Chicago is undergoing significant changes to its shelter system, as it shifts away from a migrant-only shelter setup to merge with the traditional homeless shelter system. The city is closing its migrant 'landing zone' and reducing its hours of operation, with plans to shut it down completely by the end of 2024 due to a decrease in migrant arrivals.
At its peak, Chicago housed around 14,900 migrants, but that number has dropped to approximately 5,000. To accommodate this shift, the city is adding 3,800 beds to its existing homeless services system, totaling 6,800 beds under the new One System Initiative (OSI). This initiative aims to streamline operations and reduce the high costs associated with operating migrant shelters.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson emphasized the need for a more cost-effective and equitable approach to addressing homelessness for all residents. The OSI will create a unified sheltering system to serve all Chicagoans, set to take effect by the new year.
The city's response to the migrant crisis, which saw over 50,000 migrants arriving in Chicago, was commended by Mayor Johnson. Despite concerns about bed shortages during the upcoming winter, migrants who transition to homeless shelters will be protected from evictions.
Mayor Johnson's efforts to secure additional funding through a tax increase on high-value properties were unsuccessful, leaving the city with a significant budget shortfall. The crisis has already cost Chicago taxpayers nearly $200 million, with a projected $982.4 million deficit in 2025.
While acknowledging the financial challenges, Mayor Johnson expressed optimism about the city's capacity to address homelessness if additional funding had been secured. The impact of the budget constraints on the city's mission to support vulnerable populations remains a concern.
