In line with many cities across the country, Chicago is seeing a troubling surge in homelessness this year. The latest point-in-time count reveals 18,836 people experiencing homelessness, a sharp increase from last year’s 6,139.
While point-in-time counts have limitations, this significant rise is deeply concerning. Chicago’s efforts to support its homeless population, including newly arrived migrants, have been inadequate. As the Democratic National Convention (DNC) approaches, the city’s failure to address this crisis effectively is becoming increasingly evident.
Commissioner Brandie Knazze of the Department of Family and Support Services has announced plans to dismantle the homeless encampment between the Dan Ryan Expressway and the 1100 block of South Desplaines Street “for good.” This decision raises pressing concerns for the nearly 22 individuals who call this encampment home.
Knazze claims most residents have agreed to relocate to a city-operated shelter at 100 E. Chestnut St., known as the Tremont Hotel. While this might sound promising at first glance, there are significant issues beneath the surface. Notably, this temporary shelter arrangement is funded only until August 31, just over a week after the convention concludes. The short-term nature of this plan leaves many questions about the long-term support and stability for those displaced.
Questioning the Timing and Motive
With thousands of Democratic leaders, politicians, supporters, and protesters descending on Chicago for the Democratic National Convention, the city has quickly arranged shelter for those living in the encampment between the Dan Ryan Expressway and South Desplaines Street. This raises pressing questions: How did Chicago secure this shelter space so rapidly, and why was this action only taken now?
It’s not uncommon for cities to relocate their homeless populations to avoid unsightly encampments and address complaints from NIMBY residents who view homelessness as a threat to local businesses and property values. This approach often involves moving people to less visible areas where they receive minimal support services.
Rev. Mike Bertram expressed concerns to WBEZ Chicago, stating, “The city very often rounds all the poor up and basically deports them to some far-out area where they receive no services, just to simply get the people out of sight. And we said, you know, that’s not treating people humanely or with any amount of dignity, and we need to do better for our people.”
Chris, who has lived in the Desplaines Street encampment for over two years, has long awaited assistance and remains deeply skeptical of the city’s sudden offer of shelter. His concerns are well-founded.
After enduring lengthy waiting lists, residents are understandably shocked by this abrupt outreach. The timing suggests a different motive: clearing the encampment to make way for the thousands of Democratic National Convention attendees. But what is the actual cost of this displacement?
As always, the cost falls disproportionately on the most vulnerable. Rather than genuinely addressing the growing homeless crisis, Chicago seems more focused on relocating individuals and, in some cases, reintroducing them to homelessness. Unfortunately, this pattern of moving people around rather than providing sustainable solutions is all too familiar.
Rehousing Challenges
Right in time for the DNC, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration intends to put formerly homeless people back on the street to make room for the relocated encampment residents. Several interviews with homeless residents of another former hotel off the Magnificent Mile exist. Many shelter residents claim they were thrown out unexpectedly, unable to return to their rooms to retrieve their personal belongings, including medications and important identification.
Among several personal accounts, there is abundant evidence that the city contractor, Equitable Social Solution, is using any tactics to kick homeless people out of the shelter. Staff also use slurs and hateful language toward homeless residents amid this mass eviction.
A couple of former shelter residents shared their accounts of what’s happening:
“Allan Lacey, 62, said the woman appeared to be ‘tricked’ into thinking she was going to be placed into another shelter and even showed up to a meeting with the city contractor’s staff in her pajamas before being discharged.
A man, 40, tossed from the shelter on July 10, said he also was misled to leave his room with the promise that he would learn about a possible relocation to a North Side shelter. When he met staff, according to his account of the story, he was told he would not return to his room and that he was being thrown out because he declined housing, which he said is not true.”
Humane Approach Needed When Tackling Homelessness
Much like Equitable Social Solution’s deceptive practices in misleading homeless shelter residents, the city’s Department of Family and Support Services is also implicated in troubling actions. Despite Commissioner Knazze and Mayor Johnson’s public claims of successfully clearing the encampment and addressing homelessness, the reality reveals a far more concerning scenario unfolding behind the scenes.
It’s clear that, if anything, their hearts aren’t in the right place – their hearts aren’t with their homeless citizens. If it were, we would see a more humane approach to addressing Chicago’s rise in homelessness – such as extending shelter stays rather than reducing them; developing more transitional housing programs and more public housing; investing in affordable housing; providing living wages, and much-needed care for their growing homeless population.
I hope the thousands of political leaders and their supporters will seek real solutions to homelessness while in Chicago. Of all the issues we face, ending homelessness should be a priority on their agenda, too.
