate property transfer tax fun of approximately 63
64 million dollars.
And so, I guess my question is to, why are we sending that
over to CPA, if, if we're needed those funds here for
homelessness and other than what I would note on that point
is this is a pre-existing transfer tax. That is was
established years ago to the Chicago Transit Authority.
What's being proposed here is only the city portion it
would not impact the the tax that goes to the GTA it would
not impact the Texas coast to the state north of Texas.
Close to the cow.
Close to the county only the city portion.
so, they
So that, that Revenue that goes to see ta was
pre-established years ago. It's not impacted by this.
And what is the total money amount of money? That's that.
We think the real estate transfer tax. Could generate I've
heard 80 million 160 million. What's the number that we're
trying to land at?
We?
We are still working on that with the budget office. So we
wanted to, you know, sometimes the feedback we get from
this body is that we didn't come early enough. So we're
coming early but we are working on it internally with the
budget office in particular. The marginal rate would would
mean a different set of numbers. And so we want to make
sure that, you know, where certain of those will come back
and or this group will come back in September with more
specific numbers on that. We do know that it would be
substantial and, and that it would allow it to make the
kind of commitment that you heard about where, as with any
volatile funding source, there would be an establishment of
a bass level on it, which is what you would base your year
after year, expenses on, and then anything above that level
would go into one-time expenses. Do you have a number in
mind though? Cuz you have a baseline, we will. When we come
back.
As well.
As it relates to. So if you could educate me around to the
agency's. So as far as the city receives is real estate
transfer tax, it's a Department of Housing and bfss will
be, was appropriating a rolling out these funds. How does
that work?
That's why.
That's right. As noted it would go into a dedicated fund.
That would be used for a range of uses as we've noted, you
know, I think the we are all in agreement. That permanent
Supportive Housing is the gold standard as as the step that
we want people to be able to get to. We also know that we
want in some instances just to help people pay their rent.
We know that there's homelessness prevention services, that
you know, are also valuable. So there's a range of uses
that are in contemplation here and and, you know, there
would be a group that would work with the city to determine
and agree upon exactly what all those uses would be an
insurer that they're spent. So similar to the way that
Commissioners have come before Council to report on how
they have spent, for instance, Chicago recovery plan
dollars are $4 which I imagine there would be this a
similar kind of keeping up the record of that.
So, did you?
So did you also Envision utilizing? I obviously not for
profits to help address the issue of getting called. This
is correct. That's not all in-house staff. That we're
looking to see what is a lot of questions have been
repulsed Germans. I'll wait to see that information to the
chair. Thank you, thank you. We have Alderman, Martin
Alderman, Angela clay. We're going to have all them and all
the women that will ultimately allowed the council to close
up animals that are really grateful for the space. That is
Being.
D&D.
the entire
The entire time the most some of us have been in office
waiting for this day to be here. And so I'm grateful for
your leadership. I'm grateful for old woman, hadn't
leadership for the leadership in collaboration from
everyone over here, everyone back here. I've really been
sticking it out how refreshing it is to have the kind of
collaboration with the 5th floor that we're having. Now,
that all said that we received earlier and then a question,
It was supposed.
It was supposed to relieve her that this tax may hit folks
who are not wealthy. This was a thing that was said and I
just want to see if you're at because the thing is if
you're in a position to purchase and own a million-dollar
property that is that is the literal definition of wealthy.
It's true y'all. And like, I'll not only say that. Let's,
let's talk about the mortgage interest deduction text,
because fax Lee, you're going to buy that million-dollar
property. And then, the federal government will spend the
next thirty years, thanking you for buying that property,
the federal government through the form of the mortgage
interest deduction tax will reward, you are over what you
pay on this real estate transfer text over the course of
your loan. I do not say that to Gill anyone or shame
anyone, but to acknowledge the truth of that and to say,
that you are in a position, you're in a great position to
help solve homelessness as the federal government transfer
12 to you. So, you are also in a position to transfer
wealth to those who would literally homeless in the city.
Just two more really generous. It was all supposed that. The
idea that there's those who want to help us find
alternative sources of revenue for this, and it's an offer
that I heard before. I remember when we were prepping in
November for a hearing I got a similar call and I said on
that call it if you have a revenue Source that's going to
be dedicated and stable and consistent and it's only going
to hit those who can afford to pay it and it's going to
generate 150 million or so and your leg. I'm glad to fight
for that Revenue Source. I'd be glad for it and it's been 8
months and the folks who called me I've never come forward
with a single idea that met those criteria.
I just
I still.
I'd still be glad to hear it. I am not though going to sit
around waiting. We have an idea that we know is going to
work. It's going to save lives. It's going to solve the
pain and a lot of lies. And this this is the moment in the
season to act. So I'm really grateful for that. I'll speak
one point on little homelessness and then a question. So
hard comes to us. The idea that you have to be sleeping on
the streets to be.
Lil.
Little.
Literally who?
Literally home. Looks like there is a year of my life. The
only year that I haven't lived in the neighborhood. That is
home for me for the last 20 years that I lived on
somebody's sofa, then everything that I owned was in a
suitcase under that sofa. And in that year, I didn't think
of myself as figuratively homeless, I was literally
homeless. A roof is not a home to go to the tens of
thousands of Chicago and or unstable a house, that is
homelessness. And we, we should here in solidarity with
you. In the streets, we stand in solidarity with you, and
we are here to fight for you, so I just want to acknowledge
that and
Final.
