Gov. J.B. Pritzker's administration has announced the opening of two new shelters in Chicago to house nearly 2,000 migrants, a move that aligns with Illinois's stated efforts to address the continuing humanitarian crisis. As reported by CBS Chicago, one of the shelters, located near Midway International Airport, is set to accommodate up to 950 individuals, while a facility in Hyde Park, formerly a hotel, will house as many as 750.
The Hyde Park location has previously served as quartering for migrants during a health crisis. Both sites are expected to offer a range of services designed to assist families as they transition towards independence, with Gov. Pritzker emphasizing the plan's data-driven strategy to "improve our response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis and amplify the effectiveness of State, County, and City investments," as reported by CBS Chicago.
Controversy surrounds the timing of these openings, with only months left before Chicago hosts the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in August. Concerns have been raised about the likelihood of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott sending an increased number of buses with migrants to Chicago, an act previously critiqued as politically motivated. Nevertheless, a representative for Gov. Pritzker downplayed the timing of the shelters' debut, stating that the plan had been in the works for an extended period and the current timeline was due to when details were finalized.
Questions have been voiced by local lawmakers, including Rep. Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar, who represents the district where one shelter will be located. She cited "unpredictability" of actions from Texas as a reason officials gave for the urgency, as detailed in a statement obtained by the Chicago Tribune. Moreover, the city's ongoing housing crisis exacerbates the situation, with Bob Palmer, policy director of Housing Action Illinois, stressing the severity of the shortage in available low-income rentals, a statement backed by data before the current surge in new arrivals.
Despite the introduction of these shelters, questions linger about the fate of migrants once the window of support closes, particularly following the conclusion of a state-funded emergency rental assistance program. As Michelle Gilbert, legal and policy director at the Law Center for Better Housing explained to the Chicago Tribune, without sustainable housing solutions, many could be pushed toward eviction and possibly, a return to the shelter system.
Currently, the city houses migrants in a variety of locations, and while some have reportedly been evicted despite available space, city officials maintain that the 60-day shelter stay policy is being executed to allow for reprocessing of asylum seekers wishing to re-enter the system. City and state officials are expected to keep the 17 existing shelters in operation at least until after the DNC, as affirmed by city officials in communications with CBS Chicago.
