102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB5838

 

Introduced 11/16/2022, by Rep. Denyse Wang Stoneback

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
20 ILCS 1305/1-76 new
30 ILCS 105/5.990 new

    Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Transitional Shelter Village Pilot Program Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Department of Human Services shall establish and administer a transitional shelter village pilot program to provide transitional shelter and housing to individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness. Requires the Department to use funds appropriated for the pilot program to purchase materials to install a transitional shelter village in an area of the State with a high concentration of persons experiencing unsheltered homelessness. Requires the transitional shelter village to consist of no less than 55 climate-controlled prefabricated shelter units that are purchased from a public benefit corporation with a demonstrable commitment to end unsheltered homelessness. Requires each prefabricated shelter unit to be equipped with certain features. Provides that funds appropriated for the pilot program shall be used to cover the cost of purchasing, assembling, and installing the prefabricated shelter units. Requires the Department to also fund and provide continuous wraparound services aimed at helping residents of the shelter village transition out of homelessness. Requires appropriations made for the pilot program to be deposited into the Transitional Shelter Village Pilot Program Fund. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Transitional Shelter Village Pilot Program Fund. Effective immediately.


LRB102 29391 KTG 41383 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB5838LRB102 29391 KTG 41383 b

1    AN ACT concerning State government.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. This Act may be referred to as the Transitional
5Shelter Village Pilot Program Act.
 
6    Section 5. The Department of Human Services Act is amended
7by adding Section 1-76 as follows:
 
8    (20 ILCS 1305/1-76 new)
9    Sec. 1-76. Transitional Shelter Village Pilot Program.
10    (a) The General Assembly finds the following:
11        (1) Homelessness is a matter of life and death. The
12    scope of the homelessness crisis and the immediate need
13    for housing in Illinois is staggering.
14        (2) In 2020, at least 10,431 Illinoisans experienced
15    homelessness. When the number of people experiencing
16    doubled-up homelessness is combined with those who
17    requested services from the U.S. Department of Housing and
18    Urban Development over the course of 2020, the count is
19    over 65,000 people experiencing homelessness in Chicago
20    alone.
21        (3) According to Illinois State Board of Education
22    data, 47,455 school children were identified as

 

 

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1    experiencing homelessness in the 2019-2020 school year.
2        (4) Chronic homelessness has increased both in number
3    and percentage. The percentage of the homeless population
4    made up of chronically homeless rose from 9% in 2016 to 22%
5    in 2020.
6        (5) People experiencing homelessness include those
7    with substance use disorders, HIV/AIDS, serious mental
8    illness, veterans, and survivors of domestic violence.
9        (6) Black people are 8 times more likely to experience
10    homelessness than white people. Black Illinoisans make up
11    14% of the population of the State, but they make up 61% of
12    residents experiencing homelessness.
13        (7) Regions of the State with high concentrations of
14    disabled populations are considered at greater risk for
15    homelessness.
16        (8) People experiencing unsheltered homelessness may
17    become frequent utilizers of hospital emergency rooms.
18    Encampments, tents, cars, abandoned buildings, and park
19    benches, are unsafe, unhealthy, and undignified, and
20    unsheltered homelessness is especially dangerous during
21    cold weather, heat waves, and extreme weather conditions.
22        (9) Crisis housing, the foundational safety net for
23    persons in immediate need of shelter, includes overnight
24    emergency and domestic violence shelters, transitional
25    housing, recuperative care/medical respite, and recovery
26    homes.

 

 

