Addressing the State of Our Nation at the State Level
Dear Neighbor,
Things are pretty unsettling right now.
I try to focus on state legislative stuff in this newsletter, because I figure you’re getting information about the federal situation from all kinds of other places. But I feel like I can’t let it go unaddressed here. An unelected billionaire is running amok in our government, gutting programs our friends and loved ones depend on, defying the courts, and trampling on our basic rights and freedoms. Meanwhile, the elected guy is kowtowing to our enemies, bullying our allies, deporting refugees to secret prisons, and trying to write our trans friends and loved ones out of existence.
Here in Illinois, we’ve done a lot to protect ourselves from the worst of these attacks. Our strong state laws protecting immigrants and our powerful networks of community organizations have slowed their attempts at mass deportations. Our law also protects the rights of trans people to access healthcare and to participate in public life free from discrimination. And our Attorney General has led nationwide efforts to stop the Trump/Musk administration’s illegal actions.
But we also have to raise our voices. Governor Pritzker made powerful remarks in his State of the State address last week pointing out the eerie parallels to the rise of fascism in Europe in the 1930s. And in the House of Representatives, we introduced and passed a number of resolutions condemning the actions in Washington.
I was proud to be the sponsor of one of these resolutions. You can see an excerpt of my remarks here:
The Republicans in the House literally fled the chamber rather than voting “yes” or “no” on Trump’s actions. But I’m proud that our caucus stood united in decrying these actions. As the chaos continues from Washington, we’ll keep standing up and calling it out. And as the legislative session wears on, we’ll keep looking for more bills to enact to keep Illinoisans safe from the worst of Trump’s attacks.
Please stay in touch, and all my best—
Will
Queer Youth Support Group
The LoSAH Center of Hope is starting a Queer Youth Support Group. The free 8-week, in-person group will be on Tuesdays, from 6 to 7:30pm starting on March 4. Capacity is limited! If you have questions, please call (773) 433-1995 or email Rian Jones, LCSW, at rjones@losahcenter.org.
Monthly Rental Assistance Informational Workshops
Are you behind on your rent payments and looking for resources to help? On Friday, February 28, at 3PM join the Hana Center for a monthly Rental Assistance Informational Workshop to learn about available programs and resources. Note: This workshop is informational ONLY and does not lead to direct financial assistance. Register here: bit.ly/hana-rental-info.
Cash for Families Experiencing Homelessness
The Inclusive Economy Lab and GiveDirectly are providing up to $6,500 in unrestricted cash assistance to families experiencing homelessness in Illinois.
The deadline to apply is March 9. To be eligible for this program, a family must:
Be experiencing homelessness. Families living doubled up are eligible, but must be enrolled in their school district's McKinney-Vento services by the relevant cut-off date.
Include a parent/guardian and at least one child 17 or younger.
Include a student who is enrolled in a public school in Illinois.
Reside in one of the following counties: Cook, Kane, Lake, Peoria, St. Clair, Will, Sangamon.
Include a current recipient of one of the following benefits: SNAP, TANF, VTTC Cash, and/or State Food.
REAL ID
For Illinois residents who fly domestically, the federal government has extended the deadline to May 7, 2025 that will require you to use a valid U.S. Passport or obtain a REAL ID from the Illinois Secretary of State's Office.
To see what documents you need to apply for a REAL ID, visit the REAL ID Interactive Checklist. REAL ID applicants have the option to make an appointment at one of the 30 appointment facilities, or they can visit a walk-in facility. To determine what facilities require an appointment or to make an appointment, please visit Secretary of State Facility Appointments.