LaPointe Joins Supportive Housing Providers Association in Fight to End Homelessness

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – With pandemic-era executive orders expiring, state Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, D-Chicago, is teaming up with the Supportive Housing Providers Association (SHPA) to pass legislation that will enshrine the state’s Interagency Task Force on Homelessness and Community Advisory Council on Homelessness, as well as create an Office to Prevent and End Homelessness.

LaPointe will join SHPA’s 2023 Legislative Reception on Tuesday, March 28 in Springfield to highlight the measure and encourage further action. LaPointe and leaders from SHPA will be available to the media to discuss the proposal, as well as the current state of homelessness in Illinois.

“As we begin to see pandemic-era executive orders from the governor expire, I see a need to ensure that we are supporting our most vulnerable by making certain actions permanent,” LaPointe said. “Ending homelessness and ensuring every neighbor has access to shelter and supportive services has long been possible in Illinois and around the country, but our collective political, economic and governmental will has not been focused enough. I appreciate the work of SHPA Executive Director David Esposito and other advocacy organizations that share our goal of doing all that we can to end homelessness here in Illinois. This measure would be a significant, needed step forward.”

“House Bill 2831 will build upon Governor Pritzker’s Executive Order creating the Interagency Task Force on Homelessness and reflecting the legislature’s commitment to addressing the big picture issues of homelessness, institutionalization and housing instability in Illinois,” SHPA Executive Director David Esposito said. “It is a great honor to support Governor Pritzker’s vision and to partner with Representative LaPointe as we transform Illinois’ response to homelessness.”

LaPointe’s House Bill 2831 builds on an executive order from Gov. J.B. Pritzker in Sept. 2021 that created – within the Department of Human Services (DHS) – the Illinois Interagency Task Force on Homelessness, as well as the Community Advisory Council on Homelessness. The “State Homelessness Chief” oversees these commissions.

The task force’s mission is to facilitate and implement initiatives related to decreasing homelessness and unnecessary institutionalization in the state, improve health and human services outcomes for people who experience homelessness and strengthen the safety nets that contribute to housing stability.

In partnership, the council is focused on making recommendations to the task force regarding homelessness and unnecessary institutionalization with the goal of achieving functional zero homelessness.

LaPointe’s bill would place these commissions in statute, ensuring they can continue their work now and moving forward. The measure also further outlines the responsibilities of the State Homelessness Chief Officer, who is tasked with serving as a policymaker on homelessness prevention – including coordinating the multi-agency effort through legislation, rules and budgets, as well as communicating with federal, state and local leaders on the topic.

House Bill 2831 passed the House Thursday with bipartisan support. For more information, please contact Info@RepLaPointe.com or Jeff Metzger at 224-806-0840 or j.metzger@shpa-il.org.