Cook County's Continuum of Care coordinates homelessness response across suburbs, supported by Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) grants. Forest Preserve District handles encampment removals on its 70,000 acres with 30-day notice and personal property storage protocols.
Suburban Cook County Continuum of Care (CoC IL-510), administered by Cook County Department of Public Health and the Alliance to End Homelessness, allocates HUD CoC funds across about 130 municipalities. Illinois DCEO provides Home Illinois funding for shelter, rapid rehousing, and street outreach. Encampment-removal protocols vary: FPDCC posts 30-day notice, offers outreach via Cook Health, stores personal property up to 90 days, and coordinates with Sheriff for refusals. IDOT cleans state highway right-of-way encampments with similar notice. There is no countywide sanitation-encampment ordinance; each suburb's public works department applies its own protocol consistent with Lavan v. Los Angeles property-protection principles.
Refusing to vacate after lawful 30-day notice violates FPDCC Ch. 9 ($75-$500 fine) or municipal trespass codes. Personal property destroyed without storage may trigger civil rights claims under 42 USC 1983 and Lavan-style protections.
See how Oak Lawn's encampment sanitation rules stack up against other locations.
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