The document outlines a five-year plan by the Mayor's Task Force on Homelessness in Evanston, IL to end homelessness in the city. It finds that 10% of residents are at risk of or experiencing homelessness. The plan builds on previous efforts and recommends establishing a Housing and Homeless Commission to oversee goals like increasing affordable housing units and rental subsidies. It also calls for better coordinating services, creating job opportunities, targeting existing resources more effectively, and educating the community.

1. Heading Home
WORKING TO END HOMELESSNESS
A FIVE-YEAR PLAN FOR THE CITY OF EVANSTON, IL
Mayor’s Task Force on Homelessness
Co-Chairs
Suzanne B. Calder & Karen Singer
April 2012

2. Overview
• 10% of Evanston residents are at-risk of becoming
homeless or are homeless
• By accepting this plan, Evanston joins 243 other
city, county or state governments
• The proposal builds on Evanston’s 2010-2014
Consolidated Plan
• Task Force was convened by Mayor Tisdahl and
has representatives from all sectors of the City
• Housing First Model: Places people in stable
housing enabling them to address the issues that
led them to become homeless

3. Recommendations and Assumptions
• Community-wide collaboration; no single entity
will end homelessness
• Involves many current efforts by both the public
and private groups to help those who are at-risk
or are homeless
• These current activities must be supported,
strengthened and coordinated
• Use of current City resources – both financial and
personnel – will not be increased, but used more
efficiently

4. Homeless Funnel
At-risk due to Financial
Reasons (59%)
At-risk due to Social and
Personal Reasons (19%)
Doubled-up (9%)
In Shelters or Transitional
Housing (4%)
On the Street (9%)
At-risk Population (78%)
Homeless Population (22%)

5. Two Overarching Strategies
Prevention
Re-Housing

6. Recommendations
I. Establish a Housing and Homeless Commission
II. Make housing affordable and develop more
affordable housing for homeless people and those at
risk of homelessness
III. Coordinate the community response for increased
capacity and efficiency
IV. Create more job opportunities and vocational training
V. Target existing resources toward proven strategies
and leverage additional funding
VI. Educate and reach out to the community about the
solutions to homelessness

7. Recommendation I
Establish a Housing and Homeless Commission
• Goal 1: Assume oversight and accountability
• Goal 2: Set annual targets and benchmark results
with data collection
• Goal 3: Analyze gaps and resources
• Goal 4: Produce annual reports

8. Recommendation II
Make Housing Affordable and Develop More
Affordable Housing For Homeless People and
Those At-Risk of Homelessness
• Goal 1: Increase the numbers of rental subsidies
• Goal 2: Increase the number of new and rehabbed
affordable units for people who are homeless or at-
risk of homelessness
• Goal 3: Increase supportive housing units
• Goal 4: Adopt a Housing First model

9. Recommendation III
Coordinate the Community Response for Increased
Capacity and Efficiency
• Goal 1: Develop a unified data collection to better assess
needs and gaps
• Goal 2: Develop strategies to decrease the street
population
• Goal 3: Develop more efficient and more rapid access to
mainstream benefits
• Goal 4: Develop unified policies and procedures of in-
take and discharge
• Goal 5: Increase local and regional collaborations

10. Recommendation IV
Create More Job Opportunities and Vocational
Training
• Goal 1: Increase employment opportunities
• Goal 2: Increase and better coordinate job and
vocational training

11. Recommendation V
Target Existing Resources Toward Proven
Strategies and Leverage Additional Funding
• Goal 1: Analyze current spending by city, county,
state and federal governments
• Goal 2: Leverage new resources

12. Recommendation VI
Educate and Reach Out to the Community About the
Solutions to Homelessness
• Goal 1: Conduct a baseline survey of community knowledge,
attitudes and beliefs about at-risk and homeless people
• Goal 2: Develop a communication plan for increased
awareness of the homeless population and those at-risk of
homelessness and take it to the public
• Goal 3: Advocate at all levels of government – city, county,
state, and federal – for expanded access to programs,
increased funding to support the plan’s proposals and the
adoption of new approaches
• Goal 4: Annually report the work of the Commission to City
officials and to the general population