West Cook News

To ensure students experiencing homelessness are aware of available resources, state Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) has created a housing insecurity liaison position at all higher education institutions in Illinois.

The law requires each institution to appoint a Housing and Opportunities Useful for Students' Excellence (HOUSE) liaison, Hilton's website reported.

"Stable housing is foundational to academic and social success," Glowiak Hilton posted to her Facebook account on July 12. "To ensure students experiencing homelessness are aware of available resources, my new law created a housing insecurity liaison position at all higher education institutions in Illinois." 

Glowiak Hilton also discussed what she hoped to accomplish with the new position. 

“Students without permanent housing may not be aware of the resources available to them on campus and in their communities,” Glowiak Hilton said. “By creating a housing insecurity liaison, we are working to prevent homeless students from falling through the cracks by connecting them with aid.”

Higher education institutions would also be required to provide information about available services and assistance regarding homelessness under the new law, Hilton's website reported. The insecurity liaison's job will be to find services for students, discover which students are eligible for services, track the graduation rates of homeless students and create plans for homeless students to gain access to on-campus housing. Senate Bill 190 is effective Aug. 1, 2022.