IL lawmakers approve sending $20M to city for Chicago migrant care; Mayor Lightfoot hoped for more

CHICAGO — Chicago is ready to obtain $20 million from the state to take care of migrants arriving within the metropolis.

On Jan. 10, state lawmakers handed an appropriations invoice containing the hundreds of thousands for prices related to “shelter, transportation, fundamental well being and first help, meals” and different wants for asylum seekers. The invoice is awaiting Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s signature.

However $20 million is lower than what Mayor Lori Lightfoot hoped for. Late final month, Lightfoot despatched a letter to state legislators from Chicago asking for his or her assist in securing $53.5 million in extra state funding by means of the top of the fiscal 12 months to take care of the migrants.

Her plea got here simply at some point after the state knowledgeable Chicago that it will quickly terminate all fiscal help to the town for migrant providers.

SEE MORE: Metropolis outlines plans to open Chicago migrants’ shelter in school; residents share frustrations

Since late August, greater than 5,000 asylum seekers have arrived in Chicago aboard chartered buses from Texas and Colorado. Of the brand new arrivals, 3,937 have accepted shelter and providers from the town, county and state, Chicago officers stated.

The town has needed to get inventive to supply shelter for the inflow of migrants, together with turning the Northerly Island customer heart into non permanent housing.

The video within the participant above is from an earlier report.

(Source: Solar-Occasions Media Wire – Copyright Chicago Solar-Occasions 2023.)