Black residents in Illinois are eight times more likely to be homeless

The state has earmarked $290 million for homeless services this year but advocates are asking for an additional $100 million for emergency housing, assistance and prevention programs.

Photo: Jon Tyson/Unsplash

by Judith Ruiz-Branch
Illinois News Connection

CHICAGO - Black residents in Illinois are almost eight times more likely to be homeless than white people, with lack of livable wages and affordable housing among the primary drivers.

Researchers from the University of Illinois Chicago said homelessness is an issue of equity with Blacks disproportionately represented across the state. Rent burdens and economic hardship are both driving factors. In 2022, about 63% of Black renters spent more than 30% of their paycheck on housing.

One in four Black residents is living in poverty in Illinois and one in seven is in deep poverty.

Chama St. Louis, director of organizing and network expansion at the National Black Worker Center, experienced homelessness in the winter of 2011. Even though she was working full-time, she said she could not afford to pay for housing and basic needs for her and her family.

"I felt like I was doing everything right," St. Louis recounted. "You can do everything right and still end up in a place where you don't have a home, because the system is failing us."

One in four Black residents is living in poverty in Illinois and one in seven is in deep poverty. St. Louis argued the Trump administration's dismantling of DEI efforts will only further compound matters.

The state has increased investment in programs such as Home Illinois to address the significant rise in homelessness. St. Louis pointed out even though she registered her and her family as homeless, many programs required her to travel based on the availability at shelters on any given day.

"When we had no gas, then we were sleeping in Walmart parking lots," St. Louis explained. "And on days it was really cold, I would take the kids inside of Walmart and make pallets for them at the bottom of a cart and push them around Walmart for seven hours until the sun came up."

St. Louis added she is now dedicated to helping others who experience homelessness. Along with advocating for improved conditions and wages for Black workers, she stressed she tries to humanize the crisis.

"Outside of the real work that we have to do around policy and making sure that people from a systemic standpoint are being treated fairly, we still have to make sure that we are human beings who care about one another and want to see each other do well," St. Louis emphasized.

The state has earmarked $290 million for homeless services this year but advocates are asking for an additional $100 million for emergency housing, assistance and prevention programs.

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Sweeping up the homeless doesn't actually solve homelessness

Instead, governments should prioritize safe, affordable, dignified, and permanent housing for all.

homeless camp

Image: Pete Linforth/Pixabay

by Farrah Hassen
      OtherWords

This summer, the Supreme Court’s Grants Pass ruling made it much easier for local governments to criminalize homelessness. Since then, cities and states across the country have stepped up their harassment of people for the “crime” of not having a place to live.

Penalizing homelessness has increasingly taken the form of crackdowns on encampments — also known as “sweeps,” which have received bipartisan support. California Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered state agencies to ramp up encampment sweeps, while President-elect Donald Trump has also pledged to ban encampments and move people to “tent cities” far from public view.

Evidence shows that these sweeps are harmful and unproductive — and not to mention dehumanizing.

Housing justice advocates caution that sweeps disrupt peoples’ lives by severing their ties to case workers, medical care, and other vital services. Many unhoused people also have their personal documents and other critical belongings seized or tossed, which makes it even harder to find housing and work.

According to a ProPublica investigation, authorities in multiple cities have confiscated basic survival items like tents and blankets, as well as medical supplies like CPAP machines and insulin. Other people lost items like phones and tools that impacted their ability to work.

Teresa Stratton from Portland told ProPublica that her husband’s ashes were even taken in a sweep. “I wonder where he is,” she said. “I hope he’s not in the dump.”

Over the summer, the city of Sacramento, California forcefully evicted 48 residents — mostly women over 55 with disabilities — from a self-governed encampment known as Camp Resolution. The camp was located at a vacant lot and had been authorized by the city, which also owned the trailers where residents lived.

Sweeps, like punitive fines and arrests, don’t address the root of the problem — they just trap people in cycles of poverty and homelessness.

One of the residents who’d been at the hospital during the sweep was assured that her belongings would be kept safe. However, she told me she lost everything she’d worked so hard to acquire, including her car.

The loss of her home and community of two years, along with her possessions, was already traumatizing. But now, like most of the camp residents, she was forced back onto the streets — even though the city had promised not to sweep the lot until every resident had been placed in permanent housing.

Aside from being inhumane, the seizure of personal belongings raises serious constitutional questions — especially since sweeps often take place with little to no warning and authorities often fail to properly store belongings. Six unhoused New Yorkers recently sued the city on Fourth Amendment grounds, citing these practices.

