Chicago Consolidates Homeless Shelters, Ending Separate System for Asylum Seekers
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration closed the city’s temporary shelter for newly arrived asylum seekers ahead of schedule on Friday. This closure is part of a larger plan to merge the city’s two separate shelter systems for the homeless, ending a system specifically designed for asylum seekers that was implemented by former Mayor Lori Lightfoot in 2022 to address the influx of asylum seekers bused to Chicago from Texas.
The new, unified system will utilize a single intake center located at 2241 S. Halsted St. in Pilsen, a 24/7 facility with a capacity of 200 beds for single adults. Individuals seeking shelter will now request a bed through the city’s 311 system under the One System Initiative. The Halsted Street location is a repurposed warehouse, previously used as an overcrowded makeshift shelter for migrants. This former shelter tragically saw the death of a 5-year-old boy last December from sepsis and a bacterial infection.
Deputy Mayor Beatriz Ponce de León explained the shift, stating that the initial crisis response was unsustainable and required a move toward more comprehensive support systems focused on resettlement. The city is aiming to improve conditions within its shelters by focusing on better staff training and shifting from contractor management to collaboration with local social service agencies.
As of Friday, approximately 2,476 migrants were residing in city-run shelters, a significant decrease from the peak of roughly 15,000 last winter. The city will cease its daily census of the migrant population as it transitions to the merged system. Several existing shelters will be incorporated into the One Shelter System, including two state-run shelters. One shelter housing approximately 135 individuals at 1310 N. Elston Ave. is scheduled to close by the end of the month.
These changes coincide with the recent resignation of the Commissioner for the Department of Family and Support Services, Brandie Knazze. Furthermore, the consolidation comes weeks before the start of Donald Trump’s second term, raising concerns about potential federal actions against immigrants. Deputy Mayor Ponce de León reaffirmed Mayor Johnson’s commitment to Chicago’s welcoming city policies and emphasized the administration’s preparation for any potential federal requests related to deportations.
Contributing: Adriana Cardona-Maguigad, Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere