CHICAGO CITY HALL (WBBM Newsradio) -- Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson is rolling out his administration's new plan for helping unhoused people in the city, and praising the former department head who led its creation.
"I'm never going to give up on this issue," the mayor told reporters here Tuesday afternoon as his team sent out its five-year blueprint for addressing homelessness in Chicago. It was assembled under the leadership of now-departed Chief Homelessness Officer Sendy Soto, and focuses on strategies designed to deal with prevention, affordable housing, mental health resources and employment.
One of its goals involves getting some groups to what the city calls "functional zero" within five years.
Soto's position was funded through a three-year foundation grant, but the mayor told reporters that Soto finishing the work in two years is a good thing.
"Her service to the city was absolutely remarkable," the mayor said. "As a former public school teacher, I actually think it's quite impressive to turn in an assignment early. Those resources will now go toward implementation."
That implementation includes having First Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Jonah Anderson take on a dual role as head of the mayor's office of homelessness.
"This is the most comprehensive any administration has been around addressing homelessness," the mayor said, recounting experiences helping unhoused students during his time as a public school teacher, as well as his older brother who died addicted and unhoused.
"This is personal for me," the mayor added.
Mayor praises ex-'chief homelessness officer;' focus now on implementation
