Cathleen from Access Living (https://bit.ly/3D8uMxh) speaks about housing access for disabled people. They say that disabled people are overrepresented in the groups previously discusses, and are more vulnerable to covid.

According to Cathleen, people with disabilities often have to choose between affordability and accessibility.

Less than 5% of housing nationally and 1% of housing in Chicago is accessible. They say new units don’t always have to be created. Instead, modifications can be made.

Cathleen says all the previously recommended programs contain barriers for people with disabilities. They propose hiring housing locators that can find accessible housing, and increasing the accessibility of the shelter system.

The last speaker is Jose Sanchez, from Humboldt Park Health (https://bit.ly/31dkSx1). Sanchez asks for consideration of ARP funding for his organization’s housing project.

More information on the American Rescue Project (ARP) can be found here: https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/comm_planning/home-arp#:~:text=The%20American%20Rescue%20Plan%20%28ARP%29%20provides%20%245%20billion,homelessness%20and%20increase%20housing%20stability%20across%20the%20country

The next hearing in front of this committee will be in 2022, possibly with the Illinois Housing Development Authority.

The meeting is adjourned at 2:41pm.