Evanston’s City Council Monday is scheduled to discuss opening a shelter for migrants who’ve recently arrived in the region after crossing the border from Mexico.
A city staff memo says two sites are being considered — a vacant office building at 1020 Church St. and the Civic Center, at 2100 Ridge Ave., that’s expected to become vacant within a few months.
The Church Street site is at the corner of Oak Avenue, placing it just a block-and-a-half from the city’s existing non-congregate homeless shelter, the Margarita Inn.
A Cook County grant program with an application deadline of April 19 could provide funding to shelter new arrivals in the country. The county grant program is reportedly budgeted at $70 million, although it appears only $20 million is available in the current funding round and needs to be spent by Sept. 30.
So far Oak Park is the only suburban community that applied for funding under the program. It received about $365,000 under the county program and an additional $1.9 million in state funds awarded through the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus.
The village announced this week that all of the 201 migrants housed at its three shelters have been resettled into stable housing situations.
The Evanston city staff memo says city officials learned on March 28 of the possible availability of the 1020 Church building and that city staff toured the site on Wednesday, with the Fire Department determining it could house between 60 and 65 people.
But the building needs a variety of renovations, including installing a fire sprinkler system, expanding bathroom facilities and upgrading the HVAC and electrical system.
The memo says Connections for the Homeless, which operates the Margarita Inn shelter, “is potentially interested” in operating the shelter, but would need about $2 million a year from the county grant to do so, and would need to work with other organizations that have expertise in assisting new arrivals.
The Civic Center site, the memo says, would avoid the need to pay rent for the shelter site and could house more migrants but it has similar facility upgrade needs and won’t be available for several months.
At least two local churches, Grace Lutheran and the Evanston Friends Meeting, have been providing shelter for migrants here.
The City of Chicago on Friday reported that more than 38,624 individuals seeking asylum have arrived from Texas since Aug. 31, 2022, with 9,680 currently living in shelters.
The number of migrants in Chicago shelters has declined from 15,028 on Dec. 15 and 12,438 on Feb. 22.
I will say this – Connections knows how to work its marks. Unfortunately for City of Evanston taxpayers, it’s marks are the City staff and aldermen.
This is a massively bad idea.
What on earth is going on in Evanston?
Another virtue signaling effort by the City, Mayor, and Council, all while they shamelessly ignore the evicted Wesley apartment tenants, most of which are long term Evanston residents and are literally packed up with no where to go.
Our city can’t handle another shelter of any kind.
And imagine allowing Connections to get their greedy, grubby hands in this likely fiasco?
Taking another downtown building off the tax role is a really smart idea as is putting a migrant shelter next to the possible site of the Northlight Theater.
I have a headache from shaking my head so much on this one.
So help me understand that the Civic Center isn’t suitable for offices but is now suitable for dwelling? Was this in the plans before the vote for the Civic Center to rent space?
Who actually brought up this idea, Bill? I hate to blame the council prematurely on this absolutely horrendous idea.
The memo only identifies “staff” as the source of the proposal.
The mayor generally controls what ideas get placed on the council agenda as “special orders of business.” the status this proposal has.
— Bill
I’m very happy to hear about this though I wonder if someone else besides Connections could run this shelter?
I think it’s more appropriate to engage programs that have direct experience working with migrant populations.
Our city council won’t be happy until they’ve chased out every taxpaying home owner, taken most commercial buildings off the tax rolls, turn our city into an extension of Rogers Park, and Connections runs the entire city. I’m a proud NIMBY. I’m sure plenty of people who don’t own property downtown or need to be in close proximity of poverty and blight to feel less guilt for their affluence will flame me, but being it on.
If the taxpayers of Evanston, include me, allow this to happen we deserve the repercussions.
I’m not convinced that the Mayor is supportive of this foolishness. He is walking a fine line and has everything to lose by withholding information regarding their being an interest, obviously from someone who can cause trouble. Biss is a very intelligent many who happens to be the Mayor of a wonderful city full of people who are uninformed and many are stuck in the past.
This migrant shelter could change the trajectory of Evanston. Not in a good way. Those people who think this is a good idea apparently do not appreciate the quality of life we are attempting to maintain and improve upon in Evanston. It’s a if no one deserves a good quality of life unless it can be shared with everyone.
This city, if being fiscally responsible would not seriously consider the faucet they would be introducing to their residents tax dollars. Why do this to our police department? And no, I’m not saying all migrants are criminals. It’s irrelevant and used to disarm facts. Placing a migrant shelter will drain our valuable resources. We are full.
It is important to help get more people engaged to put a stop to this. Before it’s too late. Send a message to all of the council and the Mayor. And show up.
This is serious people!! We will have a big target on our back. We were spared for the busses before. We won’t this time.
Also, Oak Park did not plan on housing migrants they were placed in a difficult situation and had to respond. Our city does not have the staff to facilitate this.
This blight on our community is not acceptable.
Buses are dropping off illegals every day in Evanston (unless it’s raining!)