Sweeps, like punitive fines and arrests, don’t address the root of the problem — they just trap people in cycles of poverty and homelessness. Encampments can pose challenges to local communities, but their prevalence stems from our nation’s failure to ensure the fundamental human right to housing.

People experiencing homelessness are often derided as an “eyesore” and blamed for their plight. However, government policies have allowed housing, a basic necessity for survival, to become commodified and controlled by corporations and billionaire investors for profit.

Officials justify sweeps for safety and sanitation reasons, but in the end they harm and displace people who have nowhere else to go.

Meanwhile, the federal minimum wage has remained stagnant at $7.25 since 2009 and rent is now unaffordable for half of all tenants. Alongside eroding social safety nets, these policies have resulted in a housing affordability crisis that’s left at least 653,000 people without housing nationwide.

While shelters can help some people move indoors temporarily, they aren’t a real housing solution, either.

Human rights groups report that shelters often don’t meet adequate standards of housing or accommodate people with disabilities. Many treat people like they’re incarcerated by imposing curfews and other restrictions, such as not allowing pets. Safety and privacy at shelters are also growing concerns.

Officials justify sweeps for safety and sanitation reasons, but in the end they harm and displace people who have nowhere else to go. Instead, governments should prioritize safe, affordable, dignified, and permanent housing for all, coupled with supportive services.

Anything else is sweeping the problem under the rug.


About the author:
Farrah Hassen, J.D., is a writer, policy analyst, and adjunct professor in the Department of Political Science at Cal Poly Pomona. This op-ed was distributed by OtherWords.org.


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Letter to the Editor |
Should Illinois legalize assisted-suicide?

Dear Editor,

Should Illinois legalize assisted-suicide? Some state senators think so. If allowed, vulnerable people who are sick, elderly, disabled, and those with mental illness and dementia will become targets.

As the father of a Downs Syndrome toddler, I am extremely alarmed by this proposal.

No one should be comfortable with promoting a cheaper, easier alternative to life’s struggles in order to ignore their responsibilities to people who need their help.

Canada’s law, with 79% support, was promoted as a last resort for the terminally ill. Support has plummeted to 30% because of the disregard toward vulnerable citizens such as anyone with an illness and those who are disabled.

Canadians facing homelessness and poverty are feeling compelled to end their lives rather than be a “burden” to society.

In 2023, 76.2% of Belgium euthanasia was administered to people with physical and psychological issues, including personality disorders, depression, and Alzheimer’s.

A Netherland law that took effect on February 1, 2024, allows parents to euthanize their children even if the child doesn’t want to be killed.

Proponents can call it “dignity,” but it is cruel and heartless to disregard human life.

If you agree, please let your state senator know.


David E. Smith, Executive Director
Illinois Family Institute


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Guest Commentary |
Why aren't churches unlocked on the coldest winter nights?

by Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator


Numerous people have frozen to death in America this winter. They literally died from exposure to the cold.

In nearby Evansville, Indiana a homeless man was found in his routine sleeping spot after a night of frigid temperatures. He was dead. Like any of us, he could not survive trying to sleep in the sub-zero temperature.

Police reportedly told the homeless man that he needed to seek shelter or he wouldn’t survive. I do not know why he was homeless. I do not know why he wasn’t in the local homeless shelter. With any such tragic death there are always questions, speculation, and seldom not enough answers.

Possibly there wasn’t enough room in the shelter. Maybe he just ignored reason and thought he could survive.

I do know it’s easy to tell someone “you need to eat,” but maybe they don’t have any money to buy food. Or we tell a homeless person, “You need to get off the street and seek shelter.” What if he or she has no place to go? Homeless shelters have limitations and maybe some wear out their welcome.

The whole idea scares most churches.

I see a homeless person and can’t keep from thinking, "This is someone’s father or son. This is someone’s mother or daughter. This could be me or someone I know." All of us are one bad decision from being homeless. By the grace of God, I hope no one reading this column is without a place to sleep or food to eat.

I have to wonder why some churches aren’t unlocked on these frigid nights? Churches talk about ministry, caring, love, reaching out, helping others, and other religious talk. For the average church in America, it will be a cold day in hell before they ever unlock their doors and let a bunch of homeless people sleep on the pews. Of course, we can’t be too hard on our churches. Homeless people can be scary. They are very needy. They need money, food, and clothes. They need everything. They may have mental issues. They may have criminal records. Who knows?

