press releases
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The forecast for the coming days a heat wave expects “highs into the 90s and heat index values above 100 through early next week.”
Chicago, Illinois
Last year, Chicago City Council overwhelmingly called for an Extreme Weather Working Group to build
and refine Chicago's Extreme Weather Response Plan. The call followed local outrage that the City had
not adequately prepared to help unsheltered residents stay safe during the heat wave. One year later,
little progress has been made and the City appears ready to take the unconscionable step of once
again, closing its cooling centers when a heat wave coincides with a weekend or holiday.
Despite our misgivings, we remain hopeful that City leadership under Mayor Johnson will make 2025 the
year when Chicago finally begins to prepare for the health impact climate change will have on our
unsheltered neighbors and other residents. 2025 is the 30th anniversary of the 1995 heat wave, which
became the deadliest in U.S. History when over 700 people lost their lives due to heat in less than a
week. We are encouraged by the progress our friends have made in the Defusing Disasters Working
Group to develop a set of 30 policy recommendations to help residents manage the health impact of
extreme heat.
We now call upon the City to develop the infrastructure to consider and implement these and similar
policy recommendations. Last year, our coalition, the One System Initiative, The Continuum of Care’s
Front Door Line of Action, and Chicago’s Homelessness and Health Response Group for Equity
(CHHRGE) each put forth similar policy proposals that would serve as public health interventions related
to extreme weather and homelessness. City Council’s Committee on Public Safety also held a subject
matter hearing on the topic in October. The ideas are there – now we need to see action and results on
the ground.
About the Coalition
The Chicago Extreme Weather Planners Coalition is composed of organizations and advocates committed to protecting vulnerable Chicagoans from extreme weather. With expertise in public health, healthcare, outreach, and community organizing, this group is dedicated to working with City leadership to develop sustainable solutions to homelessness and extreme weather challenges.
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This Sunday Chicago is forecasted to see -20 degrees Fahrenheit with windchill. And yet, once again on Monday, the City’s Office of Emergency Management and Communication declined to activate what it calls the “City’s Emergency Operations Plan for extreme cold conditions.”
It is critical that in dangerous weather, the City provide clear and accurate information about when residents can expect emergency resource activations and what those activations look like, particularly ahead of forecasts like those expected next week.
In November, the undersigned and growing community coalition – including elected officials, extreme weather advocates, homeless service providers, new arrival service providers, mutual aid organizations, medical establishments, and houses of worship – called upon the City of Chicago to take immediate measures to protect unsheltered individuals, both longtime Chicagoans and new arrivals, from life-threatening weather conditions, such as this week’s temperatures.
The City has since launched the Shelter Placement and Resource Center (SPARC) to remain open 24/7 and allow overnight rest as capacity allows. The other demands remain unmet as lives continue to be at risk. The coalition is urging the City to implement the following life-saving measures immediately:
1. Deploy CTA Mobile Warming Buses: Station CTA buses at all major unhoused encampments as mobile warming centers. These buses must welcome everyone in need, replicating the City’s successful use of buses as cooling centers during the August 2006 heat wave.
2. Expand Warming Center Accessibility: Open all six City-operated warming centers 24/7 to everyone. Round-the-clock access is essential to provide reliable refuge during extreme weather events.
3. Allow Overnight Rest: Guarantee that individuals can sleep at warming buses or centers without being denied access. Basic human dignity must be preserved. 4. Facilitate Transportation to Shelter: Provide unsheltered individuals accessible
transportation from warming buses and City warming centers to available shelter beds, ensuring safe passage to more stable accommodations.
5. Suspend Encampment Closures and Tent Removals During Winter Months: The coalition calls for an immediate halt to encampment clearances during the winter season, ensuring unsheltered individuals are not displaced during life-threatening weather conditions.
6. Raise the Winter Weather Response Threshold to 40°F, Including Wind Chill: The City needs to update its extreme weather response plan to factor in wind chill and wet, snowy, or windy conditions, raising the activation threshold to 40°F. This adjustment accounts for the reality that even at 45°F, strong winds can bring the effective temperature down to dangerous levels, such as 32°F.
Chicago Winters Are Harsh and Deadly
Chicago winters are notoriously cold and snowy, with average annual snowfall of about 37 inches and temperatures often ranging from 30–38°F (-1°C–3°C). However, sudden drops below zero and strong northeasterly winds can make conditions even more dangerous. These extreme weather conditions disproportionately affect Chicago's unsheltered population, many of whom face severe health, mobility, and mental health challenges. Additionally, new arrivals, who are still acclimatizing to Chicago's colder climate, face an increased risk of cold-related injury and mortality.
