Illinois working to get additional homeless people into services

Posted on June 5, 2023
Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton said Illinoisans care for one another. (WJBC File Photo)

By Dave Dahl

PEORIA – The new state budget’s social service initiatives – to take on homelessness and food deserts – were the subject of the Pritzker administration’s visit to Peoria Monday.

In discussing the new “Home Illinois” program, Illinois’ new “homelessness czar,” Christine Haley, said, “Homelessness is a crisis of the collective will to address it. Policy failures lead to homelessness, but the good news is that with strong, equitable public policy, we can find a way out.

“Homelessness is a racial justice issue.”

The goal is “functional zero” homelessness, where the number getting to services is greater than the number of new homeless.

Gov. JB Pritzker also announced a “grocery initiative” to help cities set up food co-ops and help independent grocers open or expand in underserved areas.

Dave Dahl can be reached [email protected].

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