CHICAGO, IL — Approximately 68,500 people experienced homelessness in Chicago back in 2021 according to Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. This is before asylum seekers arrived on Chicago’s doorstep. Chicago would be wise to brace itself for a meteoric increase taking Chicago’s Point-in-Time (P.I.T.) count as evidence. On January 25th, the City of Chicago did their annual P.I.T. Count, which is “the annual snapshot of the number of sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness on a single night in Chicago.”
In 2022, the P.I.T. was 3,875. In 2023, count was 6,139.
The people of Chicago are taking a step towards solving homelessness with the Bring Chicago Home ordinance. This initiative will be on the March 19, 2024 ballot.
In a nutshell, the law creates a one-time tax paid when any $1 million (or more) property is sold, which is about 5% of the total sales in the Chicago. Nearly 95% of properties sell for less than $1 million and there would be a decrease in taxes for these properties.
This one-time tax affects very few people, yet what could be gained is immeasurable. The new tax is estimated to generate at least $100 million every single year and be legally dedicated to programs that alleviate homelessness by providing permanent, affordable housing. It would provide wraparound services like counseling.
Regardless of where you are on the political divide, homelessness is a problem that grows worse every day. Recently, I have heard many people disparaging asylum seekers coming into our police district with the refrain, “Why don’t we take care of our homeless veterans? Why isn’t money going into our neighborhoods?!”
Well, here is an opportunity to do just that. There are many reasons why people find themselves on the streets. Often it is the result of a failed mental health system. Yet, how can we address dire health issues while people are homeless? Housing will restore dignity, promote mental health, and produce strong family bonds which will pay dividends for years to come.
The homeless will be able to participate in our economy, once they have domestic stability and wraparound services. Homelessness affects every working, poor and displaced person. As Chicagoans, we can take a step towards solving this problem locally and show the rest of the country that there is a way forward.
On March 29th, vote YES to “Bring Chicago Home!”
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