According to the 2024 “Point-in-Time” count, the number of people experiencing homelessness in Chicago has increased significantly. With financial barriers preventing many from accessing warming centers or shelters, countless individuals are left to endure the brutal cold.
The Need for Action Is Urgent
Following these immediate steps, Chicago must put forth an interagency response, and lead and facilitate planning activities in order to reduce death and injury among people living outdoors. Numerous residents, organizations and a supermajority of Alderpeople have called for such planning only to be met with inaction. Now is the time to act with compassion and urgency to mitigate the impact of the 4,000+ shelter bed gap we are facing this winter.
The coalition stresses that these proposed measures are both achievable and life-saving. Furthermore, they advocate for long-term reforms to Chicago’s Extreme Weather Response Plan to prevent future tragedies and ensure that unhoused individuals are treated with compassion and dignity.
The time is now to update and improve the City’s extreme weather plan. Without urgent action, lives will be at risk this winter.
About the Coalition
The coalition is composed of organizations and advocates committed to protecting vulnerable Chicagoans from extreme weather. With expertise in public health, healthcare, outreach, and
community organizing, this group is dedicated to working with City leadership to develop sustainable solutions to homelessness and extreme weather challenges.
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For additional information, please contact:
GetinTouch@extremeweatherplannerschicago.com
2nd Ward Alderman Brian Hopkins 12th Ward Alderwoman Julia Ramirez 14th Ward Alderperson Jeylu Gutierrez 22nd Ward Alderperson Mike Rodriguez
33rd Ward Alderperson Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez
40th Ward Alderperson Andre Vasquez 46th Ward Alderwoman Angela Clay
48th Ward Alderperson Leni Manaa Hoppenworth
49th Ward Alderwoman Maria Hadden
19th District State Representative Lindsey LaPointe
19th Ward Mutual Aid
Ada S. McKinley Community Services Ayuda mutua D1
Backpack Bed for Homeless Inc BEDS Plus, Inc.
Care for Friends
Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness
CHHRGE (Chicago Homelessness and Health Response Group for Equity)
Chicago Lights
Chicago Street Medicine
Cornerstone Community Outreach
The Faith Community Initiative
Heartland Alliance Health
Holy Name Cathedral Suppers Ministry Housing Action Illinois
Illinois Venezuelan Alliance
Indo-American Center
Katharina Koch Staley
Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church Legal Council for Health Justice
Loyola Center for Community & Global Health
Maxica Williams
Mission of Our Lady of Angels
Northwest Center
NWS Outreach Volunteers
Orange Tent Project
Panas en Chicago
Police Station Response Team
Provincial Council Clerics of St. Viator Red Line Service Institute
Renaissance Social Services (RSSI)
Rev. Joseph L. Morrow and Michael Usiak, Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago
Street Samaritans
Streeterville Neighborhood Advocates St. James Cathedral
The Boulevard of Chicago
The Chicago Help Initiative
The Chicago Recovery Alliance The Inner Voice Inc.
The Night Ministry
The People's Response Network The Sanctuary Working Group Trilogy
University of Illinois Hospital
West Side Heroin/Opioid Task Force at Prevention Partnership
Worker's Center For Racial Justice
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Please read the full statement on our blog at: Coalition Calls for Expansion of Chicago’s Extreme Weather Response Plan
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I extend my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of (our volunteers and donors) for their unwavering support in our shared mission to assist our neighbors grappling with homelessness.
Our Chicago community deserves far more than mere tents, and through collaboration with IIT, we embarked on the creation of a temporary structure, commencing construction on March 3.
Regrettably, on March 7 the city issued a stop work order on our structure. Despite our structure meticulously adhering to every guideline for a temporary shelter, we have engaged in numerous dialogues with Alderman Ervin, the Department of Public Affairs, and the Department of Buildings. In the spirit of cooperation, we have chosen to align our efforts with the city's directives.
While it's disheartening that we're compelled to dismantle a structure that could provide essential support, I believe that forging a collaborative path forward is in our collective best interest. Hence, I am committed to revisiting our strategies and exploring alternative avenues to address the urgent needs of our neighbors—prioritizing solutions that are prompt, dignified, and above all, safe. Together, we will navigate this challenge with resilience and compassion.
Affordable housing remains a pressing concern in Chicago, with a glaring lack of options available. It's puzzling why we haven't explored repurposing the numerous vacant buildings, shuttered due to dwindling visits during the pandemic, into low-barrier shelters or transforming them into much-needed affordable housing units. Embracing such initiatives could pave the way for addressing homelessness by prioritizing stable housing alongside comprehensive support services. By offering access to care, mental health treatment, and essential assistance, we can create a pathway towards sustainability and dignity for those in need.
Thank you,
Morgan McLuckie
CEO, The Orange Tent Project -
Chicago, IL -- As temperatures plummet in Chicago, The Orange Tent Project, a leading organization dedicated to serving individuals experiencing homelessness, is intensifying its efforts to provide essential support during the harsh winter conditions. This weekend and throughout the upcoming week, the organization is undertaking a comprehensive initiative to deliver hot meals, warm coats, and supplies to those in need.
Jim Meaney, Vice Chair and spokesperson for The Orange Tent Project, states, "Our commitment to our unhoused neighbors remains unwavering, especially during extreme weather conditions. As a community, we recognize the urgency of providing not just warmth and sustenance but also a sense of dignity and care."
The Orange Tent Project's CEO, Morgan McLuckie, echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of collective action in addressing the challenges faced by the homeless community. "This winter, we are determined to make a meaningful impact on the lives of those experiencing homelessness. Our goal is not just survival but also fostering a sense of community and support."
Distribution Details:
Tuesdays: Humboldt Park (Holman and Division Streets) and Chicago (Albany and Division Streets)
Saturdays: Canalport, Tent City (Des Plaines and Roosevelt), Lake and Clinton (leftover distribution)
Meals Provided: Over 70 meals at each Tuesday location, and 100 meals on Saturdays
Every Tuesday, The Orange Tent Project collaborates with ChiCare to source meals from Ghareeb Nawaz, and Every Saturday, they collaborate with The Chicago Help Initiative, further strengthening the network of support for the unhoused population in Chicago.
In addition to direct distribution efforts, The Orange Tent Project is proud to partner with supportive community allies hosting events to raise funds for meal distribution next week. Notable events include "The Give Back" at Blind Barber on January 18, hosted by IB Majekodunmi of the Refine Collective, an Audio Awareness show on January 13, and a special cocktail (and mocktail) of the month at Maple and Ash.
"Our ongoing work is a testament to the power of community support,” Meaney said. “Our work… is not just about surviving the cold; it’s about creating a compassionate and supportive community. We encourage and ask for Chicago’s support in this endeavor."
The Orange Tent Project invites media coverage to shed light on these critical efforts and welcomes increased support from the community. For more information on how to donate or get involved, please visit orangetentproject.org or contact Mary Kate Mack, Orange Tent Project Board Member and spokesperson.
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For media inquiries, please contact:
Mary Kate Mack, Board Member
marykate@orangetentproject.orgJim Meaney, Vice Chair
jim@orangetentproject.org -
November 1, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEStand in Solidarity with Our Neighbors Experiencing Homelessness on November 3rd
CHICAGO, IL – Feeding People Through Plants (FPTP), a non-profit organization in Chicago dedicated to supporting those experiencing homelessness and food insecurity, today announced that they will stand with Chicago’s homeless living near the intersection of Clinton, Lake, and Milwaukee to oppose the City’s removal of the orange insulated tents on Thursday, November 3, 2022 at 9:00 AM CT.
On Tuesday, October 25th, Chicago’s Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) tagged all the newly constructed insulated tents built by FPTP, citing Code 10-27-070, which prohibits the storage of personal property in the public way. This pushback from the city was not a surprise to FPTP and its supporters, given the complaints of luxury high-rise residents to local officials.
“The ordinance the city cites has strong language that is leveraged to justify clean sweeps of life-saving shelters of folks already struggling to survive on the streets,” says Andy Robledo, FPTP’s founder, “I have seen the city take tents without notice, so this is not a cleaning effort by the city. I strongly think it is an effort to erase the homeless problem in an affluent neighborhood.”
FPTP acknowledges that orange insulated tents are not a long-term solution for our neighbors living on the streets of Chicago. But the orange insulated tents are the difference between freezing to death or fighting to survive another day. DFSS invested $35 million to launch the Expedited Housing Initiative in 2020 and has moved more than 1,800 households into housing. But FPTP has several questions: 1) how does DFSS define “households”? 2) what is the actual number of households, based upon the aforementioned definition? 3) why is the number of households hovering around 1,800 when a recent report by the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless found that at least 65,000 people were experiencing homelessness in 2020?
