Yesterday’s budget address from the Johnson administration laid out a path forward for Chicago in 2025 during a difficult budget year. While we applaud the increased investments toward creating a unified shelter system through the One System Initiative and other homelessness investments, we are deeply concerned about inadequate funding for the Flexible Housing Pool (FHP) – a program CHH administers to serve people experiencing homelessness who interact with public crisis systems. Inadequate funding could result in stably housed Chicagoans losing their housing and returning to homelessness. The Flexible Housing Pool (FHP) urgently requires a $5.2 million increase in city funding to maintain the housing and wraparound supportive services for its current participants. Without this $5.2 million funding increase, 1,400 FHP participants, 500 of whom are children, could risk returning to homelessness. We call on the Chicago City Council and the Johnson administration to work together to fully fund the Flexible Housing Pool at $11.2 million, living up to their promise of ensuring every Chicagoan has the opportunity to thrive. Add your voice here.
The Flexible Housing Pool provides housing along with supportive services like case management, mental health care, and employment assistance to help people transition into stable housing and stay stably housed for the long term by developing careers and a health care plan. FHP is funded through a public-private partnership across Cook County, and benefits all Chicagoans by reducing the impact of homelessness on the public systems that keep us all safe and healthy, like hospitals. Importantly, one of the focus areas is young people at the highest risk of gun violence who experience homelessness, which has a direct impact on the safety of our communities and overall public health. The program is transformative for participants, who not only gain housing but see significant reductions in mortality, hospital visits, and criminal legal system involvement upon entering the program.
FHP was established in 2018, and the programs were funded based on 2018 housing price and service cost data. The costs of all goods and services have increased due to inflation. Since 2018, the cost of a family apartment in Chicagoland has risen nearly 50%. Service provider salaries have increased to address inequity and to keep up with inflation. To address this, and to keep the Flexible Housing Pool participants in housing, the program requires additional funds. Without additional funding, a worst-case scenario could be that participants lose housing altogether.
Shelter is critical, but shelter is not housing. Housing means a stable home, and it is a human right; a shelter is a temporary place to stay. We must not confuse one with the other, and we must adequately fund the Flexible Housing Pool in order to show our commitment to housing for all Chicagoans.
