A new
wave of homelessness is about to swamp the U.S. No one is prepared. Most don’t even know it’s coming. The few who have answers are ignored. The Federal ban on rental evictions
and home foreclosures during the Coronavirus pandemic emergency
was allowed to expire on August 1 and attempts to get an extension
in Congress have run up against veracious Republican opposition—they
are all suddenly budget hawks again and Democratic timidity despite
the valiant efforts of formerly homeless Missouri Representative Cori
Bush and progressive star Senator Elizabeth Warren of Missouri.
Hundreds
of millions of emergency assistance to tenants, mortgagees,
landlords, and lenders which could save man remains unspent by
the states. Many Red states do
not want to use or release the money at all and most erect every barrier
to making it practically available.
Blue states like Illinois have our own problems—overwhelmed
bureaucracy and application processes so complex that they
leave applicants frustrated. And
now there is pressure in Congress by some including allegedly
moderate Democrats to claw back unspent assistance to fund the
supposedly bi-partisan compromise infrastructure bill.
While
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tries to resurrect relief in the House, the Center
for Disease Control ordered moratoriums to continue in counties
with high rates of infections and hospitalization due to surging
Delta variant infections. But
that is only temporary and still excludes much of the nation. Lawyers are already lining up to
challenge the ruling in Federal courts now packed with right
wing judges.
What
does it mean? Evictions and foreclosures can now proceed in most places. How long renters and homeowners have before
being put out on the street will vary widely by state and jurisdiction. Some can be put out by the end of the month. Many others will be homeless this fall
and winter.
Here
in Illinois, the state moratorium also expired on Sunday. Cases can be filed in court immediately, but
no judgements can be handed down until September 1. Governor J.B. Pritzker promises to double-down
efforts to distribute long delayed assistance and has pled for forbearance from
landlords and lenders. How many will
heed that plea is in question. My guess
is not many.
For
their part folks whose income was stopped or disrupted by
the pandemic cannot suddenly come up with months of back rent or mortgage
payments even if they have been able to return to work. Savings have been exhausted,
other creditors are demanding payment.
Many are low wage workers who housing security was already
shaky due to soaring rents, home prices, and taxes.
In
Chicago CBS Channel 2 News reported that 45 eviction notices were filed
on Sunday, and eight in suburban Cook County. No figures are yet available for the collar
counties including McHenry, but everyone expects the courts to be
swamped.
The
upshot is that thousands will be unhoused in coming weeks and months
including many families, the aged, and the disabled. Most will have never experienced
homelessness and will be unprepared for its brutal realities.
In
McHenry County social service and government agencies, charities,
and religious organizations have been working since July to offer comprehensive
services to the unhoused and those in jeopardy at Community
Empower Shower Events hosted by Willow Crystal Lake, 100 South
Main Street on the first and third Fridays of every month from
10 am to 2 pm including this Friday, August 6 and Friday,
August 20.
The
Empowerment Shower is a collaborative effort of many organizations and
agencies including Compassion for Campers, the Crystal Lake Food Bank, Consumer
Credit Counseling, Home of the Sparrow, Live 4 LALI, McHenry
County Housing Authority, Pioneer Center, Prairie State Legal
Services, Salvation Army, St. Vincent DePaul Society, Veterans
Path to Hope, Willow Crystal Lake, and Warp Corps.
Among
the many services that will be offered at no cost are:
Mobil showers
Laundry Facilities
Camping Supplies including Tent,
Stove, Sleeping Bags
Toiletries/Personal Care items
Clothing
Onsite Meal
Food
Haircuts
Transportation
Assistance obtaining IDs, birth
certificates, Social Security cards
Assistance with SSI/SSDI
(Disability)
Assistance with Medical coverage,
SNAP, TANF
Medical Access—Doctor care,
Covid-19 vaccine
Debt Management Services/Advocacy
Shelter and Housing Referrals and
Linkages
Domestic Violence support
Veteran’s Services
Substance Use/Harm Reduction Tools
and Support
Mental Health, Spiritual, and
Social Support Referrals
This
month information on obtaining bicycles and bike repair will be
added to the mix.
All
these services could be—and probably will—be swamped with the
new dispossessed in the near future.
All understand that the only true solution for homelessness is permeant
housing. But there is no real effort
to find, provide, or build that necessary housing locally
and a good deal of fearmongering by opponents of affordable housing
and victim blaming/shaming by ideologically ruthless so-called libertarians
and the MAGA enthralled.
Meanwhile
all service providers will need assistance to continue the palliative efforts.
Compassion
for Campers, the program that provides camping gear and equipment
to the McHenry County unhoused is one of those.
Contributions to support Compassion for Campers including building
reserves for emergency hotel rooms during cold and snow
emergencies this winter can be made by sending a check made
out to Tree of Life UU Congregation, 5603 Bull Valley Road, McHenry,
IL 60050 with Compassion for Campers on the memo line. The donations
are placed in a dedicated fund and not used for any other purpose. Tree of Life also donates all the administrative
expenses of the program so 100% of all donations go directly to
client assistance.
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