Finally towards the work that were talking about. We talked
about permanent Supportive Housing on a slide early and we
talked a little bit about programs and kind of building
types but I wondered, if somebody could share more
elaborate on what permanent Supportive Housing is? What
does that look like to those who receive it? What is it
look like for those who provided
I think we were debating who was going to answer it, so
Brandon can I see commissioner for DSS. So permanent
Supportive. Housing is non term-limited housing that comes
with wraparound, support services, that include medical
care, treatment care of things. People need to live on
their own. I think there's a Continuum, right? There's some
people who just need a little bit of breathing room to
catch up, right? And so maybe they need, you know, 12, 18,
24 months, but then there's some people who need not only
support for their housing in the cost of their housing, but
there are other supports for them to live independently.
But it was her is at the totality totality. My name is for
the record. I'll give a short example of what this looks
like from start to finish. So if you're someone who is
identified and you know what often times are, are in
Parsons and say, wins the lottery of hermas Supportive.
Housing, immediately a staff person will begin to talk with
you. Where do you want to live? Where do you have friends?
Where do you have family? Where do you have support
networks? Let's try and find a home for you in that area.
And so did the staff person is really in that person's
corner from start to finish because for anyone who's
looking for an apartment is hard and the rental market is
tight. So you have some
Who has your back? Who is
Who has your back, who is doing some of that negotiation
with landlords, giving you opportunities to look for
apartment, A B and C in an area that you'd like. And
ideally that is an area, that is well resource that is
there public transit that is near a grocery store near
Healthcare and all the things that make up a healthy
Community. Once the participants signs, the lease, the
leases in their name, they are the legal tenant. They have
all the protections and responsibilities that come with
that. They pay 30% of their income toward, right? They are
at no one come 30% of 0 is zero and then it's the
responsibility of that Supportive Service staff that case
manager to help the person, find income of some sort
employment, benefits, whatever that may be. And then as
folks, who said, there is no time on it, you do not get
that clock isn't ticking for when you have figured out all
the things that contribute to your helplessness. But it's
talking about the future. It's talking about people's goals
and dreams and helping them to reach that and that
includes.
Includes people that are going to your home coming to you
and asking what you want. So the other person who is in
that sort of housing program is really in the driver seat
setting the agenda and establish where they're going to go
and what their potential looks like. Thank you, sir. I walk
my daughter to daycare, we walk past the mill, Shire hotel
in Logan Square. And next year, it will be 10 years.
At the milk.
At the Mill. Shire Hotel was shuttered by its current owner,
it's 70 homeless residents, evicted. It was shuttered then
and it is shuttered. Still
and,
and I,
And I really look forward to the work. We're going to deal
with bring Chicago home and to see that space become a home
for Neighbors at risk of homelessness again. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you.
Thank.
Thank you. Let him and I'll hop. And where is Andersonville
Edgewater and up. She on, I wanted to thank the Coalition
or showing up today. And I wanted to reaffirm my commitment
to show up for important conversations like this, as we
should,
Nothing is a human, right? And as we're welcoming new
arrivals every day, more and more we have to accelerate
what we're doing right now in the 4th word, I talk to many
people on the campaign Trail, and many of them were
identified as lgbtq plus they say they, they came here
because they felt safe and where they were from. They also
said that they were houseless but they found help here in
Chicago. Chicago is a welcoming place for all and our
community, can absorb and do things in a data-driven way,
which is why I'm really excited.
You have shared your work.
You have shared your work with us. All of his work needs to
be data-driven because we need to know the Baseline. And we
need to know our progress. I thank you for that. I wanted
to tell you about the 4th Ward. It's a very diverse word,
its diverse across race class and economics are buildings,
are also very diverse. We have a large number of sros.
Single room. Occupancy is in our Ward. I also lived in an
SRO when I lived in New York City and I lived in a good one
and I'm not so good one, but I also wanted to share that a
constituent of mind where we are spending a lot of time
with them trying to prevent them from being evicted and at
the same time frustrated because we know that she is going
to get more services if she is evicted. So these are all
things that we are trying to hold.
Take.
To get.
Together as we're trying to learn the best ways to give
people service. I'm very supportive of bring Chicago home
because I know that we have to find a permanent Funding
Solution so that we can end homelessness.
We?
We can do it and you have a plan. So I'm thinking you for
that. I wanted to ask if we can go back to you, the the
slide that says about where the funds would be spent.
that that's
That that says permanent housing. I do also appreciate the
sign that someone was holding in the lobby. That said a
shelter is not a home.
Do I want to understand a little bit and it's the reason
why I'm really excited to support bring Chicago home is
because we are working to put people in a home and not just
a home but actual Services, wraparound services, that
people need. And I like what this young person said about
how we providing job training for people because that is
going to help people be stable. This makes sense. So I
wanted to understand from here. It says, tenant-based
rental subsidies. It says Capital funding to acquire
preserve naturally occurring affordable housing, I myself
and my renter. And I'm very grateful that 24 years ago when
I decided to plant roots in Andersonville, we found a
naturally occurring, affordable housing, and we didn't have
a lease. It was very low, it was low.
because,
because my landlord,
Because my landlord believed in long-term.
