SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — A Supreme Court decision in 2024 gave local municipalities the power to criminalize homelessness. A State Democrat lawmaker wants to limit that power.
The plan would stop any town or city from criminalizing "life sustaining activities." This would include eating, sleep and setting up shelter on the streets.
However, State Rep. Kevin Olickal (D-Chicago) said it wouldn't give people experiencing homelessness a free pass on the law.
"If any person is engaging in violent behavior, bothering people, blocking access to a public space or breaking any other law, local governments and law enforcement have long standing trespassing ordinances and the entire existing criminal code to deal with these issues," Olickal said.
Nationwide, homelessness is up 18% as the cost of living and housing has risen to prices many can't afford.
Shortly after the Supreme Courts decision, Springfield in 2024 tried to criminalize homelessness in the city, which failed after severe backlash from the community.
Helping Hands Springfield is a private non-profit organization that helps people in the state capitol experiencing homelessness.
Executive Director Robert Gillespie said the Democrats' bill will help the homeless a lot more than criminalization.
"You are talking about people who are already vulnerable and who are in need of support," Gillespie said. "With rent prices rising and inflation a lot of people are one pay check away from living in their car."
In the committee hearing for the bill, GOP lawmakers critiqued the plan who said it was an overreach from the state.
"Homelessness is a big issue across the state of Illinois and I don't think the state should be putting mandates on what people do and home rules communities," said State Rep. Mike Coffey (R-Springfield). "I think homelessness in Chicago is different than Springfield and different than Cairo, Illinois. I think we should leave that jurisdiction to the mayors and aldermen."
The proposal passed out of the House housing committee on a partisan 10-6 vote. It now heads to the House floor where lawmakers could talk about it in the coming weeks.
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