In a sweeping effort to address the migrant crisis in Chicago, city and state officials have rapidly transitioned thousands from temporary shelters to homes across the South and West sides. This move has prompted migrants to leave shelters by the masses, many arranging their own transportation via Uber or Lyft to newly found apartments, the Chicago Tribune reported. The Illinois Department of Human Services has disclosed an expenditure of $41.4 million to resettle over 5,000 households, a departure from the initial state and city leaders' plan announced eight months prior.
Tensions, however, have begun to surface as families have been instructed to quickly relocate miles away to make room for new migrant arrivals an action that has disrupted established community connections. Nearly 40 families residing at an old YMCA on the North Side, previously informed of its permanent status, are now faced with the requirement to relocate to a shelter at Daley College on the South Side. Jill Hallett, a neighbor, bemoaned the move, "They have library cards. They just went on a field trip to the library. They know the parks around here. They know how to ride their bikes around here. They are already embraced by the community in West Ridge and Rogers Park. So please, stop uprooting these people who have sacrificed so much," CBS 2 Chicago reported.
The decision to shut down shelters is seen by officials as a cost-effective strategy, with the city estimating to save at least $19 million from the closure of five sites since February 9. The rapid resettlement, though, has raised concern among migrant advocates over their welfare and the city's lack of a coherent plan to aid migrants in their new environments. Additionally, families who arrived after mid-November did not qualify for rental assistance, leading some to call themselves the "hidden homeless," according to the Chicago Tribune.
While officials project the need for $321 million to continue the migrant program through the end of 2024, individual migrants such as Angelica Beltran reportedly faced new challenges of unheated and unfurnished apartments amidst unfamiliar and sometimes unsafe neighborhoods. As the number of migrants to find their own apartments increased, the changes to the rental assistance program have been controversial, prompting questions about the migrants' future stability and integration into Chicago neighborhoods. "I dont think anyone can predict the future, but I know that its definitely going to be challenging," Sylvia Puente, president and CEO of the Latino Policy Forum, told the Tribune.
Disruptions to children's lives have not gone unnoticed, with reports of kids reluctant to switch schools and the local uproar over the forced relocations underscoring the complex social dynamics at play. Families, advocates, and community members continue to express their concerns as the saga of Chicago's efforts to manage the migrant crisis unfolds.
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Chicago Officials Tackle Migrant Crisis, Rapid Resettlement from Shelters to Homes Sparks Tension and Concern - Hoodline
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