Homeless encampment on Chicago's West Side removed Friday
CHICAGO (CBS) — City workers cleared out what is likely the largest homeless encampment in Chicago on Friday in Humboldt Park.
Several dozen people have been living in tents in Humboldt Park for months, if not longer, and advocates have asked the city to rethink the plan to force them out, but on Friday morning, city workers began removing the tents.
Some of the people who lived there said they felt disrespected by the forced move, but the city said they've spent a year and a half offering new housing options, and warning this was going to happen.
Signs around the park warned that "The encampments will come down" on Friday, and that plan went into motion shortly after dawn.
Some who have lived there said they are still dealing with the fact their longtime home will be gone.
"I've got mixed emotions, so bad I feel we have been disrespected. They took down our home before we could clean it out—we were going to be respectful enough to get out," Melissa Johnson said.
Volunteers with homeless advocacy groups went from tent to tent to see if residents were still there. After clearing it out, Chicago police and the park district would enforce municipal codes that stop overnight stays and tents in the park.
Advocates have asked the city to reconsider, in part because the city hasn't provided any realistic alternatives for places for those who live there to go. The city has since offered residents access to support services and the option to move into housing or shelters—something those advocates said happened on an "expedited timeline."
Friday morning's closure would be the last step in an 18-month process meant to house those living in the park.
Ald. Jessie Fuentes (26th) said more than 100 people living there have been matched with housing through these accelerated moving events since last year. That's 106 people housed in apartment units. About 21 people who were living in the park were placed in shelters, and some were awaiting the completion of those housing units.
"We don't want individuals sleeping in the cold or have to bare in a tent, but to have city resources behind them," Fuentes said. "Every individual who received an apartment will have case management for two years ensuring they can become self-sustainable in their path to permanent housing."
This all comes as Mayor Brandon Johnson has announced a plan to close migrant shelters by the end of the year.
Starting Jan. 1, the city will implement a "one system initiative" to address the problems of homelessness and migrants in Chicago.