Run.
Renters, because he knows that's how you build a fabric of
the community. And that's one of the reasons why people
love living in the 48th Ward is because of the diversity of
people have been there for a long time because they can
afford it, it's not. So right now, there are too many, he
conversions happening, and large numbers of people, are
going to literally be on the street. So what I wanted to
know is if it's so thank you for adding a Sorrowing there,
because we want to prevent homelessness as as and also
talked about what it looks like for what it looks like for
permanent housing unit. And I wanted to know if the instant
if you could describe to me and that firm, if for instance
the pilot program that's going up in the 40th Ward at the
hotel in Alderman Vasquez is Ward is similar or something
to do with your vision of having permanent housing.
With.
with my
With wraparound Services provided is that something that's
that's similar to what you're thinking.
I'll take a stab at it all the woman, so the program that's
going up in the 40th, Ward is stabilization housing. So it
is short-term and I'm not sure all the details cuz this is
cdph, so bear with me, but it's sort of life. For people
who are medically vulnerable that are not ready to go into
shelter or into housing. And so, it could be people who
have had surgical needs it, right? And they need a place
where they can get medical assistant, people who have
alcohol addiction, or drug addiction. And so they need a
little bit more medical supervision before they go into a
shelter or housing. And so, it's more like stabilization
because people have to have their active daily living
skills, in order to go into shelters or inside housing in.
So, it's kind of like that in-between place to get. You
ready for your next step. It's part of the ARP dollars that
we received in a similar to
We're taking at DSS, unused hotels, and motels and using
them for shelter space. And I think it'll have like 40 to
60 beds. It took the difference between pilot and what
you're talkin about here is this is permanent, this isn't
exactly and then for the three bucket that you have,
Pretty.
Previous to that.
Previous to that without telling my Capital funding, the
new construction, all of those three elements would would
involve wraparound Support Services like job, training,
Adult Services, health care, and on and on that's correct.
Thank you though if I could just add one thing about the
40th, Ward development, that's a great step toward
non-congress shelters, but Mr. That is so shelter. That's
not permanent housing that that shelter will not have like
a kitchen and every unit for instance, it's it's not really
out the housing unit.
Got it. Thank you. And then lastly I just wanted to express
my gratitude for the community that created this program
and for the city that is listening to the community and the
Commissioners who work together to have a commitment to
make this a reality. Thank you.
Thank.
Thank you and the person who just want to clarify a few
first members of the committee and then we going to go to
the new members. So we have the members are the men Market
or do women lie as well so that that you find it on the
list.
How do?
Aluminum.
I'm
I thank you, mr. Chairman, my questions are not organized
in any kind of, I just have a lot of different questions.
So I want to stay on. I want to go back to the funds, will
primarily be spent on slide and
That the one.
That the one that has tenant-based rental subsidies and
wanted it says, new construction of affordable permanent
housing units. I guess, my first question is, does this
include for sale units?
Hi older woman from our perspective at the Department of
Housing. As, you know, we certainly work on for sale
homeownership opportunities. Affordable homeownership
opportunities are the emphasis with this proposal is not on
home ownership, but on, I would say in a different part of
the spectrum of affordable housing needs and so in this
part of the spectrum, we're working on getting people into
housing birthday can sign a lease get Services if they need
them and be able to pay an affordable, rent would include
then use of perhaps. I have a lot of vacant commercial
space on some of my commercial quarters, which could be
good.
Makes you so.
Mixed-use opportunity. So you can have commercial on the
first floor and then
turn.
Tenant based rental subsidies above, is this something that
is part of this proposal? That's absolutely part of how
this could play out. We also have a lot of interest, just
in general, we know, even pre covid that we had a lot more
first floor commercial than is needed in a world of online
shopping and things of that nature. So, what there's a lot
of interest in, for, in conversions to first floor
residential in general. And certainly, that could be part
of this, okay. Thank you.
This focuses on Commercial and Residential Properties,
right? So how are you all thinking about properties? That
maybe commercial are you don't like in the office Market
where there's vacancies and buildings and foreclosures? Are
you giving any thought to how they would be impacted by
this ordinance?
We have all the woman, we have talked to several commercial
industry groups and and we do understand the moment that
were in. We do also see that Chicago demonstrates promising
signs of economic recovery. And we also took a look at a
study that was done in San Francisco. When they instituted
this their own attack, similar text their office of
economic analysis, took a look and said that over 20 years,
the impact on the private sector employment in the city,
based on this, at most result in a loss of 2270, jobs are
about 20, 1% of the current private sector. So, what we
found in looking at a, at a city that has already
instituted, this was that the effects in that, in that
instance was quite negligible
Can.
Can you give me some through the chairs, some information
on that, that would be helpful. I just would like to see
that certainly is it possible to get? I know I see that you
won't want to raise 160 million. So I want to understand
how you got to 160 million and you know, there was some
discussion about a flat versus the marginal approach what
that might look like in terms of what could be raised if
you could just
Take.
Taking it a million-dollar property and just make some
assumptions on what the rate would be so that we could see
what a million dollars would raise at this rate and what a
million dollars with raised at a flat rate and a marginal
rate. And then I'd be interested to see the impact of
additional real estate transfer tax for example, from the
state and from the county laid on to that just so I could
get a sense of an example of what this looks like.