FPTP and its supporters will continue to serve and support Chicago’s citizens experiencing homelessness and demand transparency regarding the City of Chicago’s efforts for our homeless neighbors. Furthermore, FPTP demands a revision to the policy regarding tents in the “public way,” at least until such a time as the City’s official plan to end homelessness from 2015 has been updated to reflect the current need, and tangible steps are made to save the lives of our neighbors.
Mayor Lightfoot, FPTP understands you have a long agenda, but does that agenda no longer include standing by your promise to “fight for equity and inclusion for Chicagoans in every ward?” We’re ready for a conversation if you are, and will work alongside you to save the lives of our neighbors.
About Feeding People Through Plants
Feeding People Through Plants is a 501c3 organization that is dedicated to support those experiencing homelessness and food insecurity. Feeding People Through Plants is a hands-on, relationship first organization that not only provides resources such as food, tents, heat, blankets, clothing and hotel stays to our neighbors experiencing homelessness to ensure people survive, but our organization also helps connect people with employment, mental health resources, addiction treatment, and housing programs. Together, we make up a network of people who want to see our neighbors experiencing homelessness have their immediate needs met but also tackle some of the larger life obstacles to try and break the cycle of chronic homelessness. Feeding People Through Plants uses our pla(n)tform and plant sales to support our mission as well as other non-profit organizations in Chicago doing the work to fight homelessness. Through direct intervention, collaborative partnerships, fundraising, and advocacy, we make all of this possible. We believe in giving folks a hand up, so they can reach their full potential, whatever that may be.
https://www.feedingpeoplethroughplants.org/
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October 25, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEHumanizing Our Unhoused Neighbors One Orange Tent at a Time
CHICAGO, IL – Feeding People Through Plants (FPTP), a non-profit organization in Chicago dedicated to support those experiencing homelessness and food insecurity, today announced that it led the construction of more than 26 orange insulated fishing tents across the city this weekend. FPTP was able to build these lifesaving tents through the support of more than 12,000 community members who raised more than $15,000 to make this life preserving project a reality.
“I am blown away at the overwhelming support from the community and businesses. They have enabled us to execute our mission of giving folks the opportunity to survive this winter, as they wait to get the support they need or until their name is called off a housing waiting list. We need to find real solutions to fight the homelessness in our city,” said Andy Robledo, founder of FPTP. “We cannot keep shuffling people around and ignoring the problem, which is why I am disheartened that residents of luxury high-rises near Clinton and Lake are quick to compare our homeless neighbors to rats, instead of opening the dialogue of how to find a long-term solution to the ever-growing homeless problem in our city.” One of the luxury high-rise residents went as far as stating that “If you feed the rats, it will bring more rats.” However, FPTP firmly believes that our homeless neighbors are not rats, rather they are human beings with names that deserve dignity and respect.
FPTP’s founder and supporters are not discouraged by the demands of luxury high-rise residents or property management companies to do away with the camps in the 42nd ward of Chicago. Rather, they welcome the attention their pleas have received from Alderman Brendan Reilly and the City of Chicago, as part of FPTP’s mission is to highlight that our neighbors living on the streets in these tents need the City’s support towards a clear path to housing. Plus, many residents near Clinton and Lake have expressed that the orange insulated fishing tents are a huge upgrade to what was previously at this location.
City of Chicago crews are scheduled to seize the orange insulated fishing tents built near Clinton and Lake today, and FPTP founder and supporters ask that there be a dialogue of how to get these folks into housing before they are yet again place into life threatening conditions.
“Alderman Brendan Reilly and Mayor Lori Lightfoot, we do not want to continuously be challenged by the city as we work to show compassion and support to our neighbors on the street. Please partner with us and help our community help OUR CITY.”
