Niles 4-20-17

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A P R I L 2 0 , 2 0 1 7 V O L . 6 1 I S S U E 29

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SUMMER

Camp Spotlight Begin planning kids’ summer rec now SEE PAGE 6

SPORTS

DeKalb bound Maine South RB headed to NIU SEE PAGE 5

VILLAGE NEWS >> NILES HUMAN SERVICES

Depts. review accomplishments, challenges Human Services Committee concerned with homelessness, lack of afforable housing BY IGOR STUDENKOV Bugle Staff @BugleNewspapers nweditor@buglenewspapers.com

Homelessness and lack of afforable housing in the Village of Niles emerged as major concern during the April 13 Niles Human Services Committee. Every three months, heads of the Niles Department of Family Services, Niles Fitness Center,

Niles Senior Center and Niles Teen Center meet to update each other on their goals and activities, as well as major issues they are hoping to address. Tony Hollenback, the director of the Department of Family Services, reported that he was planning to talk to the Department of Community Development to see what they could do to increase low-income housing options.

Homelessness has been an issue that shows no sign of abating, he said, and he hoped that it would help address the situation. As Hollenback later told the Bugle, he hopes that more affordable housing would address two issues – provide options for people who are already homeless and keep the people who may have trouble keeping their homes from becoming homeless. As he saw it, it make more sense to try to help people keep their homes than to wait until

they lose it, because helping a homeless person is more expensive and requires more resources. Hollenback also said that the number of homeless individuals has been increasing – something that, he said, doesn’t get much attention because homelessness isn’t seen as a suburban issue. During the April 13 meeting, he told the committee that the issue is going to become especially acute during the summer. His department has teamed up

with Journeys | The Road Home, a Palatine-based non-profit agency that provides social services for the homeless. From Oct. 1 to April 30, it works with faith organizations in 37 towns to give their clients a place to stay. When a person shows up at Family Services looking for a place to stay, the department gives them some food and hygiene supplies, and pays for their cab fare to whichever site SEE REVIEW PAGE 2


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