Certain.
Certainly, I could walk you through an example that we
worked out on a Princeton 21.2 million dollar property, if
that would be helpful. And I think I heard that, but I want
to see the impact that was that the one where you said, if
it was a million, if it was 800,000, what the tax would be,
okay, if you'd like that. But okay, so on a, on a 1.2
million dollar sale today, the buyer would pay the, or the
current rate would be $9,000 in the current transfer tax.
If a mark.
if a marginal rate fell and were
In.
it's
instituted at the levels that is contemplated under this
proposal, it would go from 9000 to 12800. And again, that
would only be on that 200,000 that's about 1 million.
And you.
And you don't have the city and county rates. I mean, is
not the state and County rates, those would not change. So
those would stay flat as they are today. I'm just trying to
understand what it is. That total you're you're looking for
the total of the entire thing. Yes.
I can go.
I can get that to the chair. I don't know. Okay? Then
Do you?
Do you have any kind of analysis of how many properties in
the $1000000 threshold are in our Wards? You have a map?
We don't have a map of that today, but we could work on
that and get that to you through the chair. Alright, thank
you.
And this is for, let me tell you another issue. I have, you
know, a lot of the homeless people that I see in my
community that are just standing outside and hang around,
they need mental health facility. They need mental health
services and they need access to substance abuse treatment.
but,
But I don't think that they want to be tied first to
housing. I think you're the focus should be on helping
people. Some people want housing. First some people want
mental health treatment and substance abuse first but the
way it's written here. It says
Can.
Case management, which connects house to services,
including mental health, looks like you have to be
connected and I would hope that in this program you don't
necessarily have to be connected to housing first in order
to access the services that you really need.
I would.
I would say all the women that nothing is off the table for
the proposal, and I think those are still details, that
need to be worked through as we continue to bring a
proposal for work.
There's a point of information about Illuminati.
Point of clarification and I'm going to cuz I think that's
a really good point that Sherwin brings up. Maybe can
assure, can I say you could speak to I know you're not
cdph, you can't speak to listen to. We have services
available for people that are not seeking housing yet. You
mean currently currently currently? Yeah, so we work
closely with cdph to support when we go out especially to
encampments and dealing with unsheltered, homeless
individuals, with the health and medical and the mental
health care that they need. So we work with threshold and
Haymarket really specifically to make sure because
sometimes individuals need a different level of acute care
and I think that's really important and that's why you see
that stabilization housing that they put forward and I
think those are ways that we're trying to think differently
about how do we approach homelessness and meet people where
they are.
Instead of I think everyone deserves a choice and I think
sometimes people just need space and room, the low-barrier
shelter model. I think when I remember when we first opened
it people slept for days because they had been so tired for
living on the street and so the be able to be peaceful and
then think about okay what do I want to do next? I think
those are those models in those immediate interventions
that we can offer for those who are not ready to jump
straight to housing?
I know.
I know why my colleague bring that up and I hear you, but I
think that we need to have those Services more at the local
level on the ground immediately when people are ready to
connect. And sometimes we don't have that.
Thank.
Thank you, mister chair. I think those are the questions
that I have on this proposal right now.
Thank.
Thank you, Jordan. I would have all the person play.
I have my.
I have my mic work. Okay, good afternoon, all just wanted
to say thank you again for hosting this. I am extremely
proud to be representing the 46th Ward, which has Uptown
Lakeview Buena Park, Housing it. So this is very near and
dear to my heart because I have a mixture of homes. I have
single family homes above Amelia and I also have a very
large robust and can't me of neighbors who are houses and
have been asking for Supportive Services for a very long
time. So I think that the have this conversation and really
open the door of possibilities is amazing right now, one of
my clarifying questions was just, how will we, how do we
account for the fluctuation by here? Because if, you know,
we don't, we don't have a base level that we're working
with right now, how we account for that as well.
Thank you.
Thank you for.
Thank you for the question alderwoman. What else says,
unfortunately we have a lot of experience with volatile
funding sources because again, as a country we don't fun
things sufficiently. And so we kind of have to do it in
these sort of tagged along ways that often tied to a
cyclical market and and volatile markets. So, the way that
were contemplating a dressing that here would be, that we
would take an a conservative figure and tie that as our
base amount. And so anything, that is going to require a
year after year dollars like Supportive Services that
people are just going to continue to need. That's what go
that's what state out of the base amount when we have years
that are boomers and you far exceed That Base amount, those
funds can be used for one-time, things like acquiring the
property or replenishing the SRO preservation loan fund or
things like that. That are not a year after
Lyrics.
lyrics to
Your expense, but you you can save up and then and then do
some big things with him. Thank you for the clarity. I just
wanted to say thank you again for all of our speakers who
share their personal testimonies up here. I don't think
people really understand how hard that is to share your
truth. So, I just wanted to say thank you. Wrap my arms
around you virtually and in person because we're going to
bring Chicago home. Thank you.
at the,
I think.
I think you so much chair person. Why I want to thank
everyone that came here today was really inspiring and
Powerful to see this chamber packed both the gallery behind
us and the Galleria Bubba's was packed full of people who
took time off of work, they're not paid lobbyists. They're
not getting paid by big corporate commercial interests.
