City cracks down on migrant shelter eligibility
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Migrants arrive at the landing zone last winter. Photo: Monica Eng/Axios
Hundreds of migrants currently living in Chicago shelters could face eviction by the new year under the city's new rules announced Monday.
Why it matters: Chicago has been in a crisis response mode over the last two years, as more than 50,000 migrants arrived in the city.
- But arrivals have greatly slowed — with the city's shelter population plateauing around 5,000 this summer.
- Since February, 2,747 migrants exited the shelters after reaching their 60-day limit, but 2,027 reapplied for a bed and immediately returned. Reapplication is now largely prohibited and will end completely on Jan. 1.
State of play: Under the new rules Mayor Brandon Johnson announced Monday, new arrivals will be served under the city's homelessness program, which will merge with the migrant mission on Jan. 1.
- Only migrants who have been in the country 30 days or less will be eligible for new shelter placement.
- Only pregnant, sick or disabled migrants can apply for a 30-day shelter extension, and those extensions end on Jan 1.
- The new arrival landing zone in the South Loop, which serves as the intake location for migrants, will close by the end of the year.
Between the lines: The mayor says the move was spurred in part by a tightening budget, but he would not say how much consolidating homelessness services will cost or save.
By the numbers: The city allocated about $220 million for migrant services in 2024.
- Last month it extended its contract with Favorite Healthcare Staffing for another $100 million contract to staff shelters.
What they're saying: "Homelessness is homelessness. How they became homeless is no longer the determination on whether or not you'll be able to access services. We're just simply saying, 'If you're homeless, we want to be there for you.' That's it," Johnson said.
When asked if the new rules will end up creating more homeless migrants, Johnson said, "I don't want to see anyone lose, right? But the harsh reality is that we can do what we can afford."
- "We've been stretched to the limits. This is why I'm working with our partners at the state to help us, but ultimately, the care has to come from the federal government."
What's next: The rules go into effect Tuesday.
- As hundreds of migrants are cycled out of the shelters, the city expects 3,800 shelter beds to be added to the city's existing 3,000 beds to create a 6,800-bed system for very recent arrivals and the unhoused.