Chicago to combine migrant and homeless shelter systems

Tents under expressway — People live in tents under an overpass near W Fullerton and the Kennedy expressway. The city and state plan to create a unified shelter system for Chicago’s migrant and homeless populations.

Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons

Chicago to create ‘unified system’ for migrant and homeless shelters

City and state officials say they are in the planning stage of creating a unified shelter system.

People live in tents under an overpass near W Fullerton and the Kennedy expressway. The city and state plan to create a unified shelter system for Chicago’s migrant and homeless populations.

Anthony Vazquez

By Max Lubbers

Chicago plans to combine its shelter systems for migrants and homeless populations, according to city and state officials.

This comes as the number of migrants staying in shelters has decreased, from a peak of nearly 15,000 people in January to about 8,600 as of Wednesday.

The city and state have shut down 11 shelters set up specifically for migrants. But combining Chicago’s shelter systems is still a major change – and will require a lot of coordination.

Reset talks with a reporter and a migrant services volunteer and homelessness advocate to learn more about what this consolidation could mean for Chicago.

GUESTS: Nell Salzman, Chicago Tribune immigration reporter

Jenn Torres, volunteer helping with migrants