There is always the consideration of who would monitor the church and the crowd sleeping in the church? They need access to bathrooms. They need food. The whole idea scares most churches.

The average church would rather send their money to their denominational headquarters in the big city. Many churches give up to 20% and sometimes more to the denominational state headquarters. Often the state level headquarters send a large amount on up to the national headquarters. These entities tell local churches about how much good their money is doing to help others across the state, nation and around the world.

They pat the local churches on the back. Recognize the pastor at state meetings. Print the church name on the denominational website or publication. The local church and local pastor sit back and think, “We are really special because we send all this money out of town to do such great ministry.” At the state denominational headquarters and national headquarters, the big dog people are collecting $150,000 to $250,000 a year while on the national level there are reported salary packages of over a half million dollars a year. This is of course all done in the name of the Lord and service to Christ.

Back at home, the homeless sleep on the sidewalks while the church doors are locked. Kids go to school with inadequate coats and shoes. Families in the community can’t afford to keep their utility bills paid or buy groceries. So many of these same churches send their money out of town every month while paying their own pastor a minimal income. They can’t afford to pay their custodial care or take very good care of their own staff because they are sending money down to the state office.

I hope we will wake up in this country and in our local churches. We have severe needs and opportunities to do a great service right in front of us. It’s not wrong to send money out to help others but we need to see what and who are right in front of us and do ministry at our own front door.


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Dr. Mollete was a senior minister for 39 years and served as President of the Kentucky Baptist Convention. He is the author of 13 books including Uncommom Sense, the Spiritual Chocolate series, Grandpa's Store, Minister's Guidebook insights from a fellow minister. His column is published weekly in over 600 publications in all 50 states.


The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily representative of any other group or organization. We welcome comments and views from our readers. Submit your letters to the editor or commentary on a current event 24/7 to editor@oursentinel.com.

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Guest Commentary | Seeing the hurts of others doesn’t make your troubles go away

by Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator

When I was a child at Tomahawk Elementary School in Martin County, Kentucky there were many kids who got little to nothing for Christmas. I had classmates who I would never ask if they got anything for Christmas because I already knew the answer. Some of these kids were just glad to be in school. At school they could receive a free lunch and have access to a bathroom which they didn’t have at home. This also meant they could wash their faces and their hands which was difficult at home especially in the winter months.  While most of us didn’t have much, what we did have seemed like a lot to those who had nothing. 

This is where you need to stop and think. You stress about all you may not have but what do you have in comparison to those who have nothing? Do you have a place to sleep? Do you have a comfortable bed? Is your house or apartment warm and comfortable? Do you know you will have food to eat on Christmas day? Do you have a television to watch? Do you have a telephone? Do you have a few dollars in your pocket? 

I’m very aware there are millions of Americans who are below the financial income poverty level. They have it tough. Our cities are filled with growing numbers of homeless populations.  People are sleeping under bridges, overpasses and on riverbanks. Too many of these have met with unfortunate circumstances in life due to bad choices, addictions, unemployment, mental illness, and family issues. The list is never-ending. This doesn’t make their lives any easier. Just because there is a reason for the problems doesn’t make their burdens lighter or unnoticeable. Their reality is still harsh and painful. 

Millions more immigrants are coming to America. Where will they sleep? Where will they work? Many of them will work for $8 an hour and work hard but many of them will be homeless or stranded in homeless shelters on government dependence for a long time. Would any of us want to trade places with them? I don’t think so. 

Whatever darkness you are facing this Christmas is your reality. Seeing the hurts of others doesn’t make your troubles go away. However, if you can be thankful for the life you have, then maybe Christmas will take on a whole new light. 

Look to the most special gift of all this Christmas – the baby in the manger. Shepherds raced to see the baby just as the angels said they would. Wise men came from the east and worshipped him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Mary and Joseph did the best they could as peasant parents of a new baby boy.  

Keep the scripture of Isaiah 9:6 handy this Christmas. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Price of Peace.  

May His peace comfort your heart and be your light and strength through this seasonand every day to come. 


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Dr. Glenn Mollette is a syndicated American columnist and author of Grandpa's Store, American Issues, and ten other books. He is read in all 50 states. The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily representative of any other group or organization.

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This article is the sole opinions of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of The Sentinel. We welcome comments and views from our readers. Submit your letters to the editor or commentary on a current event 24/7 to editor@oursentinel.com.


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