About Feeding People Through Plants
Feeding People Through Plants is a 501c3 organization that is dedicated to support those experiencing homelessness and food insecurity. Feeding People Through Plants is a hands-on, relationship first organization that not only provides resources such as food, tents, heat, blankets, clothing and hotel stays to our neighbors experiencing homelessness to ensure people survive, but our organization also helps connect people with employment, mental health resources, addiction treatment, and housing programs. Together, we make up a network of people who want to see our neighbors experiencing homelessness have their immediate needs met but also tackle some of the larger life obstacles to try and break the cycle of chronic homelessness. Feeding People Through Plants uses our pla(n)tform and plant sales to support our mission as well as other non-profit organizations in Chicago doing the work to fight homelessness. Through direct intervention, collaborative partnerships, fundraising, and advocacy, we make all of this possible. We believe in giving folks a hand up, so they can reach their full potential, whatever that may be.
https://www.feedingpeoplethroughplants.org/
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WHEREAS, every year, due to dangerous, yet predictable, extreme weather events, unhoused Chicagoans disproportionately experience high rates of heat- and cold-related injury and death; and
WHEREAS unhoused Chicagoans are 1200 times more likely than housed Chicagoans to develop frostbite, and are also more likely to receive frostbite-related amputations; and
WHEREAS extreme heat is similarly deadly, as evidenced by the 1995 heat wave’s death toll of 739 Chicagoans;
WHEREAS unhoused Chicagoans are at highest risk of cold and heat-related injury and death overnight, yet Chicago does not operate any overnight warming or cooling centers – and traditional shelters are often at capacity, leaving many unhoused Chicagoans seeking refuge unsheltered amidst dangerous conditions; and
WHEREAS, addressing homelessness and extreme weather resources is a racial justice issue, as the legacies of racism and structural inequities cause racial minorities to be disproportionately affected by homelessness (the yearly 2024 Point-in-Time (PIT) count reported Black residents constitute 72% of non-New Arrivals experiencing homelessness) and by extreme weather (in the 1995 heat wave, Black Chicagoans were far more likely to die than White Chicagoans);
WHEREAS unless Chicago invests in its systems of care, rates of heat and cold-related injury and death will only worsen as climate change continues to accelerate the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events; and
WHEREAS, ensuring the safety of vulnerable groups during extreme weather demands significant planning, resources, and coordination;
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
SECTION 1. Establishment of the Extreme Weather Resources for Unhoused Chicagoans Working Group. The “Extreme Weather Resources for Unhoused Chicagoans Working Group” (the “Working Group”) is hereby established. Within 30 days of passage of this ordinance, members of the Working Group shall be appointed in accordance with this Section. The Working Group shall consist of a minimum of 24 members, as follows:
(a) Ex Officio Members. The following City officials, or their designees shall serve as ex officio members of the Working Group: (1) the Chief Homelessness Officer, who shall serve as chair of the Working Group; (2) the Budget Director; (3) the Executive Director of Emergency Management and Communications; (4) the Commissioner of Family and Support Services; (5) the Commissioner of Public Health; (6) the Chicago Public Library Commissioner; (7) the Chief Information Officer; and (8) the Chief Safety and Security Officer of the Chicago Transit Authority.
(b) Aldermanic Members. The City Council Committee on Public Safety shall select five members of City Council to serve on the Working Group, one of whom shall serve as vice-chair of the Working Group, with the consent of City Council.
(c) Appointed Members. The Mayor shall select, with the consent of City Council, at least one representative, unless otherwise stated, from each of the following categories: (1) Chicago Continuum of Care non-government board members; (2) homeless outreach and shelter providers operating in the City that receive funding from the Department of Family and Support Services; (3) homeless outreach and shelter providers operating in the City that do not receive funding from the Department of Family and Support Services; (4) a grassroots, community-based organization representing a minority neighborhood where Chicagoans are at highest risk of suffering compounding inequities or becoming unhoused; (5) three persons, at minimum, with lived experience; (6) a disability access advocate; (7) a medical doctor trained in emergency medicine, acting as a hospital or emergency room liaison; (8) an independent public health professional; and (9) foundations or other funding sources for programs and services for unhoused Chicagoans.
(d) Advisory members. Upon appointment, the Working Group shall invite representatives of the following units of government to participate in Working Group meetings and collaborate and advise on Working Group activities described in Section 3 of this ordinance: (1) the Illinois House of Representatives; (2) the Illinois Senate; (3) the Illinois Emergency Management Agency; (4) the Cook County Board; (5) the Cook County Health System; (6) the Chicago Park District; and (7) the Department of Buildings. Advisory members do not have voting power.
SECTION 2. Compensation.
(a) Appointed members from the category ‘persons with lived experience’ will be compensated viastipend of $500 per month for their participation in the working group, SECTION 3. Working Group Powers and Duties.
(a) The Working Group Chair and Vice-Chair are responsible for the scheduling, preparation, operation, and facilitation of working group and community meetings. All working group and community meetings shall have a virtual attendance option. All working group and community meetings shall be recorded and publicly posted.
