Community Needs Assessment Shows Housing Affordability and Utility Costs Top Community Concerns

Cook County Board Committee Meetings
January 24, 2024

CEDA (Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County) presented their report of community needs. 

• CEDA’s every 3 years survey of community needs shows a change in aid priorities by those served by this organization.  Housing and Utility costs were increasingly of concern while child care and employment concerns have dropped.  The past 3 years showed an increase in unemployment, growing crime, devastated retail, lodging, and food businesses.  Food costs have dramatically increased as well.  Minority communities were the hardest hit by all this.
• The action plan covers summer youth employment; weatherization of homes; energy services; housing services; Women, infants and Children (WIC); and family support /community engagement among others.
• One goal of CEDA is to have better communication with constituents so they will take advantage of these programs and funds along with their eligibility procedures.  Comm. Moore asked “Exactly how does a person get assistance?”  There seemed to be a lot of confusion on this and CEDA admitted  their current methods were not as effective as they could be, including regarding eligibility times and requirements.  They will initiate town halls in addition to the call center (which is overworked), QR code or a direct call to one of the administrators.  Since commissioners were also unsure how to maneuver the system, a short “cheat sheet” will be provided to them so they can help their constituents get into these programs.

Other items of Interest:

• Technology budget is now up to $153,661,291.00.  All technology purchases by offices and departments will come from this amount.
• Technology Strategic Plan; Workforce summary; Inspector General report presentations were all delayed for various reasons.
• Board of Review (BoR) Comm. Steele presented her reasons for strongly supporting the combining of technology of BoR to the system used by the rest of the property tax offices. (Leaving On-Base system and going to Tyler technology)  At a community event the current system crashed leaving numerous people unhelped.  She stated the current BoR system is inefficient and not useful for its purposes.  Also going to the Tyler system would be cheaper, all things considered.
• Long comments (from speakers and commissioners) on the Resolution Against Book Bans.  Board voted strongly to support this in the Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee.

Observer - Karin Hribar