Chicago faith community donates $350K for migrant housing, resources

CHICAGO - Mayor Brandon Johnson announced a new initiative with Chicago's faith leaders on Tuesday to help shelter and feed migrants.

"The timing could not be more crucial. We cannot abandon families and asylum seekers and let them go through Chicago's winter alone," Johnson said.

It comes as the city scrambles to build temporary shelter for thousands of asylum seekers. As temperatures plummet and migrants continue to pour into Chicago, Johnson announced the partnership with Chicago-area churches to help ease the migrant crisis, calling it the "Unity Initiative."

"The Unity Initiative will prioritize giving pregnant women, children, and all of those sleeping outside of police stations or on the floors, into temporary housing as quickly as possible through churches all over the city," said Johnson.

The partnership is funded by $350,000 in private donations and will initially involve 17 churches housing up to 20 migrants each. The migrants will live at the churches and be provided food, medical care, social services, and eventually employment.

"We're prepared to receive the migrants compassionately," said Rev. Michael Eaddy, who heads People's Church of the Harvest in East Garfield Park. "Provide clean, warm shelter. Prepare meals and humanitarian services."

On Tuesday, a little more than 1,000 migrants remained camped at police stations. That's down from more than 3,000 a few weeks ago. And the number of migrants living at O'Hare is down to about 100.

The pastors say they're ready to start immediately.

"All these pastors have committed to start the process. So boots on the ground starting tomorrow. And we're gonna start filling them up," said Rev. John Zayas, who's heading the Unity Initiative.

Mayor Johnson also responded to criticism from some residents of Brighton Park, who say there's been a lack of transparency about plans to build a huge migrant camp on an empty lot.

"We're not going to break away from our value system because right-wing extremism is sowing seeds of discord in this city," said Johnson.

Construction at the Brighton Park site is expected to begin Wednesday, even though Johnson said an environmental impact study of the site won't be released until the end of the week.

Meanwhile, a new migrant shelter has opened near the Salt Shed in Goose Island. The temporary shelter houses migrants relocated from the Near North Side police station.