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South Suburbs shelter leaders tell Cook County board the region ‘cannot wait’ for more homelessness funding
Summary
Representatives of Bethel Family Resource Center and other public speakers urged Cook County commissioners to provide immediate funding and support for hotel placements, workforce development and modular housing to address rising homelessness in the South Suburbs.
Public testimony at the Cook County Board of Commissioners’ meeting centered on urgent pleas from shelter providers and community organizers for more resources to address homelessness in the South Suburbs.
Lawrence Blackville Jr., who identified himself as representing Bethel Family Resource Center, told the board that homelessness is increasing, that Bethel is currently the only in-person emergency shelter in the South Suburbs and that local organizations lack the funding needed to convert vacant hotels and tax-delinquent properties into housing. “The South Suburbs cannot wait any longer,” he said, describing plans for modular and affordable-home development coupled with workforce programs.
Robin Futrell, Bethel’s homeless-prevention and emergency-shelter coordinator, described recent hotel placements that began on Jan. 23 and the center’s job-readiness and financial-literacy programming. She said Bethel continues to place families and individuals into hotels and into shelter and called for expanded financial support to maintain and scale those services.
Commissioner remarks during the meeting echoed the need for continued investment. Chair Daley summarized additional board commitments on homelessness and food assistance funding that morning: $5,800,000 for homeless rental assistance, $10,000,000 for food-bank assistance and $3,400,000 for suburban homelessness programs.
Other public commentators linked homelessness to broader affordability concerns. Speakers noted the strain on local shelters, the importance of down-payment and closing-cost assistance to preserve affordability for new-home buyers, and the role of both public and private funds in sustaining development at scale.
The board did not take a separate floor vote on a homelessness-specific spending item during the meeting; those items were part of the consent calendar that moved as a group. Several commissioners pledged ongoing support and follow-up with community groups to explore options for targeted funding and partnerships.
The board adjourned following a voice vote approving the consent calendar.
