The number of unhoused individuals across the country continues to rise, impacting not only large urban centers but also increasingly suburban and rural communities. This national crisis has reached smaller municipalities like Oak Park, Illinois, which now face many of the same complex challenges larger cities do, albeit with fewer resources. As a densely populated suburb of Chicago, the Village of Oak Park has experienced a significant increase in the number of unhoused individuals since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic due to less affordable housing and access to public transportation. As a follow-up to the 2024 PWX presentation where issues and resources available to a larger municipality (Atlanta) were discussed, this presentation will share several challenges that result from the unhoused occupying the public right-of-way and public places from the perspective of a suburban community. Through a blend of local governance, public health initiatives, and collaborative efforts with community organizations, this presentation will share Oak Park’s multi-faceted response to the homelessness crisis, balancing humane assistance to those in need with the broader community’s concerns about safety, public health, and the use of public spaces. Panelists will include representatives from the Village of Oak Park staff and partner agencies, who will provide an in-depth look at the successes and challenges of these initiatives.
After this session, participants will be better able to:
• Identify operational strategies and policy changes to address issues associated with the unhoused.
• Initiate an outreach program with local community leaders and partner agencies to assist with communications with the unhoused.
• Develop a strategy for working with associated agencies and nonprofit organizations to determine the best process for addressing the unhoused to facilitate public infrastructure maintenance and improvements.
Contributor/Source
Jennifer Hill-Executive Director, Lynda Schueler , Ms. Robert Sproule-Public Works Director, Vanessa Matheny-Community Services Manager
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