Illinois will provide an extra $160 million to assist newly arrived migrants in Chicago with their resettlement, with $65 million going toward the establishment of a “winterized” temporary shelter in the city to prevent people from sleeping outside during the cold. This announcement was made by Governor J.B. Pritzker on Thursday.
Mayor Brandon Johnson recently allocated additional funds, supplementing the $150 million from the approved city budget, to address the challenges posed by migrants arriving from the southern border.
Despite this, projections indicate a significant budget shortfall if the city maintains its current spending levels. To bridge the gap, the mayor aims to secure support from Cook County, the state, and the federal government.
After taking office in May, Mayor Brandon Johnson has described it as an inherited issue that the city is attempting to resolve.
He said earlier this week that the state and county would provide more resources and that there would be new restrictions on the length of time that migrants could stay at city-run shelters.
The city reports that about 2,500 men, women, and children are sleeping inside or outside of police stations, at O’Hare International Airport, or waiting to be placed at shelters managed by the city.
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Chicago’s Winterized Soft Shelter Will Be Supported With $65 Million
Of the additional $160 million from the state, $65 million will support Chicago’s establishment of a “winterized soft shelter site,” which will house up to 2,000 people temporarily.
A request for clarification regarding whether this implies tents or brick-and-mortar shelters was not immediately answered by state officials.
In accordance with the governor, an additional $30 million will go toward establishing an intake and welcome center to better serve individuals arriving in Chicago who already have accommodations with friends or family or who intend to go elsewhere.
Additionally, an additional $65 million will be used to fund services like help with paperwork, which includes work permits, along with rental assistance. The goal is to assist individuals in becoming self-sufficient as soon as possible.
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