Agenda -and Minutes Pillar 2: Stabilize Home and Communities subcommittee, May 31, 2023

Illinois Commission on Poverty Elimination and Economic Security

Subcommittee: Stabilize Homes and Communities

Second Quarter Meeting

May 31, 2023

10:00am - 11:00am

Recording

Members:

Appointment Member Affiliation
Chair Senator Dale Fowler Illinois State Senator
Commission Member Mark Eichenlaub Regional Superintendent of Schools, St. Clair County Regional Office of Education #50
Commission Member Pastor Jason McKinnies Senior Pastor, Southern Illinois Worship Center
Commission Member Angela Curran President & CEO, Pillars Community Health
Commission Member Juan Calderon Chief Operating Officer, The Puerto Rican Cultural Center
Commission Member Senator Kimberly Lightford Illinois State Senator
IWGP Member Dir. Paula Basta Director, Department on Aging
IWGP Member Marc Staley Deputy Director, Illinois Governor's Office of Management and Budget
IWGP Member Amaal Tokars Assistant Director, Illinois Department of Public Health
IWGP Member Jason Horwitz Deputy Director for Policy Development Planning and Research, Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
IWGP Member Emily Mueller AD of Policy and Research
Public Member Elizabeth Vogt Senior Policy Advisor, IL Department of Aging
Public Member Emily Metz Director for Housing Stability and Inclusive Economy Lab, Chicago
Public Member Felicia Gray Associate Director, Division of Early Childhood, Illinois Department of Human Services
Public Member Christine Haley Statewide Homelessness Chief; Illinois Department of Human Services
Public Member Todd Fuller Statewide Housing and Employment First Coordinator
Public Member Hope Babowice Educator
Public Member Courtney Groves Illinois Education Association-Government-Relations Department
Public Member Diane Owino Southern Illinois University Edwardsville; Illinois Education Association; Michigan Madison County Board
Public Member Keesha Readus Communications Associate at Illinois Education Association

Administrator: Kari Branham, IDHS Special Projects Administrator

IDHS SMEs:

  1. Amanda Lake - Senior Policy Advisor, Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery
  2. Ryan Rollinson - Chief of Staff, Division of Mental Health
  3. Christopher Patterson - Assistant Secretary, Office of Firearm Violence Prevention
  4. LaTanya Law - Senior Policy Advisor, Office of Firearm Violence Prevention

Agenda:

  1. Introductions/Welcome Roll Call
  2. Public Comment - subject to written comment in advance
  3. Approval of Meeting Minutes: February 2, 2023
  4. Group Development of Specific Action Goals
  5. Next Steps and Adjournment

Meeting Minutes

Subcommittee Members in attendance:

  1. Dana Hooven - Legislative Assistant, representative of Senator Dale Fowler, subcommittee chairman
  2. Juan Manuel Calderon - Commission member
  3. Amaal Tokars - IWG member
  4. Emily Mueller - IWG member
  5. Jason Horwitz - IWG member
  6. Elizabeth Vogt - IWG member
  7. Hope Babowice - Public member
  8. Keesha Reedus - Public member

Administrator: Kari Branham, IDHS Special Projects Administrator

IDHS SMEs:

  1. Amanda Lake - Senior Policy Advisor, Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery
  2. Ryan Rollinson - Chief of Staff, Division of Mental Health
  3. Jonathan Hoyt - Office of Firearm Violence Prevention

Guest: Matthew Rodriguez - Equity Imperative, facilitator

  1. Introductions/Welcome Roll Call - Attendees introduced themselves thru chat by putting their names and their affiliate organizations; Kari informed everyone that Chair Fowler will not be able to join the meeting but is represented by Senator's Legislative Assistant and District Director, Dana Hooven.
  2. Public Comment - subject to written comment in advance, none received.
  3. Approval of Meeting Minutes: February 2, 2023 - postponed to the next meeting due to non-attainment of quorum
  4. Group Development of Specific Action Goals
    • Mr. Rodriguez gave a short background and purpose of the meeting which is to come up with 2-4 actionable goals that the subcommittee will be able to work on during FY24; he led and facilitated the development of action goals using the SMART goals framework
    • A working document was shared with everybody by Mr. Rodriguez and guided the members on filling it out in relation to the goals of Pillar 2
    • Dir. Tokars brought up the potential for gaining synergy off other related Commissions and Taskforces that are also working on housing
    • Mr. Rodriguez asked members to put their names on the goal that resonates with them or areas that they think they can make contributions on or work on.
    • Ms. Emily Mueller, Assistant Director of Policy and Research at IHDA informed the group that she will be taking the place of Liz Kersjes as a member of the subcommittee.
    • Member Jason Horwitz commented that both low- and middle-income families have a hard time getting affordable housing thru government support as well as private sector. Houses are not being built in areas where people are making enough money to afford housing. He said looking at the reasons behind these could be helpful and potentially allow for the development of more affordable housing at all levels.
    • Mr. Rodriguez supported the comment and added that looking at the barriers can help shape actionable goals for FY2025 and potentially launch legislative recommendations for FY25 to strike at the root of the issue.
    • IDHS SME Amanda Lake noted the lack of goals on addressing mental health and substance use needs as factors related to poverty or homelessness.
    • Mr. Rodriguez it was good to highlight the gap but it is okay to have goals that are not related to all three strategies under the pillar. The work of the subcommittee can focus on areas of expertise of the members and if there's a stronger emphasis on housing, if it's the work that the subcommittee wants to five into for FY24, then it is fine.
    • Ms. Lake shared the work of the Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery that is related to recovery housing and said that the group can advise her on where it fits within the scope of permanent, supportive housing.
    • Legislative Director Dana Hooven pointed out the need to look at the FY24 budget and see what funds have potentially been allocated to the goals of the subcommittee as well as discuss with the people who are well-versed on the budget. She also noted the need to look at other states' homelessness initiatives to get as many ideas together as possible.
    • Ms. Hooven also shared information on a community development initiative program from Senator Duckworth's office as well as a Youtube video of the program.
  5. Next Steps and Adjournment
    • Senator Fowler, Mr. Rodriguez and Kari will meet to discuss the output of the meeting and to distill the recommended goals. The draft action items will be then presented back to the subcommittee in another meeting for approval.
    • Ms. Mueller moved to adjourn the meeting seconded by Ms. Hooven. The meeting was unanimously adjourned at 10:58 AM.