>> WELL, LISTEN, THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT'S ON THE RISE IN ILLINOIS AND CHICAGO.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO A U.S. HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT FROM EARLIER THIS YEAR TO COMBAT THE ISSUE.

MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON APPOINTED THE CITY'S FIRST CHIEF HOMELESSNESS OFFICER CINDY SOTO LAST MONTH.

SHE HAS HER WORK CUT OUT FOR HER, THOUGH, TO DEVELOP A 5 YEAR PLAN TO GET AN HOUSE RESIDENTS SAFE AND STABLE HOUSING.

AND JOINING US NOW IS CINDY SOTO, THE CITY'S FIRST CHIEF HOMELESSNESS OFFICER.

CONGRATS ON THE NEW POSITION.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

YOU'VE BEEN IN THE POSITION FOR A MONTH.

THIS IS YOUR START OF YOUR 5TH AND YOU WERE PREVIOUSLY THE SENIOR DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY IMPACT AT THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY.

TRUST.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SORT OF CHALLENGES OF OF CREATING A NEW POSITION FROM SCRATCH.

>> BALL ONE.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I'M SO HAPPY TO BE IN THIS ROLE SERVING THE CITY OF CHICAGO IN THIS WAY.

AND IN THE MAYOR, THINK I WOULD SAY THAT HE CHOSE ME BECAUSE HE KNOWS THAT I CAN LEAVE AND CAN BUILD SOMETHING FROM SCRATCH.

SO BUILDING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FROM THE GROUND UP HAS BEEN SOMETHING I'VE BEEN DOING PRETTY MUCH ALL OF MY CAREERS SINCE BEING IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR.

AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, IN VARIOUS PLACES LIKE HEALTH CARE AND AT TIMES TRYING TO BUILD CAPACITY IN PHILANTHROPY.

AND SO FOR ME, MY FIRST EXPERIENCE IS REALLY WORKING WITH CONGRESSWOMAN TAMMY DUCKWORTH AND BUILDING HER DISTRICT OFFICE.

I'M FROM FROM AND WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE MEETING CONSTITUENT NEEDS AND WE HAD TO ENSURE THAT WE WERE ALSO SUPPORTING THE CONSTITUENTS THAT SAW HER AS A CHAMPION LIKE VETERANS AFFAIRS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES MOVING FORWARD IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR ABLE TO REALLY BRING THAT LENS OF BUILDING CONSTITUENT SERVICES IN A HOLISTIC APPROACH IN A WAY THAT REALLY MOTIVATES PEOPLE TO BELIEVE IN THE PUBLIC OFFICE.

AND IT'S THAT THEIR PUBLIC REPRESENTATIVE AND NOW IN THIS POSITION, I GET TO BRING ALL OF THOSE EXPERIENCES THAT I'VE HAD WORKING WITH OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS OR IN SOCIAL SERVICES WHERE I'VE HAD TO CREATE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FROM THE THING.

MY MOST RECENT IN ANGIER MAIN EXPERIENCE WITH THE CITY OF CHICAGO WAS WORKING AS MANAGING DEPUTY COMMISSIONER AT THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING.

RIGHT, BILL, THE BUREAU OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, RACIAL EQUITY, INTO STRATEGIC INITIATIVES.

IT WENT FROM AN OFFICE OF ONE PERCENT TO 9 PAID STAFF TO 6 PAYTON TURNS IN A MATTER OF 2 YEARS.

SO I KNOW THAT THE WORK IS GOING TO BE A LOT HAVE A LOT AHEAD OF ME.

BUT GIVEN ALL OF THE EXPERIENCES AND CHALLENGES THAT HAS ALREADY EXPERIENCED IN OVER COM, I HAVE NO DOUBT AND ALSO WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE MAYOR AND THE LEADERSHIP TEAM THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO A LOT OF GOOD WORK TOGETHER BECAUSE YOU'RE ALSO YOU'RE TAKING ON A VERY DAUNTING TASK, RIGHT?

SOMETHING THAT HAS NOT BEEN SOLVED AND THAT IS, OF COURSE, WITH HOMELESSNESS.

>> PART OF YOUR ROLE IS TO DEVELOP A 5 YEAR PLAN TO END HOMELESSNESS IN CHICAGO.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THAT PLAN MIGHT LOOK LIKE OR WHAT NEEDS TO BE WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING YEAH, I MEAN, I'M COMING IN WITH A HUGE NETWORK OF PEOPLE BEHIND ME.

