CHICAGO — As Chicago braces for possible blizzardlike conditions this week, Andy Robledo headed to West 16th Street and South Union Avenue Tuesday morning to check on two people living in black winterized tents he built. Although it was a cold morning, the weather was nothing like the extreme wind, temperatures and snow expected to roll in Thursday.
Robledo, founder of Feeding People Through Plants, said lives are on the line as people try to survive the approaching elements with subpar living conditions. One man told Robledo the zipper on his tent is broken. Robledo told the man he needs a new tent altogether. It’s just one of the mounting concerns and tasks for Robledo and other advocates in anticipation of the storm.
“I’ve covered a lot of the large encampments,” Robledo said. “But we’re a volunteer-run organization. We just can’t get to everyone — we’re trying to.”
