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The city of Chicago is thinking about opening five new migrant shelters to provide temporary housing for people who are seeking asylum. These places could be private buildings or public spaces. Moreover, some of the potential locations include the Broadway Armory Park and the Marine Corps Reserve Center. There are also plans for Taylor Park, a building on Cottage Grove Avenue, and a closed CVS building in Little Village.
City’s Shelter Challenges
The city is discussing these potential shelter sites in a meeting with its Immigrant and Refugee Rights Committee. Additionally, they are facing challenges in finding suitable housing and providing basic services for asylum seekers who come to Chicago from places like Texas.
Furthermore, if these new shelters are approved, they would be able to house around 2,500 people. The largest of the new locations would be the former Marine Corps Reserve Center at 3034 West Foster Avenue. in the Far Northwest Side’s 39th Ward. It would have an estimated capacity of 1,000. The second-largest of the newly identified locations is the Broadway Armory, 5917 North Broadway.
Community Concerns
Each location is currently at a different stage of consideration. For example, the Marine Corps Center is waiting for an estimate of its value and environmental impact. Moreover, the building on Cottage Grove Avenue is being repaired and could be ready for people to move in next month. The CVS facility is also scheduled to open next month.
Discussions are ongoing with local representatives about reusing the Broadway Armory and Taylor Park as shelters. Furthermore, some people in the community have concerns about using the Broadway Armory because it currently houses a senior center, programs for teenagers, a theater, and a circus arts school, among other things. Moreover, the park’s regular activities will continue for now, and there will be a community meeting to discuss any changes to the facility.
Migrants who were staying at a shuttered YMCA in West Ridge on the North Side were moved by bus. They were moved to a new temporary shelter at Daley College on the South Side.
Written by Ny’kes Wright
Sources:
ABC7Chicago: Chicago migrants: City could open as many as 5 migrant shelters, as Mayor Johnson addresses crisis
BlockClubChicago: Chicago Could Open 5 More Migrant Shelters As Humanitarian Crisis Continues by Joe Ward