April 19, 2024
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Will County Board panel looks to declare homelessness a public health emergency

A resolution would also call for the better collection of data

By Alex Ortiz
The Will County Board met Dec. 7, 2020 to elect its leadership and approve rules changes for the next two years.

A Will County Board committee is discussing a resolution declaring homelessness a public health emergency. It would also call for better data collection about the state of homelessness in the county.

The Will County Board’s Public Health & Safety Committee is considering a resolution to declare homelessness a public health emergency and to improve data collection on the issue.

The resolution calls for the board to “take additional steps to end homelessness” and “understand how to prevent people from becoming homeless in the first place.”

Committee Chair Rachel Ventura, D-Joliet, said while attending a national conference with other County Board members, she heard how local elected officials elsewhere had taken similar measures. She cited the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and opioid epidemic as key reasons why the county needs to address homelessness.

“We obviously are seeing that this is an issue here locally and that we need more beds,” Ventura said in an interview.

She added that the county has tried to address the issue in recent months. Despite the County Board’s efforts, it’s been difficult to make substantial progress.

Ventura pointed to the county’s attempt to buy the former YMCA Smith Family facility in Joliet to construct housing geared toward local veterans. The county also had planned to use the space for a food hub to sell fresh products and to host a training program.

The YMCA ultimately decided to sell the property to MorningStar Mission, which intends to use the facility as a childcare center.

The resolution also calls for better data collection on the state of homelessness in Will County. If approved, the board would request an annual report on the issue that will include “comprehensive, real-time data and suggestions for further county wide collaboration.”

In this effort, the county desires to have all health agencies, social service providers, faith-based organizations, community partners and other stakeholders to “be engaged to promote sustainable solutions.”

Ventura said while many agencies in the county work to help unhoused people, they may only specialize in working with certain populations, so a joint effort is needed to achieve significant progress.

“While we have some small reporting, we don’t really have a big picture (of the issue),” she said.