Chicago – October 23, 2024
Chicago is making changes to how it helps migrants and homeless people. The city will combine its migrant-only shelter system with the traditional homeless shelter system. This big change is called the One System Initiative (OSI) and will start by the new year.
Also, Chicago will close its special area called the “landing zone” at the end of 2024. This place used to help new migrants find shelter and other important resources. It used to be open all night, but now it’s only open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
These changes are happening because fewer migrants are coming to Chicago now. At the busiest time in late December, the city was helping about 14,900 migrants. But now, that number has dropped to around 5,000. By merging the systems, Chicago plans to add 3,800 beds to the existing 3,000 beds for homeless services. This new plan will help the city save money and manage things better.
Chicago’s Mayor, Johnson, also mentioned Texas Governor Greg Abbott. Abbott sent thousands of migrants to Chicago because it is a sanctuary city, which means it aims to protect migrants. This was part of his response to the large number of migrants arriving in Texas.