They are here taking time off work because they care deeply
about their neighbors. I want to give you all a big round
of applause. All of you that took time to be here. It took
people power to get us hear the prior Administration block
this hearing from happening people with a lot of Deep
Pockets people who are richer than they ever have been
before in the history of the world. Cuz we got understand
that the pandemic did not impact everyone on the same, the
poor got poor, but the rich got richer, okay? So people who
have some of the deepest Pockets that they've ever had ever
before work, to put their thumb on the scale, through their
Lobby.
Do the wreath.
Do the resource?
Do the resources to try and prevent this conversation from
even happening.
Think.
Think about that, didn't even want this conversation to
happen.
and I,
and now, they want to prevent the voters and the people,
the city of Chicago decided,
What?
Whether or not we want to proceed in this route, they don't
even want the council to let the voters decide. I think
that's shameful. I think that is wrong, but I want them to
understand. This issue was decided in April, when the
voters elected mayor, Brandon Johnson, who committed, the
bring Chicago home,
So this is no longer a question of if this will happen, if
how it will happen. And I think what this hearing shows is
that this Administration is committed to doing this in a
way that is collaborative. And that is smart, because we
want to get this right for the people of the city of
Chicago. So I really want to commend the people in the Box
for all of the knowledge that you all have for all of the
work that you have done behind the scenes for so long to
just get us to this point. But I also want a particular
command, commissioner, Marissa Navarro, because this is her
final hearing here in this chamber. So please give her a
big round of applause.
You have done such an amazing job over the past four years.
First of all, standing up the Department of Housing. But
second of all making sure that the city was doing what we
could with the resources that we had and past
administrations of come in and they
We said, okay, this is the pie. Let's cut it up this way
right now, this is the same pie, let's cut it up this
different way. When I think you did a really good job being
out how to do, you know, allocate those funds but to I
think was becoming increasingly clear, is that we need
more, we need more funds in my community. We have benefited
from programs from GFS and the Department of Housing. The
rapid rehousing initiatives, the encampment Outreach
initiatives. We have been able to build relationships with
people that are living in the street living in tents and
through work through Outreach. We have been able to get
them on a path to permanent housing, but the biggest
challenge, we have consistently face in that work. Is if
there's just simply not enough resources to House people as
quickly as we need them to be housed. And that is why this
issue is so important. I really love that this will be a
dedicated local source of funding because it real
Allows.
Allowed.
allows us to have the flexibility to think creatively and
do better. What we already know we're doing really well, so
I'm so excited that we got to this moment. I know that
there's a lot more work that needs to be done and I really
look forward to working collaboratively with all of the
colleagues on the city council with this committee with the
Department's, with the Grassroots Coalition. That's gotten
us. This far, it is well past time that we bring Chicago
home, this is what the
The city should.
Call the City of Chicago voted for and they're ready to vote
for it again. They're ready to vote for it again because
they know that we're city of big shoulders. They know that
we are one of the wealthiest cities on the planet and we
have the ability to raise revenue to house our neighbors,
to help returning citizens to help the people that are need
of a dignified home.
Peep.
People deserve a dignified home housing is a human, right?
And I so look forward to raising this revenue and putting
those dollars to work so that our seniors can age in place.
So that children can have a warm safe place to do their
homework, to celebrate their birthdays. So that families
can be home so that we can bring Chicago home. Thank you so
much. Thank you, thank you. I'm working.
Thanks very much are Echo, the sentiments of others. When I
thank you for holding this hearing that is well over four
years overdue and I like I want to step back. I just
started my second term on Council and I remember
campaigning for the first time in 2017 and 2018 and talking
with many of the Coalition members who are in this box.
We're here behind a still here behind us in day at that
time. Underscored the fact that we know, we knew, then we
know. Now, what works, to support our homeless neighbors,
and a point,
To what other piercing.
To what other pure cities were doing Houston. For example,
which is just a little bit smaller in population, are
fourth, most populous city. And that, when they adopted the
housing first approach, that we have been talking about
today, they were able to help 25,000 of their neighbors of
their residents, find a Home of Their Own. And so, when I
think back to 2018, 2019, 20, 20, 20, 21, 22, 23 all the
way to today. I have seen throughout that time, a coalition
that has consistently done. The work, who is emailing phone
of a phone call, I'm coming to people's offices. Inviting
people to two meetings in the community coming to City Hall
and I just think that that's something that needs to be
underscored the amount of time and effort that it takes to
provide all of these two terrific tutorials that are not
the first
Stop.
Stuck.
Stacking up.
Stacking up the third iteration of what's going on. I'm too
to make this happen. But to really acknowledge the fact
that we have not done our job as city leaders that we have
laughed through an action tens, if not hundreds of millions
of dollars on the table, and that as a result, our
neighbors have suffered. We have residents constituents
friends, family members, who come to our offices, in our
electric.
Who.
Who you say? I am. I I am for example, in our office hearing
all too often neighbors to say, I'm the victim of domestic
violence. I need somewhere to go. I need somewhere to go
today and to work with are our colleagues in our
departments to make that happen. But to know that it it's
too often takes too long and there's so many people who
don't even come to our offices who need that help who will
will be helped when we get this done. And I think it's also
important to know that as was discussed earlier. These sure
are. We haven't done enough, but we've done more. We've
been doing more with permanent Supportive Housing. We've
been doing more with how you do, has a shin diversion
housing, but it's not enough and we can't even afford what
we're doing today, which isn't enough, cuz he's our
one-time federal dollars that are going away. So it's not
just morally the right thing to do, but like physical needs
to respond.
