Pritzker's Comprehensive Plan: Ending Homelessness in Illinois
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has signed legislation aimed at ending homelessness in the state by bringing together multiple agencies to develop and implement a comprehensive plan. The initiative seeks to achieve "functional zero" homelessness, reducing it to something that is brief, rare, and nonrecurring. The bill codifies an executive order from 2021 and centralizes programs across 17 state departments and agencies. The state budget includes over $350 million for homeless services, including rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing units, and emergency shelter capital funds. The Chicago Coalition for the Homeless estimates that over 100,000 people in Illinois experienced homelessness in 2020.