SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Simmons presented a measure that encourages cooperative housing developments to the Senate State Government Committee on Wednesday.

“Too many communities across Illinois are experiencing a severe shortage of affordable housing supply,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “Cooperative housing provides one piece of the overall supply needed for those who are lower-income and aspire to live in cooperatively owned buildings.”

Senate Bill 1484 creates the Cooperative Housing Fund, which would be used by the Illinois Housing Development Authority to award up to $5,000,000 in grants to organizations developing cooperative housing for residents with an income less than or equal to the median income within the municipality.

This measure will promote cooperative housing, a form of housing where a non-profit entity owns the residential building but its residents are shareholders of the entity. Cooperative housing provides a viable alternative to homeownership for low to middle-income earners who may not be able to buy a home, while adding a key affordable housing option to those who need it. 

Simmons will continue to push for this funding throughout the budget negotiation process.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) issued the following statement after Gov. JB Pritzker gave his annual Budget and State of the State addresses Wednesday:

“I am pleased to see that today’s budget proposal recommends funding to address homelessness, expand access to healthcare, early childhood and other investments. 

“However, more funding is still needed to help historically underserved communities grappling with the continuing HIV and AIDS crisis and for Black-led community organizations to help with this issue. 

“In the weeks ahead, I look forward to working with the governor and my fellow lawmakers to ask pointed questions during hearings and to negotiate a budget that helps working class families meet their needs, provides more funds towards transportation safety for pedestrians and cyclists, expands access to healthcare for communities who are not well-served by the current healthcare system, and affordable housing. I look forward to continuing to negotiate these measures, which are absolutely necessary to support the people of Illinois.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Simmons presented the Black Leadership Advocacy Coalition for Healthcare Equity with a proclamation declaring Feb. 7^th as Black HIV/AIDS Advocacy Day during a press conference Tuesday.

“I was proud to stand with dedicated advocates for the Black HIV/AIDS community today,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “We have so much work to do to bring new HIV infections down to zero and to ensure robust and affordable health care for those living with HIV and AIDS in our communities. Uplifting those engaged in this work today is step one.”

Feb 7^th is recognized as National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Health Institute. In 2017, an estimated 39,842 Illinoisans were living with HIV. In 2020, Black Illinoisans were 14.2% of the state’s population but accounted for 52.1 % of new HIV diagnoses and 48% of existing diagnoses.

Senator Simmons issued a proclamation to the Black Leadership Advocacy Coalition for Healthcare Equity, a non-profit whose mission is to identify and dismantle systemically racist policies and funding processes in the healthcare system.  

“For too long, our healthcare systems have failed to support the health needs of the Black community,” Simmons said. “I will continue to fight for legislation that ensures all people have access to equitable, affordable, culturally-competent care.”

Declaring Feb. 7^th Black HIV/AIDS Advocacy Day will help draw attention to the advocacy by community groups and coalitions working to uplift and provide equitable resources for Black communities living with HIV/AIDS.

For more information and HIV/AIDS prevention tips, please visit the National Institutes of Health’s Office of AIDS Research here.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Simmons continued his fight for more funding for struggling families, during a press conference he attended with State Representative Marcus C. Evans Jr. and the Economic Security Project on Tuesday, Feb. 7.

“Working parents are struggling worse than ever before. It is time for the state to create a permanent Child Tax Credit that puts money back into the pockets of parents in Illinois, so that parents can take care of their children and communities can begin to recover,” said State Senator Mike Simmons (D- Chicago). “I am so proud to stand with this broad and diverse coalition of organizations and parents today to call for a permanent Child Tax Credit.”    

Senator Simmons discussed legislation that will create a child tax credit, making Illinois one of the few states to have a state-level child tax credit.

If passed, this legislation, Senate Bill 1444, would create an Illinois Child Tax Credit for eligible low and middle income Illinois families. Families would receive a $700 tax credit for each child under the age of 17. The policy proposed would benefit joint filers earning less than $75,000 and single filers earning less than $50,000.  

“We know that the expansion of the federal child tax credit during the pandemic lifted millions of children out of poverty. And we know that if we pass this state level Child Tax Credit, nearly half of all Illinois children would benefit from this economic relief for parents all across the state. Now is the time to create a Child Tax Credit for Illinois.”

Those in attendance were Senator Simmons, Representative Marcus C. Evans, Senator Peters, Senator Johnson, Senator Preston, Senator Cervantes, Senator Edly-Allen, Senator Ventura and representatives from the Economic Security Project and Community Organizing and Family Issues.