CHICAGO — With support from State Senator Mattie Hunter, National Louis University and Roosevelt University will receive over $381,000 to address student homelessness and help provide necessities many students lack.

“Students are more likely to succeed if they can focus on their schooling rather than finding their next meal or a place to sleep,” said Hunter (D-Chicago). “With this funding, National Louis University and Roosevelt University will be better equipped to help students in need.”

The End Student Housing Insecurity grants were awarded by the Illinois Board of Higher Education and will be used to support ongoing efforts to address systemic causes of student homelessness and basic-needs insecurity. National Louis University and Roosevelt University are among the 10 institutions chosen by the IBHE.

The investments — $199,908 to National Louis University and $182,499 to Roosevelt University — are one step in the state’s higher education plan to close equity gaps for students. The grants were awarded by a competitive application process, based on the school’s ability to address primary causes of homelessness and basic-needs insecurity, and to help students overcome barriers to graduation.

“Students already face immense pressure while going to school,” said Hunter. “These grants represent our state’s continued commitment to ensuring no student has to worry about basic necessities while pursuing their academic dreams.”

View more information about the End Student Housing Insecurity grants.

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Mattie Hunter’s legislation to further reinforce the goals of the Department of Children and Family Services is now in effect.

“DCFS’ primary objective remains reuniting children with their families or securing safe, permanent homes,” said Hunter (D-Chicago). “This law clarifies these goals and ensures the Children and Family Services Act is up-to-date and compliant with current needs.”

The new law cleaned up language in the Children and Family Services Act to include that DCFS is responsible for placing children in permanent family homes through guardianship or adoption — rather than adoptive homes — when restoration to the biological family is not safe, possible or appropriate.

Additionally, the law clarifies DCFS’ responsibility for children or youth whose jurisdiction could not be clearly named as under one individual agency, or whose services may be provided by multiple agencies, and reaffirms that welfare services offered by DCFS are intended to be temporary until safe reunification or timely and permanent placement can be achieved.

House Bill 3705 went into effect Jan. 1.

SPRINGFIELD —The Illinois Department of Human Services will collect data on the frequency of stolen SNAP benefits beginning Jan. 1 after a new law from State Senator Mattie Hunter takes effect.

“We have heard from many Illinois residents who have been victims of identity fraud and lost access to their SNAP benefits," said Hunter (D-Chicago). "By tracking the frequency of these occurrences, IDHS will have a better idea of the scope of the problem and how we can effectively move forward.”

Under the new law, IDHS will have the authority to track how often benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are stolen from their rightful recipients. SNAP participants receive monthly benefits for groceries deposited onto EBT cards, and in the past year, card skimming has increased significantly in many states. IDHS began collecting data on card skimming and other fraud methods in December 2022, making it unclear how much theft had previously occurred.

Last year, Congress passed legislation to replace SNAP benefits stolen between Oct. 1, 2022 and Sept. 30, 2024. This new law will serve as a starting point for Illinois to gain a clearer understanding of the scope and frequency of SNAP benefit fraud in the state, allowing for more effective measures to be put in place to combat this issue.

“When families lose their benefits —at no fault of their own — they are unable to purchase food until the situation can be resolved,” Hunter said. “We must ensure these benefits remain accessible to those who need them.”

House Bill 2214 takes effect Jan. 1.

SPRINGFIELD — Beginning Jan. 1, residents will see expanded protections from utility disconnections on days of extreme heat, thanks to a new law from State Senator Mattie Hunter.

“For people who fall behind on their bills, having their utilities shut off on an extremely hot day can have dire consequences,” said Hunter (D-Chicago). “By recognizing the dangers of heat and the value in access to air conditioning and proper refrigeration, we are protecting some of our state’s most vulnerable.”

The Public Utilities Act — which prohibits utility shutoffs on days where the temperature is above 95 degrees Fahrenheit — will now include extreme heat events, factoring in humidity and the heat index. On days when the forecasted temperature is 90 degrees or above, or when the National Weather Service issues a heat watch, advisory or warning, residents’ utilities cannot be shut off, even if they are behind on paying their bills.

Older adults, young children and people with chronic medical conditions are at high risk of heat-related illness and death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 700 people in the U.S. die from extreme heat each year. When utilities are shut off, residents lose access to life-saving cooling methods, refrigeration for food and medicine and electricity to power essential devices.

“Illinois weather is unpredictable. This law will lead to greater safety on the hottest days, particularly during the summer months,” said Hunter.

House Bill 1541 goes into effect Jan. 1.