(b) Unless otherwise specified by this ordinance, the Working Group shall make decisions by majority vote of voting members, conducted by roll call. A quorum for the transaction of business shall consist of a majority of ex officio members (5 ex officio members), a majority of Aldermanic members (3 Aldermanic members), and a majority of appointed members. The Chair and Vice-Chair are responsible for calling and recording votes. Working group members who have a financial interest in a voting matter must recuse themselves from voting.
(c) Starting 30 days after passage of this ordinance, the Working Group will meet on a bi-weekly basis at minimum, to fulfill their duties, as follows:
(1) On or before 90 days after passage :
(A) the working group shall schedule three community meetings for the purpose of reporting working group progress and soliciting community feedback. Meetings shall be open only to lived experience commissions and to Chicagoans with lived experience of homelessness;
(1) community meetings shall include (a) live public comment; (b) a short presentation by the working group chair or vice-chair on working group structure and progress; (c) community Q&A; and (d) collection of written feedback. All collected community feedback shall be recorded and available digitally to working group members.
(B) The working group shall hold the first community meeting to solicit suggestions on potential improvements to currently available extreme weather resources. The meeting shall be held and written feedback distributed to working group members prior to the completion of the list outlined in Section 3c, 1C.
(C) The working group shall create a list of proposed improvements to currently available City resources. All members shall participate in the creation of a list of no fewer than 10 feasible potential improvements to currently available City resources. Improvements can be excluded from the list by majority vote of voting members.
(1) On or before 150 days after passage :
(A) The working group shall create and distribute a survey soliciting feedback from unhoused Chicagoans. The survey shall be distributed by outreach teams, shelter operators, and volunteers for a minimum of 30 days, and shall solicit a minimum of 700 responses. The survey shall quantify the following:
(1) for each proposed improvement from Section 3c, 1C: (a) favorability – which proposed improvements do unhoused Chicagoans believe would be the most effective; (b) utilization – which proposed improvements would unhoused Chicagoans be most likely to utilize and when; and (c) concerns – what concerns do unhoused Chicagoans have regarding each proposed improvement.
(2) for currently available extreme weather resources: (a) favorability – which currently available resources do unhoused Chicagoans believe are the most effective; (b) utilization – which currently available resources do unhoused Chicagoans utilize and when; and (c) concerns – what concerns do unhoused Chicagoans have regarding each currently available resource.
(3) for current extreme weather resource communications: (a) reach – which communications are unhoused Chicagoans receiving; (b) timeliness – are unhoused Chicagoans informed of available resources in a timely manner.
(4) personal experience: (a) injury – has the survey respondent suffered an injury from the extreme cold or extreme heat.
(2) On or before 270 days after passage, the Working Group shall:
(A) Using survey feedback, rank the list of proposed resource improvements from most-favorable and most-likely-utilized to least-favorable and least-likely-utilized. New improvements can be added to the list by majority vote of voting members.
(B) For each of three top ranked, most-favorable, most-likely-utilized improvements, the Working Group shall conduct research to (1) determine the improvement’s implementation and operating cost; (2) determine the improvement’s expected benefits and limitations; (3) outline an implementation plan, noting any potential barriers that will hinder plan execution; and (4) propose sources of revenue to fund the improvement cost.
(C) Assess the reach and timeliness of current warming and cooling center activation communication to unhoused Chicagoans and homeless service providers, and develop an improved communications plan.
(D) Develop and implement a method to measure and publicly report real-time shelter, warming center, and cooling center supply and demand.
(3) Between September 1, 2025 and October 1, 2025, the Chief Homelessness Officer and representatives from the working group shall report Working Group progress and outcomes to the Committee on Public Safety.
(4) On or before December 31, 2025, the Working Group shall:
(1) create a year-round schedule of 2026 extreme weather response planning and engagement activities with homeless service providers, including City departments, delegate agencies, and other third parties, including lived experience commissions and persons with lived experience, to coordinate resources, ensure consistent communication, and regularly solicit feedback;
(2) write and publicly publish a report summarizing working group findings.
SECTION 3. Working Group Term. The term of the Working Group shall commence on the effective date of this ordinance and shall end on January 1, 2026, unless prior to that date the City Council adopts an ordinance providing continuation or expansion of the Working Group.
SECTION 4. This ordinance shall take effect upon passage and approval.