Open.
Cool things to do.
Cool things to do to have these conversations, to figure
out how we're going to make sure that our city doesn't fall
over a cliff at a time. When so many analysts are telling
us it in the coming years. Homelessness is going to get
worse, not better. Unless and until we get off the
sidelines. And that's what I I see and hear us finally
being prepared to do, as city leaders, but as we know,
holding a hearing isn't enough. Even passing something this
fall to get it. On a referendum is enough. This is a
multi-month multi-year effort.
in in,
An end. I just want to end by asking our colleagues in the
box. It may be starting with u Commission of RS to explain
with a little bit more detail. How important is to have
flexibility here? Because I think a lot of times we have
questions in debates and city council around, all these
different pots of money that we have access to, but as you
alluded to on several occasions, will this comes with
strings attached. This comes with strings attached in it.
So complicated, if not impossible to Cabo all of that
together, to do the sorts of things that were wanting to do
with, with this additional funding, from an increased
transfer tax. If you can share a little bit more about how
how this flexibility is needed, and how the proposal here
Papa cheap that
Search.
Serta.
Certainly. Thank you Alderman. One, big one that I'll speak
to I already talked about the fact that our cash is
constrained and you never, really want to combine Princeton
cdbg and Home in one development because they have
different reporting requirements and it's a nightmare. So
if you are low on one and don't have enough but you don't
have enough to pull from the other that causes a problem.
The other thing we know is that one of the ways that we
fill gaps in making affordable housing happen is with Tiff
and Tiff is highly inequitable. It is in equitably
dispersed and
Dollars that?
dollars that it generates are
Dollars that it generates are are themselves, inequitable,
right? And and so that becomes cumbersome as well. The
other thing, I'll point to the commissioner kanazi spoke
about on her slides was that HUD itself has its own
definition of homelessness. We have a real interest in
moving outside of that strict definition because it does
not currently allow us to count people who are living
doubled up as homeless. It doesn't allow us, someone's
leaving, jail or prison, and are. And we already know they
don't have a stable home to go to. We can't intervene at
that moment and say great lip. Let's make sure you don't
have to become homeless before we can match you with a home
either things that are hard to do Under the, you know,
technical definition of homelessness. And so if we have
different dollars that we can use in a very different way,
that is only to the benefit of Chicagoans.
I'm sure that's.
I'm sure that's all I have is I just want to end by again
commending, the people behind us, both were still here who
came who are are making this proposal a reality. We have in
all of our Wards, hundreds in, and of course, thousands of
residents in the aggregate, whose lives will be made so
much better because of the work that this Coalition has
done. And I just I just want to say
Make them.
Make them on behalf of a real.
Make them on behalf of a really grateful community and
we're going to get this done. Thank you, thank you.
Thank.
Thank you, chairman and thank you everybody in the Box to
presented today. I think there's not a doubt in anybody's
mind that there is a huge problem that we need to address.
And I think it's long overdue to take some real action. So
I appreciate all of the work that you all have put into
this. I have a couple of questions. The slide that said
this would The Proposal with impact 4.3% of sales.
If?
If you.
If you don't have it, now, it's fine through the chair, but
I'd love to see and just a follow-up on white Alder.
Mandela was asking a breakdown of the different types of
properties. That would be, that would fall into that 4.3%
in particular. I have a concern about the number of
affordable units that are already included in that cuz we
talked about earlier two and four flats are naturally
occurring, affordable, housing, units. And I know that in
my word at least there's there's, there's quite a few
multi-unit buildings that exist today. That would probably
fall in this category. I am very encouraged though to hear
that you're considering that you're that. We're open till
10 versation about a marginal tax as well. I just wanted to
go on the record with these are some of the concerns that I
have. I want to make sure that we're not that we're not
inadvertently causing
Reduction in natural.
Reduction in naturally occurring, affordable housing with
this transfer tax, the way its proposed today or whatever,
the proposals going to be. I want to make sure that we're
taking into consideration different types of housing in
this. Did someone want to respond?
Are you?
I just wanted to clarify that the slide is from a
presentation for from the Coalition. And so the breakdown
that we would have would be from City numbers and would not
necessarily being a necessarily connected to this slide.
So, wanted to give Mary an opportunity to talk about this
like a specifically. Thank you.
We do have information which will share through the chair.
Yeah, great. We will get you that information from the
chair is just fine. I think the devil's in the details and
I welcome the opportunity. I'm so glad we're having this
conversation today. It seems to me that there is a lot of
room for discussion and that everybody's open to making
sure that we're building this in a holistic way in the mail
for my part. I would love to just make sure we're thinking
about the blind spots around covering all of those before
we move forward with anything and this might be more for
commissioner kanazi or commissioner Navarro. How does
today's current my current situation? Factored into the
current proposal? We got a
You know that that's a Big Y.
You know, that that's a big wild heart and all of this, I
think that goes back to the details of the plan are still
being worked out and nothing's off the table. I think when
you look at the numbers of new arrivals that we have over
$5,400 at our in shelters in close to 9:50 and police
stations, I think, you know, some of those people may
become literally homeless and so we have to make sure that
we're Factory them in in Windward, working on the details.