How has Oak Park been so successful in finding housing for all the migrants there? Whatever they are doing must be working so why not send more their way? Evanston does not seem to be able to manage this as well as others so any location here would be a problem especially one on Church that would be a block away from another existing transitional housing shelter called the Margarita Inn.
I was thinking the same thing. Margarita was supposed to be a temporary solution for Evanston’s unhoused. I suspect Connections would turn it into another low-barrier shelter once the migrant crisis levels off. Another Trojan Horse.
The details about how Oak Park found themselves allowing migrants to live at the Carlton Hotel on their dime. Which put them in a position to ask for a grant are accessable on line. Consider reading it. It very helpful because it discusses the cost associated with their decision and why there was pushback and why they will not do this again. They also have a free journal.
There are very few successes in any city taking on this burden. This is a fact.There is no end. And most important, it requires the cities to take from their citizens, most of the time citizens who are poor and give to give to poor immigrants.
Just wait until the City staff and the folks at Connections discover all of the property that D65 is going to be leaving vacant due to enrollment losses and the fiasco from the financing for the 5th Ward School.
Don’t worry, Connections CEO Betty Bogg and Interfaith Action will get up in front of the City Council and blubber that “we” are a “compassionate” place, so consider this a “done deal”…
This afternoon I went downtown, there were illegals begging in front of Target, CVS, Whole Foods. A clot of them – up to a dozen – can usually be found outside of Trader Joe’s. They’ve also ” discovered ” the Library, so the situation there is worsening…
But hey, shame on those of us who don’t hew to our city’s “vision” of “equity”… to Biss & Company, we are ” racists ” and “deplorables”…
Respectfully,
Gregory Morrow – Evanston 4th Ward resident
4th Ward includes Alden Care / 4th Ward includes Meth Rehab Clinic on Davis across Purple Line / 4th Ward includes Margarita Inn Shelter / 4th Ward is soon incorporating Greenwood Care rehab / 4th Ward being ‘considered’ to house migrant center at Oak and Church St. Margarita Inn was initially announced as temporary – Connections now the building owner will stay in place on Oak with public taxpayer funds from numerous sources. Before any further talks progress about adding migrant shelter at Oak and Church, 4W Alderman J Nieuwsma is due a respectful opportunity to voice his opinion on adding a migrant shelter to the 4W, especially in such close proximity to the struggling downtown business district, upcoming Northlight, and new Civic Center location. Thank you.
Nieuwsma, being in the back pocket of Connections for the Homeless, is not the least bit open to hearing anyone opposed to his “agenda”…
He refused to meet with us, a group of concerned 4th Ward neighbors, when we were opposed to the Margarita being operated as a low – barrier shelter, with the vast majority of shelter residents being “dumped” here from other localities…
Four other Alderpersons *did* meet with us several times, but he simply blew us off, not even having the courtesy to acknowledge our numerous calls and emails…
I saw him at the YMCA last year, and attempted to introduce myself, asking why he ignored my many communications re: the Margarita issue – he blew straight past me, not even making eye contact…
IMO he’s a lousy public official; he needs to be booted out – he puts the needs of some grasping outfit like Connections above those of his constituents…
As I mentioned above, consider this a “done deal” – “Our Betters” are not the least bit concerned that Evanston is on a dire trajectory…
Respectfully,
Gregory Morrow, Evanston 4th Ward resident
Ceal, Nieuwsma had an opportunity to be transparent about this being considered at his Ward 4 meeting last week. He missed his “respectful opportunity” to at least bring it up and make us all aware, but in typical fashion, he keeps the hot button issues murky and undercover, avoiding any confrontation or disagreement in public forums.
This needs to STOP Taxpayers can’t keep up with the city adding this burden. Talk about a dead downtown I wouldn’t be surprised if Northlight backs out. Also, the city building wasn’t fit for offices but now we are opening shelter, no way.
Every city council person and the Mayor needs to lose their job over this.
@jean olson.olson Would you please elaborate more on your statement about the busses? Are they arriving on their own or is someone responsible for transporting these people to Evanston. Thank you.
I talked to a business owner on Chicago Avenue, who said one of his employees spoke with several of the Venezuelan immigrants in front of Jewel. They told him that they are picked up at their shelter in Chicago each day by a white van, along with many other immigrants, who are brought to Evanston and Wilmette, and even beyond to panhandle all day. The van then circles the various locations throughout the day to pick up the goods that the immigrants get from us in order to make it look like they have not received any handouts. My source tells me that it is a racket and many of the immigrants never see any of the free food they are given. In my experience, many of them are very aggressive, especially at various intersections, where they approach cars and knock on your window.
One Venezuelan woman was asked if she would be interested in cleaning a house to make some money, and she told the employee of this business that she can make more money by begging in front of a store, and also has no one to take care of her three children. Further, in her advanced state of pregnancy, she would have difficulty cleaning.
So this is how we are helping immigrants? Giving them signs written in English, placing them at storefronts, and teaching them to beg for their livelihood. And how is this helping the pregnant women and numerous children that you also see with them? And how is this helping them integrate into American society?
For being a proud and boisterous sanctuary city, Chicago has really dropped the ball with their part of the immigration mess.
