Chicago Closes Last Migrant Shelter as it Merges Services with Unified System
Last Shelter to Close by End of December
(NewsNation) — Chicago, Illinois will close its last shelter specifically for migrants later this month as it merges these services with others the city currently offers to homeless people.
A migrant shelter at 1310 N. Elston Avenue is set to shut down by December 31, city officials said at a news conference Friday.
Unified Shelter System Launches in January 2025
Besides that shelter, there are five other shelters in Chicago, two of which are run by the state of Illinois and three that are operated by the city. These will be integrated into Chicago’s One System Initiative, meaning these shelters won’t only be for migrants, but any homeless individuals in need of housing.
New Shelters and Services
Under the new unified shelter system, which will launch in January 2025, will be 3,800 beds added to the 3,000 already existing in the system.
On December 20, SPARC, or Shelter Placement and Resource Center, opened. SPARC is a new, 24/7 access point for single adults with 200 temporary beds.
Background on Migrant Shelters
About a year ago, there were around 15,000 migrants, some of whom were sent from Texas under a program by Gov. Greg Abbott, who lived in 28 shelters, according to city data compiled by The Chicago Tribune.
During this time, over 30,000 measles vaccines and tens of thousands of other vaccines were administered to migrants and 17,000 people were resettled in apartments.
Data Collection to End
At Friday’s press briefing, officials said there are currently 2,476 migrants in city shelters, but these numbers will no longer be tracked under the new system.
Deputy Mayor for Immigration Beatriz Ponce de León said this information is no longer needed because Chicago is no longer in “that crisis state.”
“Everyone in the new system will be under will be under the same policy,” she said. “There’s no need to collect that data.”
Conclusion
Chicago’s decision to close its last migrant shelter and merge services with its unified system marks a significant shift in the city’s approach to addressing homelessness. The new system aims to provide a more comprehensive and inclusive approach to housing, with 3,800 additional beds and a range of services for single adults.
FAQs
* What is the unified shelter system?
The unified shelter system will integrate five existing shelters, including the last migrant shelter, with 3,800 additional beds, providing a comprehensive range of services for homeless individuals.
* When will the new system launch?
The new system will launch in January 2025.
* Will the data on migrant shelters be collected?
No, data on migrant shelters will no longer be tracked under the new system, as Chicago is no longer in a “crisis state.”