AND I REALLY HAVE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE CHICAGO FUNDERS TOGETHER TO END HOMELESSNESS.

THAT HAS BEEN ON THE GROUND COMMITTED TO SEEING VERY SOLUTIONS.

>> COME FORWARD AND ONE OF THEM IS DISPOSITION THAT THEY HELPED CREATE WITH THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND ALONG WITH THAT IS PUTTING FORWARD SOME INITIAL KEY MILESTONES IN THE 5 YEAR PLAN IS ONE OF THEM THE WAY THAT I REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I COMPLETE THIS ALONG WITH ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS AND PEOPLE WE'LL EXPERIENCE IS DOING IT IN A THREE-PHASE APPROACH WHERE THE MOST FACE WILL INVOLVE WORKING TOGETHER IN SOME MORE SHORT TERM LOW HANGING FRUIT.

SO WE SHOULDN'T ALSO THAT CAN MEET THE STATE, THE CITY'S BUDGET AND THEN WORKING ALONGSIDE A LONGER FACE OF COMMUNITY TO ENSURE THAT I RECEIVE THE FEEDBACK AND THE WAY SAYS THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE LIVED.

EXPERIENCE.

SO I SEE THAT BEING MORE OF THE LONGER FACE OF ENSURING THAT I'M IN COMMUNITY TALKING THAT ONLY PEOPLE THAT LIVED EXPERIENCE BUT ALSO WITH THAT ARE HOMELESS, BUT ALSO PEOPLE WHO ARE AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS AND GOING LEARNING AND HEARING FROM THEM WHAT THEY'VE BEEN WANTING FROM THE CITY OF CHICAGO, HOW THEY WANT TO BE SERVED.

WHAT HAS BEEN MISSING AND WHAT WE CAN DO THERE ARE A LOT OF SERVICES ALREADY THAT THE CITY PROVIDES, BUT CERTAINLY PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES WITH THEM.

AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAPTURE ONE OF THE THINGS YOU MENTIONED IS, OF COURSE, THE CITY'S BUDGET.

MANY HOMELESS ADVOCATES WERE REALLY HOPEFUL.

>> THAT THE BRING CHICAGO HOME MEASURE WOULD PASS DURING THE PRIMARY ELECTION A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AND EVENTUALLY FUND A PLAN TO REDUCE HOMELESSNESS.

YOU CAME TO THIS POSITION EVEN AFTER AFTER THAT ELECTION AFTER THAT MEASURE FAILED.

WHAT HOW DOES YOUR JOB LOOK WITHOUT IT?

CERTAINLY WOULD LOVE MORE FUNDING FOR HOMELESSNESS SERVICES.

BUT I ALSO HOPEFUL AND EXCITED THAT IN ADMINISTRATION WITH MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON.

>> THAT THIS ISN'T THE ONLY THAT WASN'T THE ONLY SOLUTION THAT WE WERE GOING TO PUT FORWARD TO TO ADDRESSED ISSUES OF HOMELESSNESS.

AND IT'S REALLY A NATIONWIDE ISSUE.

IT'S NOT JUST AN ISSUE THAT THE CITY CAN DO ALONE, BUT NATIONWIDE WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

SO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT OTHER AND THE MAYOR JUST PASSED A BOND ORDINANCE THAT'S GOING TO ALLOW FOR OVER 600 MILLION DOLLARS TO GO INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

AND THAT'S THIS INCLUDES PRESERVING SINGLE OCCUPANCY.

WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

MICHAEL, TOO.

I'M ALSO BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE MORE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING WHERE PEOPLE THAT NEED WRAP AROUND SERVICES CAN BE ABLE TO SECURE THOSE SERVICES.

SO ALTHOUGH BRING CHICAGO HOME THAT IMPASSE, IT WASN'T THE ONLY SOLUTION THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WHAT'S GOING TO TRY TO PUT FORWARD.

AND IN THIS REALLY AM MONUMENT WHOLE ISSUE THAT DOES NOT ONLY EXIST IN THE CITY WHAT IT DOES TAKE THE CITY TO ALSO SOLVE OFFICER MUNLEY.

LOOKING AT OTHER AVENUES THAT WE CAN PURSUE THAT CAN HELP ADDRESS SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS.

THIS IS A PERSONAL ISSUE FOR YOU AS WELL.

YOU'VE SAID THAT YOU SOUGHT STABLE HOUSING FOR YOURSELF WHEN YOU'RE 18 YEARS OLD IN ORDER TO ESCAPE A VIOLENT SITUATION.

