In 1966, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. addressed the Chicago Freedom Festival.
In his remarks, he reflected on the impact of the “invisible wall” in the disenfranchised parts of Chicago where “festering slums” were restricting the ability of Black people to realize the American dream.
Sixty years later, there is still reason to be dissatisfied.
Stable and affordable housing is the key to the upward economic mobility and social progress, the dream that King was calling for. But it remains just that — a dream for far too many Illinois residents. Those who face some of the highest rates of exclusion are still Black and Brown people.
While Black people represent 12% of the U.S. population, they make up a disproportionate 32% of the homeless population. Latinos make up 19% of the general population but account for 30% of the homeless population.
Those forced into unstable or substandard housing are more likely to lose employment, face chronic health issues, become victims of violence or to be incarcerated.
Government has the capacity and responsibility to help, as King noted.
“Let us be dissatisfied … until brotherhood becomes more than a meaningless word in an opening prayer, but the order of the day on every legislative agenda,” King stated.
The echoes of King’s dissatisfaction are found in the words of Cesar Chavez: “When the man who feeds the world by toiling in the fields is himself deprived of the basic rights of feeding, sheltering and caring for his own family, the whole community of man is sick.”
As community leaders who have dedicated our lives to social justice, we have seen what happens when our communities are denied access to housing. How instability chips away at dignity, derails opportunity and leaves people one step from crisis. We’ve seen how easy it is to fall through the cracks — and how steep the climb is to get back up. But we’ve also witnessed the power of housing: How a safe, stable place to live can ground someone, restore hope and create conditions for change. Housing is more than shelter. It’s healing. It’s safety. It’s the foundation for everything that allows individuals to stabilize, families to stay together, communities to grow strong and our state to truly thrive.
Illinois government leaders have an opportunity right now to expand housing to a particularly vulnerable population from the Black and Brown communities, those who are returning from incarceration or have criminal records, are trying to rebuild their lives and face lifelong barriers to housing access.
Housing stabilizes communities, boosts public safety
That’s why we and more than 50 organizations across Illinois are calling for the passage of “Home for Good” — House Bill 3162 and Senate Bill 2403 — a bold, common sense proposal to expand housing access for people returning from incarceration and those exposed to high rates of violence. Our coalition includes reentry and community violence intervention organizations — groups working most directly with those pushed to the margins of the housing crisis. From violence intervention workers on Chicago’s West Side to reentry specialists downstate, we reflect the full geography and humanity of Illinois — standing united behind a shared belief: that everyone deserves a home.
We are now asking for the leadership in Springfield to offer their support and ensure the passage of Home for Good.
Home for Good, sponsored by state Rep. Maurice West, D-Rockford, and state Sen. Willie Preston, D-Chicago, would be a vital public investment in making that belief real. It expands existing housing programs that have already shown that with housing support and access, people are less likely to return to prison.
It would allocate $103 million for rental assistance for people with criminal records who will contribute up to 30% of their income; grant money to acquire, build and rehabilitate affordable transitional and permanent housing; wraparound support services for those seeking housing; and create the Home for Good Institute, a training center for organizations that want to provide this kind of housing.
Investing $103 million would also save taxpayers $650 million over the next three years, creating widespread opportunities to stabilize communities and address public safety.
Data shows that 45% of people leaving state prisons are unemployed for at least three years; 60% of community violence intervention program participants need housing support, and just over half of the unsheltered and unhoused adults in Chicago were formerly incarcerated.
With the courageous investment of Home for Good, Illinois can follow the lead of King and tear down the invisible wall that separates these residents from the American dream and create sustained safety for this state.
Victor Dickson is the president & CEO of Safer Foundation; Jose M. Muñoz is the executive director of La Casa Norte and Ahmadou Dramé is the director of the Illinois Justice Project.
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