Johnson extends lifeline to migrants facing eviction from Chicago shelters
CHICAGO - Mayor Brandon Johnson is once again extending the stay for migrants after his office previously handed out 60-day eviction notices for hundreds of new arrivals living in Chicago’s temporary shelters.
"We are extending the exit date for families due to the delay in fully staffing case management in all City shelters," Johnson said in a statement released by his office on Monday. "With this policy extension, we are prioritizing Chicago’s values of compassion and humanity. I have said repeatedly that we are not going to push families into the cold and this policy ensures that families will remain sheltered for the duration of the winter season."
Migrants who were scheduled to pack up and leave their shelter in January or February will now have 60 more days to finalize their next steps, Johnson announced on Monday.
Nearly 6,000 migrants across the city's 28 shelters fall into this category.
The 60-day extension will start from their original eviction date. For example, if someone was scheduled to leave their shelter on Jan. 16, their new exit date would be March 16.
Meanwhile, migrants who were set to give up their spots in March won't receive the same extension but will still get 30 more days to make arrangements.
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"The emergency shelter system was built on the premise that shelter stays would be short-term," said Brandie Knazze, commissioner, Chicago Department of Family & Support Services.
Moving forward, Knazze says those who make their way to Chicago will be given a standard 60-day shelter limit upon arrival.
"We initially instituted the 60-day limit in conjunction with the state's announcement of additional resources for resettlement and case management because our plan for temporary emergency shelter was never meant as a long-term housing solution," Johnson said. "But we want to give every person and every single family that has come to our city enough time to process their work authorization, find housing, start a new life in our great city."
To expedite the placement of new arrivals and the resettlement of those already here, the state is now sharing space at the city's landing zone near Des Plaines Street and Polk Street where they've established six heated tents.
"We already are seeing some reassurance because they have staffed up in our shelters, whether it’s through Catholic Charities or New Life Centers," said Johnson. "And that’s really the goal – to make sure that we’re resettling families as fast as possible."
Some exceptions to the 60-day shelter limit will be granted, including for medical reasons like pregnancy.
Officials also announced the implementation of ‘checkpoint assessments’ on Monday. Resource teams will check in with migrants two weeks after shelter placement and two weeks before their time is up to see that they are on the right track toward permanent housing.
Meanwhile, new arrivals who entered the shelter system between Aug. 1 and Nov. 16, 2023 are eligible for the state’s three-month rental assistance program. Currently, there are nearly 6,000 migrants who fall into this category.
According to city officials, they will begin to receive their 60-day eviction notices starting Feb. 1.
Anyone who entered the shelter system after Nov. 16, 2023 is not eligible for the state’s three-month housing aid.