Chicago plans to close five shelters for migrants in the coming weeks
and move nearly 800 people, including families, in order to reopen park district buildings hosting popular summer camps, athletic contests and other community events in time for summer. The shift is part of the city’s ongoing scramble to meet the needs of people arriving from the U.S. border with Mexico. Advocates for the newly arrived have frequently criticized Mayor Brandon Johnson, a Democrat, and argued that the available services are inadequate.
Nearly 20 other temporary shelters are still operating in the city, including churches, hotels, a library and former warehouses. The largest shelters are housing more than 1,000 people while others reported counts closer to 100, according to the city's latest update this month. The city is aiming to move people to other shelters closer to the park buildings, particularly families with children enrolled in nearby schools, Johnson’s statement said.
Volunteers who work with new arrivals said they understand the desire for neighborhoods to have park district facilities back, particularly for camps and other programs popular during summer months. But they worry the forced move will upend migrants' efforts to find work and get their children to school. “Most people are actively, constantly trying to figure out how they get out of shelters,” volunteer Lydia Wong said. “I don't know that this helps expedite it at all.
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