HB5508 EngrossedLRB100 16781 LNS 31921 b

1    AN ACT concerning human rights.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Access
5to Affordable, Permanent, and Supportive Housing and Services
6Act.
 
7    Section 5. Housing services and supports.
8    (a) If a unit of local government determines that a person
9experiencing homelessness is living in a public space, the unit
10of local government may do all of the following:
11        (1) Provide an assessment of the housing and service
12    needs of the person. This assessment shall be administered
13    by a housing or homeless service provider receiving
14    federal, State, or local funds.
15        (2) Provide access to:
16            (A) either:
17                (i) permanent housing or permanent supportive
18            housing; or
19                (ii) affordable housing as defined under the
20            Illinois Affordable Housing Act; and
21            (B) appropriate supportive services including, but
22        not limited to:
23                (i) job training;

 

 

HB5508 Engrossed- 2 -LRB100 16781 LNS 31921 b

1                (ii) substance abuse counseling;
2                (iii) mental health programs;
3                (iv) transportation;
4                (v) child care; and
5                (vi) other services deemed necessary by a case
6            manager.
7    (b) Any person receiving assistance from a unit of local
8government in accordance with this Act shall have the right to
9request housing in a geographical area based on his or her ties
10to the community, access to services, access to ongoing
11employment, and access to public transportation.
12    (c) A unit of local government shall not require a person
13to vacate a public space unless adequate affordable housing,
14permanent housing, and supportive housing units are available
15within the unit of local government's geographic area and a
16permanent housing option is offered to that person.
17    (d) A person has the right to decline any housing
18assessment and services offered by a unit of local government
19in accordance with this Act.
20    (e) The Department of Human Services shall annually compile
21and distribute to each unit of local government a list of the
22homeless services and housing services available throughout
23Illinois.
24    (f) No unit of local government shall dispose of a person's
25personal belongings in any manner.
 

 

 

HB5508 Engrossed- 3 -LRB100 16781 LNS 31921 b

1    Section 10. Damages and attorney's fees. In any civil
2action alleging a violation of this Act, the plaintiff may
3request a trial by jury and the court may award appropriate
4injunctive and declaratory relief, actual damages, and
5reasonable attorney's fees and costs to a prevailing plaintiff.