Brandon Johnson making the homelessness officer role
On October 3, recently elected Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order to create Chicago’s first-ever chief of homelessness.
The chief homelessness officer is the first of its kind in the city of Chicago. But as for the roles of the jobs, it tasks the officer with making answers for “stable and affordable houses for those who are not in homes in Chicago,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson.
He added, “Housing for the estimated 68 thousand homeless people is something that is always has been a problem, so it’s time to improve on this past due issue, and by making a chief homelessness officer for Chicago there now will be a point of contact to help with homelessness.” Mayor Brandon Johnson commented, “It’s now gonna be more of a coordinated effort between departments all over the city and sister agencies which will give strong leadership to make improvements.”
Chicago Funders Together to End Homelessness partnered with Mayor Brandon Johnson. The Executive Director of CFTEH stated, “We are very happy to be a partner of Mayor Brandon and to help make the first of its kind chief homelessness officer job, and now with someone who is dedicated and plays a role with Brandon Johnson, it will help move forward with practical and long-term answers to grow housing and eliminate homelessness in Chicago once and for all.”
Brandon Johnson also proposed to raise the real estate transfer tax on high-end home sales. Furthermore, the rise in tax will only impact the rich and wouldn’t affect the working class at all. If anything, it will benefit the middle and lower class. The tax money that the law is collecting will fund those without housing.
The Problem has only grown as time goes on
The spike in homelessness is a problem. And it has forced Mayor Brandon Johnson to make housing for those who don’t have a stable home or who aren’t living in a house. Because with the coming of buses and planes full of asylum seekers and immigrants ending up in Chicago. The homeless number has only grown and it will be going up as more and more buses come. These people are being bused by Texas and Arizona to democratic cities. They are sending these migrants as a protest of the “lack of attention to the border crisis.”
On October 4, Brandon Johnson stated that there were 14 buses that dropped off immigrants and there were eight more that were expected to arrive. More than 15,000 migrants are without a home and are living outside of police stations, airports, on the streets, or even in the tent cities Brandon Johnson has set up. The mayor has been trying and working on solutions.
One main thing he has brought up was the rise of property tax in high-end building sales, but this hasn’t taken effect. It will become law if the city council approves making a binding voter referendum that would appear in the primary ballot of March 2024. They would have approved or declined this law by January 2. But if they approve, then the taxes will be a special fund for programs that will prevent homelessness.
Another thing Mayor Brandon Johnson has done was sign a $30 million year-long contract to have a private security firm help with the relocation of migrants from police stations to permanent and stable homes.
By Samuel Cruz
Sources:
WGN 9: Mayor Johnson signs order to establish city’s first chief homelessness officer
Chicago sun-times: Mayor Brandon Johnson creates post for city’s first chief homelessness officer
The Gazette: Chicago to establish first chief of homelessness as number throughout city grows
Featured and Top Image Courtesy of Danielle Scott Flickr Page–Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Rex Pe Flickr Page–Creative Commons License
