When I was hired during the last housing crisis through an Obama administration relief effort, it was clear to all of us involved: it was way too little, way too late.

Imagine median rent at $1,000 and your total expenses for all other life was another $1,000 (it’s much more). Now imagine you have always paid your bills, but with work shortage you may have lost 50% or more of your income. Your $500 plus the $1,000 federal stimulus check still leaves you $500 in the hole. Will it come from cutting your food? Your healthcare? Or your rent?

We clearly can not rely on our federal government during this crisis either. But this time we can learn for ourselves.

We have the tools in our state.

We need to get creative.

No idea can be too small, no idea can be too big.

TIF. Send them back to the neighborhoods?

IDHA. Provide direct coordination?

Create new uses for old tools.

Create new tools for an evolving crisis.

The only wrong answer is inaction.

Stabilize our housing stock. This needs to be our immediate priority.

If not, even further down the line, we will re-live what even more of us consider the worst case scenario for an economy based on property values:

More schools will close.

Now is the only time.

If you agree, and if you have enough time to help, call / text me / email me : Dan@DanKleinman.org. 312-860-3847.

With your health in my heart.

Thank you.

And still,

Looking forward.