Homelessness in Elmhurst is reaching a boiling point, and the issue has been exacerbated over the last few years. During the pandemic, one in four households were overcrowded, and many people lost their jobs and couldn't afford to have their basic needs met. This resulted in an extreme increase in the homeless population of Elmhurst, forcing vulnerable families to either go to homeless shelters or double-up (which is when two or three families share a space normally meant for one family). Even three years after the pandemic officially ended, families are still struggling to bounce back due to one main issue: affordable housing.

Affordable housing might seem like a dream, but it's actually closer to reality than you might realize. "Zombie Buildings" are buildings that are essentially unused buildings due to various reasons and they can be repurposed to create affordable housing for people who need it. In Elmhurst, Zombie Buildings have already been used to provide affordable housing hundreds of families using CLT's (nonprofits that hold land for community benefit). These buildings don't just serve the purpose of providing affordable housing, they can also provide other services such as daycare, free language classes, community meeting spot, and way more. 

The process of actually transforming Zombie Buildings into buildings that can be used for affordable housing and other purposes is long and tedious. You can help speed this process up just by signing this petition and showing that you truly care about unhoused people and affordable housing. We need as many signatures as possible, so please share this with anyone you know!

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