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1        (10) During COVID-19, shelter capacity diminished
2    significantly, and many areas across Illinois lack any
3    fixed-site emergency shelters for people who are
4    experiencing homelessness. Prior to the pandemic, a
5    significant proportion of emergency shelter bed capacity
6    included rotating, congregate shelter. Non-congregate
7    shelter became necessary to protect highly vulnerable
8    people experiencing homelessness during the pandemic. The
9    rotating shelter model, which has never been adequate for
10    many reasons, no longer exists and building it back
11    requires significant investment.
12        (11) Emergency housing provided through converted
13    hotels, dorms, and schools and the construction of new
14    non-congregate emergency housing is not expected to
15    eliminate the need for other types of crisis housing.
16        (12) Crisis housing is a critical part of and the
17    gateway to the continuum of housing, including affordable
18    and permanent supportive housing. Illinois lacks
19    sufficient crisis housing to meet its needs, allowing many
20    people experiencing unsheltered homelessness to languish
21    for months and even years until other housing options
22    become available. There is an urgent need for effective,
23    safe, and dignified non-congregate crisis housing.
24        (13) A model of rapid-response transitional shelter
25    villages with case management has emerged. This model of
26    transitional housing can serve as a bridge from

 

 

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1    unsheltered homelessness to long-term housing. The faster
2    people are moved off the street, the sooner their path to
3    stability can begin.
4        (14) Residents of these transitional shelter villages
5    are connected to housing with wraparound social services
6    such as mental health care from a local service provider
7    and on-site amenities such as showers and laundry. With a
8    safe place to sleep, a supportive environment, access to
9    meals, hygiene facilities, and a case manager, residents
10    can focus on finding permanent housing and employment
11    opportunities.
12        (15) Transitional shelter villages combine the safety
13    of private units with the benefits of a communal
14    environment to offer residents security and pathway to
15    stability. Residents can lock their belongings in their
16    unit, access on-site social services, and be a part of a
17    community.
18        (16) At least 9 other states across the country have
19    successfully launched dozens of rapid-response
20    transitional shelter villages and have achieved successful
21    outcomes. Transitional shelter villages have been launched
22    in cold weather climates including Madison, Wisconsin and
23    Boston, Massachusetts.
24        (17) This model is more cost-effective than any
25    institutional setting per person or unit, and can be built
26    at a fraction of the cost of traditional homeless

 

 

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1    shelters, which can take years to build. Prefabricated
2    shelters can be quickly installed and are proven to help
3    people transition into permanent housing.
4        (18) It is therefore incumbent upon the State to
5    explore this model to help meet crisis housing and
6    emergency shelter needs by launching a pilot program to
7    establish a transitional shelter village. This temporary
8    transitional shelter housing opportunity will support the
9    crisis housing and health needs of people currently
10    experiencing unsheltered homelessness.
11    (b) Subject to appropriation, the Department shall
12establish and administer a transitional shelter village pilot
13program to provide transitional shelter and housing to
14Illinois residents experiencing unsheltered homelessness. The
15Department shall use funds appropriated to the pilot program
16to purchase materials to install a transitional shelter
17village in an area of the State with a high concentration of
18persons experiencing unsheltered homelessness. The
19transitional shelter village must consist of no less than 55
20climate-controlled prefabricated shelter units that are
21purchased from a public benefit corporation with a
22demonstrable commitment to end unsheltered homelessness. Each
23prefabricated shelter unit must be equipped with a
24wall-mounted heater, an air conditioner, electrical outlets, 2
25foldable bunk beds, and a lockable door. The transitional
26shelter village must also include community bathroom units, a

 

 

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1community laundry unit, and a communal unit for recreation and
2to access meals. Funds appropriated to the Department for the
3pilot program shall be used to cover the cost of purchasing,
4assembling, and installing the prefabricated shelter units.
5The Department shall also fund and provide continuous
6wraparound services under the pilot program that are aimed at
7helping residents of the shelter village transition out of
8homelessness. The Department shall provide these wraparound
9services in coordination with one or more social service
10providers or providers of case management services.
11    Any money appropriated to the transitional shelter village
12pilot program shall be deposited into the Transitional Shelter
13Village Pilot Program Fund, a special fund created in the
14State treasury. Money in the Fund shall be used by the
15Department for the Transitional Shelter Village Pilot Program
16and for no other purpose. All interest earned on money in the
17Fund shall be deposited into the Fund.
 
18    Section 10. The State Finance Act is amended by adding
19Section 5.990 as follows:
 
20    (30 ILCS 105/5.990 new)
21    Sec. 5.990. The Transitional Shelter Village Pilot Program
22Fund.
 
23    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
24becoming law.