But that's one of the things that's considered but no final
decisions have been made yet. Thank you. And again, I am so
glad to be part of the conversation. I'm not a member of
this committee, but Count Me. In, if there's a working
group and I want to also share that homelessness in the end
house is not an issue. That is only facing black and brown
communities, like, drove down my block this morning. And
there were about five homeless people in the park down the
street, just a half a block from my front door. They were
Asian or Caucasian.
Are African.
Are African-American in. This is, I think Walter said it
earlier, you know, it is an issue that you can't look away
from.
and we,
And we can set, we cannot turn a blind eye to it. So I want
to offer my assistance in in my involvement in helping to
make to make this plan comes together so that we can really
take a bite out of homelessness and really make a
permanent, a permanent dent in this and do away with it.
Ultimately, that's going to take time and I think we all. I
think we all know that taking enough time for everybody to
get here, but it's progress. So I'm encouraged by that
night again. Thank you everybody for the time today in love
to continue to be part of the conversation. We going to
come around 2 before we close with a Manhattan. Altima be a
cat's got a quick around 2. If you want to thank you, mr.
Chairman. Be real quick. And in this is centered around the
construction portion. So I wanted to see what from
commissioner Navarro.
Construction. Begin.
Construction begins on the projects. What are we looking
at? It relates to union workers on these projects.
I'll
Alderman, the same any of the same expectations that apply
would apply here. So when we do a low income housing tax
credit development, for instance, there's n b e l w, b e,
there's prevailing wage their City residency requirements
of their Federal money.
You have a?
you have all of the same things, what applies, just
additional funds that would leverage that
What?
Will be will be utilizing Union construction workers for
these projects.
Again, anything that currently requires that that would
remain. Thank you for the Xbox One to your serving number
one day, we talked. I think the trim and I brought up the
issue of affordable for sale units and naturally not as a
naturally occurring affordable units. Your position is that
this would not support affordable for sale product.
Some.
Some chairman, I think it's it's important to remember that
you have the entire spectrum of affordable housing that the
city focuses on does include affordable homeownership. This
proposal is for one segment and that is for people that are
experiencing homelessness or at or are at risk of doing.
So, so within the entire realm, of what the Department of
Housing, and what the study does, we absolutely do
affordable homeownership. This proposal is just one
component of that whole Spectrum.
What?
What the f***?
With the funding that we come about in this conversation,
you say would not support affordable for sale products.
As is contemplated today. It is focused on people for whom
they're likely looking at needing a very low. Rent, not not
being in a position to contemplate home ownership.
Maywood.
May we were speaking on housing, as a as a whole. I do
understand and warned us to work towards eliminating
homelessness. But I think though we've got to look at this
problem. Holistically and wow. Again and I I have several,
I'll probably probably have more homeless. There is my ward
than anybody in the city, but at the same time, we also
want to create opportunities for individuals who once were
homeless, you have an opportunity to purchase a home or
should their situation improved and change. I don't think
anybody with some people who desire to rent forever. But
again, I know that there's some people that want to own
their own home and they want to have that support and why
we couldn't include home. Ownership is part of this
conversation is is I'm a little concerned about cancer to
buy.
Driving.
So I think we are continuing to talk about what the final
proposal will be, were listening to all of the stakeholders
working collaboratively with the community and the
Coalition that's here. But outside of bring Chicago home,
we do have a comprehensive housing strategy that hits on
affordable housing at different levels. And I think what
the commissioner saying is that we're talking about
specifically bring Chicago home. So the answer is twofold
one. We're listening to all of the proposals, but the other
is that we do have a comprehensive strategy that may speak
more specifically to what you're proposing.
so,
Is related to.
I guess.
I guess I'll get this through to the sponsors and any other
portion of it, but I definitely think that we got to look
holistically around this issue. Not only a bomb, just the
housing component of it, but the support of housing, would
you prove mental health in other educational opportunities
are not out of? Just don't want to pigeonhole us into one
particular point or around this issue and secondly what
another point of concern and I think there needs to be some
development or some or Mentor type issues, has the lack of
African American organizations that the direct
beneficiaries of this. Now, there's a lot of folks that is
being serviced, but again, we start getting the upper
echelons of these organizations. We don't see those that
are being served.
That.
That are actually doing their part of the decision-making
tree. So I'm hopeful that this this is expanding beyond
what I would consider to be somewhat narrow, but I think
that we have to, you know, open up to other opportunities
because, again, we want to address homelessness, but we
also want to give people a path to self sufficiency in a
long time and also look at ways that they too can not find
ourselves back into the situation. And I definitely believe
home ownership has is part of that are that conversation?
We want to have affordable places all for everyone in the
Continuum of housing. Rental is 11.4 ability. Is another
Point even on a ship than two or three flight unit. So they
can pass them to the law to their family and their family
members and create a sustainable path. So again that would
be my point is relatia this and hopefully got into it
further conversations are in the UN working group or a lot
more like that.
When?
When we, you know, move this forward pass and then enable
that there's a much broader conversation around housing
specifically because we do want to help people live
sustainable Ridge. Lodge. Thank you.
Thank.
Thank you, German.
thank you German and now
Do you want to see what the other universes are coming,
right?
