DNC Happy Hour š“ š„„
This month, we're joining forces with our YIMBY Action comrades and kicking off the Democratic National Convention with a banger of a happy hour!
Get up off that couch and join us at the West Loop Ranalli's on Monday, August 19th @ 6PM. And if you know pro-housing elected officials who are in town for the DNC, tell them to join us!
Ranalli's is located within walking distance of the Ashland CTA station. CTA bus route 20 also stops right outside, but due to the DNC chaos your best bet is probably your bike.
July Event Recap
On July 23rd, we cohosted our largest happy hour yet with MPC in the Wrigley Building. Attendees got to hear from and connect with housing policy experts Sara Bronin, Nolan Gray, and Yonah Freemark who were in town for MPC's Untangling Zoning event.
If you'd like to learn more about MPC's Untangling Zoning Impacts and Promoting Equity Through Reform event, you can find their panel recording here.
Support a new shelter in Little Village!
Franciscan Outreach is seeking special use approval for the property located at 2508 West 21st Street to allow theĀ preservation, reactivation and rehabilitation of the existing buildingĀ at the property in order toĀ establish a transitional shelter with 81 non-congregate shelter beds, 36 congregate flex beds, and case management and health counseling offices. This is a chance to provide some much needed transitional housing for some of our most vulnerable neighbors. Sign our letter to the ZBA to let them know that you support this project!Ā
Support a shelter conversion in Little Village!
Humboldt Park Non-Congregate Shelter
26th Ward Alderperson Jessie Fuentes is making a big push to support unhoused neighbors in the Humboldt Park community and has launched a petition to support the initiative. This would involve the City's purchase of an existing three-story building located at 2704 W. North Ave for conversion into over 50 homes (source: Block Club).
Urban Environmentalists supports abundant housing of all types, including non-congregate shelters such as this one, and we encourage our members to sign Alder Fuentes' petition.
Support a new Non-Congregate Shelter in Humboldt Park!
Boots on the Ground
Sometimes, it's important to take a break from scrolling and reflect on all the incredible accomplishments that our members have been a part of. Ā Just in this path month, UE members:
- Gave public comment in support of abundant housing at City Hall
- Spoke at a protest opposing a car-centric DLSD design
- Turned out in-person to support 200 new homes in Lakeview
- Toured an ADU with multiple elected officials
- Got published in the Chicago Sun Times
While summertime means a short-term lull in City Council activity, we'll be back in full swing next month. Stay tuned for more opportunities to support abundant housing at City Hall!
Help us Expand our Reach! š
While Urban Environmentalists has grown quickly, we recognize that our membership growth has not been evenly spread throughout all Chicago neighborhoods. To celebrate our Membership Month, we are doubling down on our efforts to ensure strong UE representation throughout all fifty wards, but to achieve this, we need your help! If you know of individuals in the following five wards or nearby community areas that are interested in abundant housing, safe streets, and a healthier planet, we want you to send them our way.
- Ward 6 (Grand Crossing)
- Ward 7 (South Shore)
- Ward 15 (Englewood)
- Ward 17 (Auburn Gresham)
- Ward 37 (Austin)
For every new UE IL member that we sign up who resides in one of these five wards or community areas, we will give out a free one-year YIMBY Action membership! This provides you with access to our Slack (where all the organizing happens) as well as our members only events.