su BSI1IUIE ORDINANCE
WHEREAS, on December 19, 2022, the Biden-Harris administration released a federal strategic plan to reduce homelessness by 25 percent by January 2025—an ambitious plan that will put us on the path to prevent and end homelessness in the United States; and
WHEREAS, each city, including Chicago, has been offered a roadmap for not only getting people into housing but also ensuring they have access to the support, services, and income that will allow them to live to their full potential; and
WHEREAS, an annual report of the City's efforts to address homelessness incentivizes City leaders and officials to stay informed and focused on interventions to help us meet the federal government's goal of reducing homelessness by 25 percent by January 2025; and
WHEREAS, the City's 2023 budget adopted seven principles to address homeless encampments as outlined by the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness to help further guide its efforts to addressing the plight of those living in encampments, and a report on the progress of the implementation of those seven principles will help to ensure that City leaders and officials remain focused on a consistent plan that will produce good outcomes; and
WHEREAS, the experiences of people encountering homelessness are complex, and the City Council's understanding of all the many different complexities will enable them to assist the Department of Family and Support Services ("DFSS") and the Department of Housing ("DOH") with their efforts to address homelessness and housing; and
WHEREAS, preventing and ending homelessness is a complex challenge supported by many partners, including DFSS, DOH, the Department of Public Health, the Chicago Housing Authority, the Chicago Continuum of Care, the Chicago Low-Income Housing Trust Fund, and all non-profits that may or may not receive City funding; and
WHEREAS, an annual report from DFSS and DOH to the appropriate committee will educate members of the City Council on ways to support the efforts of DFSS and DOH to combat this issue, and will serve as a guide during the City Council's annual budget meetings; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO:
SECTION 1. Chapter 2-44 of the Municipal Code of the City of Chicago is hereby amended by inserting a new Section 2-44-070, as follows:
2-44-070 Annual report on homelessness and housing.
(a) On or before July 31, 2023, and then May 31 of each year thereafter, the Commissioner, in conjunction with the Commissioner of Family and Support Services, shall submit an annual report to the appropriate City Council committee on the progress made to address homelessness and housing within the City. The report shall include, but not be limited to, the Departments' and delegate agencies' progress on implementing the seven principles for addressing encampments outlined by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness and codified in the City's 2023 budget ordinance. The report shall also include supporting
information from the Chicago Continuum of Care's annual reports to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and from other stakeholders as deemed relevant by the Commissioner and the Commissioner of Family and Support Services.
(b) The annual report shall be made publicly available on the Department's website within five business days of its submission to the appropriate City Council committee.
SECTION 2. Chapter 2-50 of the Municipal Code of the City of Chicago is hereby amended by inserting a new Section 2-50-085, as follows:
2-50-085 Annual report on homelessness and housing.
(a) On or before July 31, 2023, and then May 31 of each year thereafter, the Commissioner of the Department of Family and Support Services, in conjunction with the Commissioner of the Department of Housing, shall submit an annual report to the appropriate City Council committee on the progress made to address homelessness and housing within the City. The report shall include, but not be limited to, the Departments' and delegate agencies' progress on implementing the seven principles for addressing encampments outlined by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness and codified in the City's 2023 budget ordinance. The report shall also include supporting information from the Chicago Continuum of Care's annual reports to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and from other stakeholders as deemed relevant by the Commissioner of Family and Support Services and the Commissioner of Housing.
(b) The annual report shall be made publicly available on the Department of Family and Support Service's website within five business days of its submission to the appropriate City Council committee.
SECTION 3. This ordinance shall take effect upon its passage and publication.
J
Alderman, 46h Ward