Lauren Brittanie

Currently, homeless (unemployed, underemployed) and Veterans without children under the age of 18 do not receive any cash supplement from the Government.

To keep a city healthy, all residents need to be as healthy as possible. While housing is the number one request for fulfillment with the homeless, there is much needed during the wait time for those who are underemployed, unemployed, and incapable of working.

The cost of keeping a family housed is expensive as the calculation of utilities and cleaning/maintenance products are often not factored. This is why there are shelters, but also why those who work part-time should not be fiscally punished out of the independence of having their own home.

The number one thing that the Homeless and underemployed need (less than $18,000 per year) is cash to pay for services and products to keep them safest and healthiest as possible. When asked what the cash should be used for, I came up with a list based on living with zero cash and no parental aide.

The list is as follows:

• Deodorant
• Soap
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Nail Clipper
• Nail file (disposable only!)
• Feminine Napkins (Maxi Pads)
• Lotion
• Socks
• Underwear
• Laundry detergent
• Laundry fluff and fold
• Backpack
• Mobile phone (There are no courtesy phones)
• Professional Hair Cut
• Community Shower (roughly $35 – $65 per month and allows for a shower a day)
• Documents and Citizenship Proof (State ID, Drivers License, Birth Certificate, ID, SS Card) – Many part time jobs require Drivers License and non profits do not fund a drivers license, nor a passport.
• Sleeping Bag (for unhoused, unsheltered)
• Shower Shoes
• Non slip boots or shoes
• Comb
• Brush
• Hair Ties
• Clothing
• Bus/Train Pass
• Watch
• First aid kit

If you have the ability to donate to a local shelter, the items above are needed for both men and women who are temporarily going through being unhoused. However, writing the Department of Health or the Department of Human Services a reminder that a person is human even when not with child will allow for funds to be issued to homeless, seniors, and young adults who struggle with having these items.

The common urban rare occurence of drugs and alcohol occurs whether they have funds or not. Please do not cut government funding out of fear that a problem will occur. We simply honestly do not know why a person is homeless, but here are the louder reasons: Theft of property and identity, major family death and unemployment, handicapped, mentally ill, mentally unhealthy, grew up in the shelter system, unemployed for too long, too old to work, and physically ill.

In order to keep our city safe, we have to remember the homeless class of people as any person who is currently incapable of work and count them where it counts. No one asks to be unemployed and incapable.

Please join me in checking which resources you or your employer can make available to write and change the IL State law to include $300 cash monthly for the preservation of human health.