U.S. House of Representatives Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York, came to U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider’s 10th Congressional District to learn how residents of an area with wealthy suburbs and working-class communities are dealing with affordability. Jefferies heard stories of mothers challeng ed to pay rent when child support lapsed, or forced to make choices between food and medicine. He also learned that more and more people are seeking help with rent or utility bills. Dulce Ortiz, the executive director of Mano a Mano Family Services and a Waukegan Township trustee, let Jeffries and Schneider know about a family that avoided an encounter with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, but was still left with difficult choices to make. Ortiz said the family lived in a house owned by family members and paid below-market rent of $1,600 a month. ICE came to the house when the family was not home, but fear of the agency’s return prompted the family to move and face market-rate rent of around $2,800 and related consequences. “They can’t afford it,” Ortiz said. “They’re going to have to make a very difficult decision of having to pull their special-needs child from a school they’ve been attending. They’re going to have to decide how they’re going to get to work. Now, they can walk to the grocery store.” Ortiz was one of more than 10 community leaders from Lake, Cook and McHenry counties who met with Schneider and Jefferies for a roundtable discussion on affordability on Tuesday in Winnetka in hopes they will take the information back to Washington with them in crafting future legislation. U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York, speaks at a news conference after a roundtable discussion about affordability with people from Lake, Cook and McHenry counties. (Steve Sadin/For the Lake County News-Sun) “We got to hear from leaders who are hearing from their constituents and the people they serve,” Schneider said at a news conference after the roundtable. “Everyday Americans and virtually all Americans are struggling with rising costs, not just to get by, but it’s hard to get ahead.” Gathering information from people going to work every day is important, Jeffries said, and hearing what the American people have to say to them is more important than telling them what he believes needs fixing. “We want the American people to talk to us, to lay out their real on-the-ground experiences,” he said at the news conference. “That’s the least we can do to make sure when you’re working hard and playing by the rules, you can live an affordable life, a comfortable life, a good life.” Waukegan Township Supervisor Marc Jones said after the news conference that for the past three months his office has seen a 15% increase in phone calls from people asking about housing assistance, help with paying utility bills, or both. He sees needs elsewhere, too. U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Highland Park, far right, talks to Dulce Ortiz, second from left, and others before a roundtable discussion on affordability. (Steve Sadin/For the Lake County News-Sun) “Our Grandparents Raising Grandchildren support group, which normally has 10 to15 participants, has spiked to 50 participants,” Jones said. “This increase is a testament to the greater need for additional household support, including food, clothing, school supplies and other essential items for young people.” With the increase in the needs of the immigrant community, Ortiz said her organization is forced to reallocate and refocus resources. The number of people in need of assistance has tripled in the past few years, she said, and the past year has been the hardest. “What used to be classrooms for ESL, GED and workforce training now has become a makeshift food distribution center,” Ortiz said. “Families who once focused on improving their English, finding better jobs and improving their stability are now asking how will they pay for rent and put food on the table.” Rob Anthony, the president of Libertyville-based Community Partners for Affordable Housing, said rent and home prices are significantly exceeding the rate of inflation, making it harder for families to live as they once did. “Rent and home prices are increasing at two to four times the rate of income,” Anthony said. “There’s a widening gap. It’s not that people aren’t working hard. There’s a structural problem with income not keeping up with home prices.” Along with Ortiz, Jones and Anthony, participants at the roundtable included business owners, other township officials and people from social services agencies. ...read more read less