We are foolish if we think that Evanston can help solve this dilemma by opening up a shelter here.
@ Carol. Agreed if they move forward with this.
A spectacularly bad idea
If it’s immigrants with children, fine, I’m all for it.
Evanston isn’t a sanctuary city – Chicago & Mayor Lightfoot made that decision. The federal government FAILED them. It’s disgusting what they’ve allowed to happen. To tell cities that they will have funding, facilites, etc if they say they are a sanctuary city and they get caught with their pants down.
Clearly we have an immigration problem. Yes, it’s a problem. We’re all immigrants from somewhere, most of our ancestors figured it out without any help.
Adult immigrants with no kids can figure it out. The kids can’t, they need help. I’m willing to lend a helping hand only to the children and their parents.
We need them all tested and vaccinated before they step foot into Evanston. We all see what’s happening.
This whole situation is a mess and isn’t going away anytime soon.
The very idea that migrants are automatically undesirable is repulsive. I’d wager that a lot of those against this have migrants mow their lawns, shovel their driveways, clean their homes. Most of these migrants are from Venezuela. Not a single protester of this proposal would want to be living there this is nothing more than sheer discrimination and hypocrisy.
As I understand, these migrants are undocumented and so have no legal means to earn a living. Based on this, they require significant social services for food, housing, medical care, child care, education, and presumably, a base income. As others have noted they tend to populate in front of stores to beg for money. This behavior, I believe, is the basis for considering them undesirable.
While we can appreciate the difficulties these folks have, the city also has to understand these are real financial burdens and are not “temporary” so be prepared for a permanent city subsidy.
The city has lots of open buildings that should be considered including the Harley Clarke Mansion, which might be the best solution.
As I said, the Federal government should step in and give these people green cards (or whatever card they need) so they can find legal work. Ideally, the Feds would also provide food and shelter until they get jobs. Sadly, the Feds are, as usual, far less than “ideal”.
You can call it a financial burden, I call it a financial responsibility. These people are here, that’s a fact. It’s what we do now, after the fact, that defines us.
These people are here to increase the population and work for companies that want cheap labor. This is all done at our expense.
They should not be here as most of them are here for economic reasons. I don’t believe the federal government should provide any financial support. And they won’t. How difficult would it be to put a plan together to ajudicate the cases of the financial migrants and remove them? Why aren’t they doing this?
I am not responsible for these people. However, I believe there are many who, like you believe that you are. That’s why this has worked. So far.
Hmmmm, my take on most of the protesters comments is that they have issue with Evanston’s ability to properly run a migrant shelter versus automatically viewing migrants as repulsive or undesirable. you are right that there is hypocrisy and discrimination, but I would apply those attributes to our mayor and city Council who are doing this for no other reason than the optics involved.
And for the record, I mow my own lawn, shovel my own snow, and clean my own house (occasionally).
I am unapolegitically opposed to Evanston opening a migrant shelter. These migrant shelters are a complete failure every in the country.
I just talked to someone that works for the city, and they said that the mayor and city Council think that opening a migrant shelter will eliminate all of the migrants that are panhandling in front of all of our stores and on our street corners. Doesn’t this tell you how naïve they are?
Absolutely, the federal government, specifically Congress, has failed on immigration policy reform. But cities like Chicago and Evanston are making it worse because we are dropping the ball and don’t know what we’re doing on this subject. While the busing from Texas was deplorable, it surely opened our eyes up, didn’t it?
If what you said about the Mayor and the city council is true we are in trouble.
Here we go again shouting down the skeptics of never ending asinine Evanston governance as racist. Evanston’s naïve haphazard boil the ocean approach to every national issue isn’t going to make a dent in this problem. People who think this shelter ,if run by CFH, is going to be temporary are living on another planet. Has it occurred to anyone that refugees from every 3rd world country on the planet are trying to seek out a better life here. Why do immigrants from the border get priority over them? And what about the people here who can barely afford the cost of living as it is. Lower and middle class population is being taxed out existence here while a bunch of smug well off progressives over commit our resources to their never ending social soup de jour.
@mchlhembree1 Well stated.
Most of us the citizens who live in Evanston have earned the right to live in this city. I am unable to understand why any one would feel that Evanston taxpayers owe a portion of our hard earned dollars to provide shelter with all expenses paid to this group of immigrants. Access to all of the cities amenities, parks, beaches community centers, schools. If other suburbs are making it clear that this is a burden to their taxpaxers why don’t we do the same?
Oh my, some of these comments could’ve been written 100+ years ago, when various ethnic groups came here for economic reasons (and some, such as the Jews, to escape the brutal discrimination they endured). I am not “woke”, nor do I bleed for every liberal cause. But I’m old enough to have grown up in the era of the “melting pot”, and to have memorized Emma Goldman’s words, “Give me your tired, your poor, you huddled masses yearning to be free”. These migrants are here for the same reasons our parents and grandparents came here, namely to make a better life for their children. Sadly, our federal government is passing the buck to local governments and faith groups. We can either rise to the occasion or sink in the sludge. It can be part of our legacy, or our infamy.