# Committee on Health and Human Relations meeting, September 24, 2025

- When: Wed, Sep 24, 2025, 10:00 AM (Chicago time)
- Where: City Council Chamber, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Scheduled & Published
- Committee: [Committee on Health and Human Relations](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/committee/health-and-human-relations)
- Video: https://vimeo.com/1121271700
- Transcript: [full text](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/transcripts/1121271700.txt) (13,146 words, automatic captions)

## Meeting notes

> AI-written from the transcript. Speakers are inferred from cues in the recording, so treat names as estimates and check the video at the linked time.

The Committee on Health and Human Relations heard public comment, approved its July 2025 Rule 45 report, and held a subject matter hearing on gender-based violence prevention services and programming requested by Alderperson Daniel La Spata. Survivors, advocates and service providers described rising domestic violence-related homicides and shootings, shelter shortages, the end of ARPA funding, and requests to expand the city's gender-based violence budget to about $40 million, including prevention and peer-to-peer programs. Members asked DFSS and panelists about prevention funding, police response and victim services specialist vacancies, the Can Hope family justice center, and the 2025 funding breakdown. The committee approved the hearing resolution and then approved a resolution introduced by Alderperson Lamont J. Robinson calling for a formal City Council apology to Black Chicagoans for the historical injustices of slavery. Several public commenters also urged action on a separate resolution condemning hospital cuts to gender-affirming care, which was not on the agenda.

Topics: gender-based violence, domestic violence services funding, prevention programs, peer-to-peer support models, family justice center, police response to survivors, slavery apology resolution, gender-affirming care, public comment

### Agenda items discussed

- [12:21](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/3671AB85-2784-F011-B4CB-001DD806D7E0?t=741) Public comment: discussed
- [29:38](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/3671AB85-2784-F011-B4CB-001DD806D7E0?t=1778) Approval of the July 2025 Rule 45 report: passed
- [30:09](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/3671AB85-2784-F011-B4CB-001DD806D7E0?t=1809) Resolution calling for hearings on the implementation of gender-based violence prevention services and programming in Chicago (R2025-0017551): passed
- [1:37:30](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/3671AB85-2784-F011-B4CB-001DD806D7E0?t=5850) Resolution calling for a formal apology from City Council to Black citizens of Chicago for historical injustices of slavery (R2025-0015728): passed

### Alderpersons who spoke

- [Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/33) (chair): Said gender-based violence is a major and underfunded problem that is likely to worsen as stress and scarcity on families increase, and that no one should be left behind. ([30:49](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/3671AB85-2784-F011-B4CB-001DD806D7E0?t=1849))
- [Daniel La Spata](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/1) (alderperson): Noted that five years earlier a similar hearing request was sent to Rules and members were told they could not discuss gender-based violence until after budget season. ([32:14](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/3671AB85-2784-F011-B4CB-001DD806D7E0?t=1934)); Said that while overall violence is down, domestic violence-related homicides are up 18% and fatal shootings of domestic violence victims are up 46%. ([33:19](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/3671AB85-2784-F011-B4CB-001DD806D7E0?t=1999)); Described a funding cliff at year's end as recovery-plan funding for rapid rehousing and the survivors fund ends. ([34:34](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/3671AB85-2784-F011-B4CB-001DD806D7E0?t=2074))
- [Bennett R. Lawson](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/44) (alderperson): Asked about the size of the prevention budget and whether it goes to community partners or city employees. ([1:14:43](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/3671AB85-2784-F011-B4CB-001DD806D7E0?t=4483)); Asked what happens when someone calls 911 or 311 about gender-based violence and whether police are trained on these issues. ([1:16:00](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/3671AB85-2784-F011-B4CB-001DD806D7E0?t=4560)); Asked whether victim services specialists are sworn or civilian positions and noted many appear unfilled. ([1:18:04](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/3671AB85-2784-F011-B4CB-001DD806D7E0?t=4684))
- [Matthew J. Martin](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/47) (alderperson): Highlighted permanent supportive housing and an upcoming development in his ward for families who have experienced domestic and gender-based violence. ([1:25:33](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/3671AB85-2784-F011-B4CB-001DD806D7E0?t=5133)); Asked panelists to describe the larger vision for the Can Hope family justice center, noting $5 million in city funds and a federal earmark. ([1:26:27](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/3671AB85-2784-F011-B4CB-001DD806D7E0?t=5187)); Asked DFSS how much the city allocated to gender-based violence in 2025 and what share is ARPA-funded. ([1:29:40](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/3671AB85-2784-F011-B4CB-001DD806D7E0?t=5380))
- [Lamont J. Robinson](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/4) (alderperson): Asked the committee to support a resolution calling on the city and state to issue a formal apology and take action to repair harms of slavery, segregation and institutional racism. ([1:37:54](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/3671AB85-2784-F011-B4CB-001DD806D7E0?t=5874)); Said decades of disinvestment and discrimination have led to continuing disparities in wealth, health, education and employment for Black Chicagoans. ([1:38:45](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/3671AB85-2784-F011-B4CB-001DD806D7E0?t=5925))
- [Maria E. Hadden](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/49) (alderperson): Supported the apology resolution, saying such acts are important because reconciliation and reparations require admitting harm and taking responsibility. ([1:39:54](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/3671AB85-2784-F011-B4CB-001DD806D7E0?t=5994))

### Exchanges between members

- [31:54](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/3671AB85-2784-F011-B4CB-001DD806D7E0?t=1914) The chair passed the floor to La Spata to open the hearing.
- [32:12](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/3671AB85-2784-F011-B4CB-001DD806D7E0?t=1932) La Spata thanked the chair and her staff for supporting the hearing.
- [1:24:13](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/3671AB85-2784-F011-B4CB-001DD806D7E0?t=5053) The chair thanked Lawson for his questions.
- [1:24:23](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/3671AB85-2784-F011-B4CB-001DD806D7E0?t=5063) The chair recognized Martin to ask questions.
- [1:24:27](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/3671AB85-2784-F011-B4CB-001DD806D7E0?t=5067) Martin thanked the chair for convening the hearing.
- [1:24:34](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/3671AB85-2784-F011-B4CB-001DD806D7E0?t=5074) Martin thanked La Spata for introducing the resolution.
- [1:32:52](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/3671AB85-2784-F011-B4CB-001DD806D7E0?t=5572) Martin again thanked La Spata for spearheading the conversation.
- [1:33:04](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/3671AB85-2784-F011-B4CB-001DD806D7E0?t=5584) La Spata thanked the vice chair upon being recognized.
- [1:39:54](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/3671AB85-2784-F011-B4CB-001DD806D7E0?t=5994) Hadden thanked Robinson for bringing the apology resolution forward and said she would support it.

## Documents

- [Notice](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/19e108a5-2784-f011-b4cb-001dd806d04e.pdf)
- [Summary](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/fd2832b9-3132-458d-a107-cf3f80a4acc2.pdf)
- [Agenda](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/3098f568-f323-446e-82c5-75485dc5ed9a.pdf)

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Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/3671AB85-2784-F011-B4CB-001DD806D7E0 · Chicago Politics, an independent, nonpartisan tracker of the Chicago City Council. Guide for agents: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/llms.txt