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Advocates tell Rock Island council ordinance violates state law; Project NOW says AG and DHS involvement imminent
Summary
Speakers from homeless‑service organizations and residents urged the council to revisit the city's homeless ordinance, saying state agencies have inquired and that Project NOW stands ready to partner; council members acknowledged the concerns and renewed calls for applications from service providers.
Several residents and homelessness advocates used the Jan. 13 public‑comment period to urge the Rock Island City Council to reconsider its homeless ordinance and to press for immediate sheltering options.
Dwight Ford told the council the city had “warning signs” and said state agencies were already scrutinizing the ordinance: "We have been informed ... the attorney general has picked this up and have made serious inquiry and there's correspondence forthcoming," he said during his remarks. Ron Lund, who identified himself as a governor‑appointed member of regional homelessness advisory councils, said the ordinance "is in violation with state statutes" and that notice from the Illinois attorney general and the Department of Human Services (DHS) was forthcoming; he urged the council to resend the ordinance and to work with providers to establish an emergency shelter.
Other commentators described local service efforts: Duane Womack, of Street Friends of the Quad Cities, described outreach and supply distribution to people living outside and urged a low‑barrier overflow shelter. Anne McGlynn, founder and executive director of Tapestry Farms, thanked the council for a listening process on a separate urban‑ag ordinance and encouraged similar engagement on homelessness issues, while another resident requested a pedestrian crosswalk study (a different agenda item).
Council members and the mayor responded that staff would accept applications from providers and reiterated that none had been received to date. Mayor Ashley Harris encouraged organizations to file formal applications to provide services; a council member noted Project NOW had stated it would not submit an application, calling the ordinance "illegal and morally not defendable."
The council did not vote on changes to the ordinance at the meeting; members signaled they would accept applications and continue discussion in future meetings. Several speakers suggested a regional approach and asked the city to coordinate with nearby municipalities and service providers.
