By: Ashmar Mandou

On Wednesday morning, the State of Illinois provided an update on the location for the new shelter site for migrants and also provided new landing zone and services. “The State is determined to use its limited resources as efficiently as possible, helping asylum seekers settle in Illinois and achieve independence,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “We will continue to ensure that they are met with dignity and compassion, while we call for increased coordination and funding from the federal government to provide a federal solution to this federal challenge.”

The State announced its new intake center will be co-located with the City of Chicago’s bus landing zone to maximize efficiency, with six heated tents now under construction at the site and expected to open in the coming weeks. The site will connect new arrivals with services and help those with sponsors or an alternate final destination along on their journey. The State has been funding New Life Centers of Chicagoland and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago to provide support at the bus landing zone, outside, as of early November.

In terms of the shelter site, the State of Illinois continues this week on the 220-person shelter located in Little Village at the site of a former CVS. Meanwhile, the State is also partnering with New Life Centers to operate a temporary shelter at a Chicago hotel to support families that arrived during the recent holiday uptick. Those staying at this temporary shelter will transition to the shelter in Little Village, which is expected to open this month. The State is continuing to work with the City to determine where State resources can best be targeted to support additional shelter capacity.

In December, the State and the Greater Chicago Food Depository announced a $4 million investment to provide meals to asylum seekers at City of Chicago shelter sites through the end of the calendar year. The funds were announced as the City worked through delays in its procurement process. On January 15, the City will assume responsibility for feeding asylum seekers in City shelters.

Busses have been sent outside of Chicago, to Northern Illinois cities, such as Aurora and Elgin. The State has partnered with the City to provide guidance to impacted municipalities and support transportation of new arrivals to the landing zone in Chicago. Over the New Year weekend, Texas sent a plane to Rockford with more than 350 new arrivals.

“At IDHS – we have a message for all Illinoisans – no matter how long they have lived here: Help is here. We take that message very seriously and we are on the frontlines to provide wraparound services and support to our new arrivals,” said Dulce M. Quintero, IDHS Secretary Designate.