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State Rep. John Cabello, R-Machesney Park, a law enforcement
officer, said Democrats are trying to make Illinis more like or
even worse than California.
“You're going to see people doing what you see and hear about in
different parts of California, where people are defecating in
the streets,” said Cabello. “There's going to be homeless camps
all over the place and the police won't be able to do anything
about it.”
Cabello, like the Illinois Sheriffs Association, said the “life
sustaining activities” language in the bill is extremely broad.
“Bathing in a public area could necessarily be life-sustaining,”
said Cabello. “Relieving yourself in public, life-sustaining.”
House Bill 1429 advanced out of the Illinois House Housing
Committee. The bill is being pushed by special interest groups
like Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness and Housing Action
Illinois.
“Ticketing or arresting people for experiencing homelessness
only worsens their situation by making it even harder for them
to secure housing and employment in the future,” stated Chicago
Coalition to End Homelessness on their social media shortly
after the bill advanced out of committee.
The Illinois Municipal League and Illinois Association of Chiefs
of Police are opponents.
Cabello expressed concern that if enacted, enforcement entities
might not be able to penalize offenders who are on private
property.
“So are they talking about private property as well? Because
I'll tell you what, if somebody comes on my property wants to
live, I'm not calling the police. I'll take care of it myself
and I would expect that many of the taxpaying citizens in this
state would do the same,” said Cabello.
Cabello said many homeless individuals have a mental illness and
don't understand what they're doing.
“We need more mental health facilities to take care of the folks
that can't take care of themselves,” said Cabello. “I don't
think that there is somebody without a mental deficiency that is
wanting to be homeless.”
In 2024, Gov. J.B. Pritzker's administration launched the Home
Illinois initiative, investing $118 million to support unhoused
populations. Cabello said many taxpayer dollars are going to
programs for homeless people so that taxpayers don't have to
have homeless camps out in the open.
Mayor Brandon Johnson's proposed 2025 budget includes $195.6
million for homeless services, a 21% increase from the previous
year's $161 million allocation.
In 2021, over $1 billion in Federal Emergency Rental Assistance
funds were awarded to Illinois, providing rental assistance and
housing support to individuals facing housing insecurity. |
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