One thing I would just at your point is taken chairman. And
one thing I would add is that this body past I believe last
month's a measure to do a substantial increase to provide
purchase, price assistance for affordable homeownership.
Those are those are conversations that, you know, we are
advancing take your point. And and I do know that the
administration, you know is is bringing forth a broader
proposal, a in, which bring Chicago home is one component.
But there it there are many more parts to cover and
certainly look forward to talking to you further about
that.
They?
Thank.
Thank you and I made you sad that the issue of ownership
and generational wealth is included in the transition plan,
as one of the six mango. So this is one of the six
components of pillars of the new housing approach. So
definitely part of the evening numbers for November 6th in
the gold. So definitely going to be included as part of the
housing framework to close the sponsor of the bill and
thank you for your efforts and Leadership other person
might. Thank you, sir. I'll keep, my closing comments
brief. I really appreciated all the discussion and the
questions I want to thank our coalition.
Numbers for sharing your stories and your work. I want to
thank our commissioners and our policy director for being
here alongside. So I know I came over in like, you know,
took photos of you guys, so they're going to be like all
over Instagram to mark this moment.
That.
That's just the one visible portion of what's been already
months of work under this Administration what's been years
of work? Right and I am hopeful chair and with our
colleagues I'm glad to hear so many people who feel like
this is something that they are open to listening to. I'm
sorry that it's taken multiple multiple years and honestly
for people to have more suffering in order for people some
of the members of this body and I think for constituents in
people that we listen to to to feel the pain people who
aren't experiencing homelessness but now it's more visible
to them. Right there, they're seeing more of their
neighbors. They've got maybe family members who are
experiencing homelessness and we know and you guys know
because you've been were
Turn on this.
Turn on this for years, this is continuing to get worse.
Some colleagues who brought up the, the migrant relief
efforts that we're doing. This is a new reality every year.
We're facing new challenges, and we're here because our
city has an adopted more here because 6% of the population,
right? Want to control what we're doing, on our revenue and
they want to bring up Scare Tactics about how some how this
is going to end construction. Like, this is going to kill
jobs, it's not going to do that. As a matter of fact, we're
putting so much public money into into construction into
development. This is going to be another source of Revenue
to continue that. So, I'm, I'm hopeful for the
conversation, we're going to have all these next couple of
months. We're going to get this done and and when we get it
done, just for reminding people, kind of the timeline, we
still have a lot of work to do. I think?
NBA.
NBA game.
Biggest mansion that right? So we can get a get a
resolution introduced to you all. We are going to continue
to have these conversations were going to have something
for Council to vote on this fall. And then we're going to
put it to the voters. And after the voters approve it then
it has to come back to council still. We're going to have
to work on the ordinance. So I don't worry, we'll have
plenty of time to talk about, bring Chicago home, but I
hope that we can keep the urgency going to make sure that
we
Are not as a.
Are not as a German, Martin mention, leaving money on the
table. You guys know and Council. We hear from our
constituents. We see our communities. I think every single
member of this body works very hard to meet their
constituents needs and we know that we need Revenue, we
need funds to do that and it is disturbing and
discouraging. When we are derailed from our efforts, when
there are places where we can get Revenue because we come
back, we're going to be in budget discussion soon, and
we're going to be asking, where's the money coming from?
How are we going to fund this time? We want treatment, not
trauma. We want social workers on the street, we want
mental health responses. We want more funds for our youth
employment. We want all these programs and here we've got a
very clear solution that Community has brought to us on how
we can add that Revenue. So I'm very proud of the Coalition
proud to be a sponsor. I think you guys
I work.
Are working with.
are working with us and I look forward to Bringing Chicago
home. Thank you sir.
Thank.
Thank you. Thank you all day with my pattern. I want to
thank everybody who who have worked tirelessly on this,
really urgent matter. I want to thank you all for staying
all these llamas 3 hours that shows your commitment, you
care. I know that the the road has been long but despite
the disappointments
The bodies of the past. I think that you are, you all dad
because everybody should be proud of all the efforts that
have not been in vain. I want to think, of course, the
Commissioners, kanazi Navarro of all the, all the stuff in
the mayor's office. Because, of course of green, Chicago
home or the other piece on the staff and all the members of
the comedian for working on this as Mary Johnson says, the
table is white and long. Everybody is invited to
participate by we are when we are not going to do is to see
them watch as our neighbors are suffering. So this is a
call for all of our members and non-members, that would be
participating to make this a reality. I really want to
thank you all for all your efforts. This is a Calamity and
collaboratively and it is a democratic approach to
government. And I tell you that we're very proud of these
efforts, again, will continue to work with all the other
kids, all the stakeholders everybody, so that we can get it
to a point.
When?
when we re,
When we reach a bill that we can all be proud of, I know as
all the women had to mention, we have a resolution. We're
going to take it to the voters and we are going to come
back to put this as an ordinance. So there's still time
when I went four for the scare tactics, we are not going to
fall for the follicles politics of the past. This is a new
day. This is the first step of many. So thank you again,
for being here with us. There being no further business
before the committee, can I get a motion to recommend
approval of their children?
The Moon.
Come over. I'll do I'll do my hair all those in favor, say,
aye and opinion of the chair that I had that meeting of the
committee on housing, a real estate is adjourned. Thank you
all for coming, and let's keep working to get