Chicago will close three migrant shelters next month, cutting over 3,000 available beds as part of a cost-cutting measure due to excess capacity, city officials announced Tuesday. The decision comes after concerns about a surge of migrants, particularly before last month’s Democratic National Convention, which did not materialize. Governor JB Pritzker attributed the reduction in migrant numbers to the Biden-Harris administration’s policies.
The shelters scheduled to close include one in the Lower West Side, another in the West Loop, and a third in East Hyde Park, with closures expected between October 1 and October 24. Deputy Mayor Beatriz Ponce de León explained that the city is consolidating shelters as more than 50% of capacity remains unused.
Many migrants expressed anxiety about the closures, particularly regarding their children’s schooling and stability. City officials have pledged to minimize disruptions for families in the shelters. Currently, about 5,400 migrants reside in 17 shelters run by the city and state.
Chicago has welcomed approximately 47,772 migrants since June 2023, but faces financial strain. The city has spent $128 million on migrant care this year alone and is dealing with a $225 million budget shortfall for 2024, which is expected to grow further by 2025.