>> DO YOU MIND A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT EXPERIENCE WITH US AND WHAT YOU LEARNED FROM THAT?

YES, I MEAN, >> YOU KNOW, I GREW UP VERY LOW IN THE COMMUNITY THAT IS STILL RESIDE.

AND I ALSO EXPERIENCED BEING DOUBLED UP MY IMMEDIATE EXTENDED FAMILY AND SOMETIMES PEOPLE THAT WE'RE JUST RANGERS NEEDING A PLACE TO STAY AND CAN HELP SUBSIDIZE PARENTS RENT.

IT WAS CHALLENGING, YOU KNOW, AND AND AND GOING UP IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ALSO FACED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF VIOLENCE COMMUNITY VIOLENCE CERTAINLY DIDN'T ALLOW FOR ME TO REALLY DREAM TOO BIG HEAD, TO ALWAYS KIND OF STAY CLOSE BY.

AND YOU HAVE TO WATCH OUR OUR BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY FOR ME, WAS OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE SOMETHING DIFFERENT FOR MYSELF.

AND THAT'S WHY DID EVERYTHING I POSSIBLY COULD TO MOVE OUT AT THE AGE OF 18, LITTLE TO NO RESOURCES.

YOU KNOW, I COULDN'T THAT DIDN'T HAVE MONEY TO EDUCATION.

MY HIGHER EDUCATION.

AND SO AT THIS, I REALLY NEEDED TO FIND DIFFERENT WAYS IN WHICH I CAN.

SUCCEED AND IN SOCIETY.

BUT IN THE CITY, IN PARTICULAR.

AND SO I CHOSE TO MOVE AWAY FROM HOME AND WORK 2 JOBS AND GO TO SCHOOL AND FIND A SCHOLARSHIP AND TRY TO GET MYSELF TO VARIOUS CHALLENGES THAT WERE BEFORE ME.

AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT IT WOULD IF IT WASN'T FOR THE PEOPLE THAT REALLY IS WERE THERE AS MENTORS ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE THERE, TOO, TO CATCH ME WHEN WENT OUT WITH FALL, I WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY.

YOU KNOW TO DO THAT ALONE.

YOU KNOW THAT THERE WERE OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE COMPLICATED.

AND IN MY LIFE.

AND SO OFTENTIMES I WAS FACE TO ADDRESS ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS ALONE.

BUT 2 TO DO IT ALONE.

ALSO MEANT THAT I NEEDED TO FIND THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WANTED TO HELP ME.

AND SO I HAVE PEOPLE AT RIGHT COLLEGE.

I HAD PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AHEAD.

I WAS, YOU KNOW, VOLUNTEERING AT A NONPROFIT IN AT INSPIRATION CAFE AND BROUGHT ME JOY AND THAT HELPED ME KEEP GOING.

BUT IT CERTAINLY WAS NOT BECAUSE I NEEDED TO AGAIN WORK.

2 JOBS.

I ALSO NEEDED TO OVERCOME SOME OTHER CHALLENGES THAT MY FAMILY AND I WERE GOING THROUGH BUT BUT THE CITY IS JUST A WONDERFUL CITY THAT IF YOU FIND THE RIGHT PEOPLE, IT'S GOING TO GIVE YOU EVERYTHING.

YOU RIGHT PERSON FOR THE ROLE.

IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'VE GOT ABOUT 15 SECONDS HOW DO PLAN ON MAKING THIS CASE TO CITY COUNCIL?

>> ABOUT THE ROLE THAT EVERYONE SHOULD PLAY IN REDUCING HOMELESSNESS.

>> IT'S GOING TO TAKE EVERYONE.

I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THIS CURRENTLY HAS AN OFFICE OF ONE, BUT IT'S REALLY EVERYBODY'S OFFICE.

THIS CHICAGO'S OFFICE OF HOMELESSNESS.

EVERYBODY CAN COME TO ME CAN CAN SEEK OUT SERVICES AND INFORMATION THAT THEY'VE BEEN WANTING FOR.

AND I'M GOING TO LEAN ON THEM.

I'M GOING TO LEAN ON THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I'M GOING TO LEAN ON COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND PHILANTHROPY AND PRIVATE SECTOR TO REALLY BRING ALL OF THESE RESOURCES TO THE TABLE BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST GOING TO TAKE ONE PERSON OR THERE'S NOT JUST ONE WAY FORWARD.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE