USICH Director Attends HOME IL Bill Signing to Codify Governor’s Homelessness Orders
Last week, USICH Executive Director Jeff Olivet participated in the bill signing of HOME IL, which codifies the Illinois Interagency Task Force on Homelessness and the Community Advisory Council on Homelessness—both of which Governor J.B. Pritzker created by executive order.
“Governor Pritzker and the Illinois state legislature have prioritized helping people without a home,” said Director Olivet. “By codifying interagency efforts to reduce homelessness via the HOME IL bill, the state is setting a strong foundation for the future.”
“Every person deserves access to safe shelter and the dignity that comes with housing,” said Governor Pritzker. “This is a first-of-its-kind multi-agency cooperative effort—bringing together state agencies, nonprofit organizations, advocates, and people with lived experience to prevent and end homelessness. I'm grateful for their dedication and believe that together, we can prevent and end homelessness once and for all.”
The Interagency Task Force and Community Advisory Council work across 17 Illinois state departments and agencies and over 100 processes, programs, and policies to develop a comprehensive plan to combat homelessness. The goal of the plan is to prevent shelter entry and, where unavoidable, ensure that shelter stays are limited and lead to quick transitions into stable living situations. H.B. 2831 continues the important work of the Task Force and Council and ensures their mission is protected by state law.
Nationwide and in Illinois, homelessness disproportionately affects communities of color. Black Illinoisans make up 61% of the state's unhoused population despite comprising only 14% of the general population. Home IL focuses on an equity-based approach that includes the voices and contributions of individuals with lived experiences of homelessness.
The ceremony was also attended by Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton, State Representative Kam Buckner, and State Senator Robert Peters, among others.