Alderpeople frustrated about poor conditions at Chicago migrant shelter
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Concerns about the conditions inside the city's migrant shelters persist, as documents show the Johnson administration knew about the state of a shelter in Pilsen before the death of a 5-year-old asylum seeker who was staying there.
On the afternoon of Sunday, Dec. 17, police said Jean Carlos Martinez Rivero was not feeling well. He was taken from the shelter near Cermak Road and Halsted Street in Pilsen to the University of Chicago's Comer Children's Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
On Thursday afternoon, an ambulance pulled up at the same shelter – taking one of the over 2,000 people staying there to get help. The reason the woman needed medical attention was not known.
But it is known that the shelter has come under months of scrutiny over the conditions inside. The Latino Caucus of the City Council met Thursday to discuss what to do about the conditions inside shelters like the one in Pilsen.
"What's very frustrating as a legislator who an appropriator – that we don't have the details," said Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th), "and that's the one thing that really frustrates me about this administration thus far is the lack of transparency."
Villegas told CBS 2 that after the caucus meeting, the city began to investigate the Pilsen shelter – and the conditions inside – immediately after Ald. Nicole Lee (11th) raised concerns back on Oct. 28.
That was before Jean Carlos died.
Documents obtained by CBS 2 from a nonprofit organization called FOIA Bakery show that conversation.
On Oct. 28, Ald. Lee raised concerns over six issues - insufficient bathrooms, exposed pipes with raw sewage, cockroach infestation, a possible outbreak of illness with many people being sick, insufficient provision of meals and water, and poor and disrespectful treatment of migrants by shelter staff at the Halsted Street facility.
Brandie Knazze, the city's Department of Family and Support Services commissioner, responded seven minutes after Lee emailed on Oct. 28 - asking for more information.
But migrants who are living at shelters claim conditions have not improved. They still report sickness, bad food, and overcrowding.
Whenever CBS 2 has visited the shelter for a story, migrants staying there have been spotted braving the cold to meet with volunteers. They say they need food, better health care, and more space.
"Not good," said volunteer Chris Gerardi of the Downers Grove Community Church. "Not enough supplies; not a good, great amount of food; you know, very little shower capability, toilets, things like that. The basics are really missing here."
Volunteers like Gerardi show up weekly to help.
"It's been heartbreaking," he said. "That's why we've brought a lot of clothing last week – and we're bringing more next week."
The City Council Latino Caucus meeting on Thursday promised some vendor additions, and a promise to employ local businesses to assist the migrant mission while monitoring the healthcare staffing firm Favorite Staffing.
"They have awarded some additional contracts, and have renegotiated Favorite Staffing – so there are some changes that are coming," said Villegas.
Meanwhile, Ald. Lee told us in a statement that though she appreciated the administration's prompt initial response, she is still concerned about the conditions at the Pilsen shelter.
She and others are calling for continued transparency from the administration of Mayor Brandon Johnson – which has not responded to CBS 2's request for comment. CBS 2 has also reached to Favorite Staffing, and had not heard back as of early Thursday evening.