Why are police stations continued to be used as housing for asylum seekers? How did police station become part of the overall strategy for housing asylum seekers, given police stations were not open to our unhoused community members?

Is the average number of days asylum seekers are spending at police stations known? If so, how many? Does it go beyond "temporary" refuge? Temporary is assumed to be 7 days or less for the purpose of this question.

Because the pace of incoming arrivals exceeds our exit numbers, each of our shelters are at/near capacity and CPD stations have been forced to become alternate sources for sheltering. CPD stations were selected because they are in operation 24/7 and have staff available at all times. While we are unable to calculate the average stay time for clients at PD stations, we know that wait times can range anywhere from one day to several weeks.

There have been recent reports of issues with unhoused people behaving inappropriately within the police stations where families of asylum seekers are taking temporary refuge, including drug fueled rants and indecent exposure. What is being done to differentiate these populations (if anything)?

Alder Fuentes asked what sensitivity training/standards for engagement is being given to CPD officers in locations where new arrivals are staying at police stations.

Can we brainstorm a plan where churches are the drop-off point for new migrants/asylees, rather than police district offices? I am concerned about the police district offices being the standard.

Public vs. private, vetting, safety, in process

We are doing a lot of coordination with churches, which I view as better shelters for the migrants/asylees in our Ward. When we move migrants from police district offices into churches, do we need to register anything with the City beyond the SR Number?

Currently, if new arrivals move to a new location from a police station or the original place a SR was placed, they should enter a new SR with their new location.

Standard Operating Procedures at Police Districts

The following information is provided in response to an inquiry made by Ald. Gutierrez at the Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights meeting.

Ald. Gutierrez requested information related to CPD's current policies/protocols for new arrivals at districts - specifically, looking for a memo that includes the "code of conduct" that new arrivals AND

officers are expected to follow - as well as what processes are available for new arrivals to file grievances - at districts

The protocol for new arrivals is the same as when a community member goes to the district station seeking shelter placement. Newly arriving migrants check in with the desk personnel and receive a Service Request number requesting services and a placement with a shelter. They are then allowed to stay in the police district station until placement. Attached you will find the flyer with these instructions, in English and Spanish, displayed visibly throughout the police district stations.

How does OEMC decide which police districts to transport individuals to and when? How does OEMC decide which individuals are prioritized (e.g., family status, medical conditions, length of stay) for transfer to a more permanent shelter location?

The City’s process for moving clients to temporary shelters in order to decompress police districts and provide services for the newly arrived is guided by the following priorities: medical or special needs, families, or singles with other critical needs such as pregnancy, families and singles that have been in the shelter the longest and districts that require decompression. Due to the limited space, new arrivals cannot request to be moved to a specific temporary shelter. They are placed as soon as room is made available in accordance with priorities mentioned above. Shelters have different capacity based on the square footage of the space. We often can only have specific demographics in each shelter, e.g., singles versus families and this is all based on need as it can be forecasted. For safety, we do not mix family populations with adult males or adult females except in special circumstances.

What other temporary and flexible housing is available for triaging newcomer arrivals? When will newcomers no longer be routed to police stations?

For clients with special medical needs we have reserved dedicated spaces at homestays (Airbnbs) and at shelters, but capacity is limited. We will likely continue to bring new arrivals to police stations as long as our shelters are at/near capacity.

Are there plans to build shelters outside of city limits?

Can you clarify the 60-day limit for a shelter stay?

Which publicly owned, vacant buildings are not currently being used as shelters? Did the city seek out cost estimates to rehab any of those buildings as additional shelters? What were those cost estimates?

For shelter sites that were rejected due to OEMC's size requirements, did the city seek cost estimates for operating any of these smaller sites? If so, how do those costs compare to the cost of procuring and staffing tents?

Through the chair, Alder Martin asks if there are any properties in Chicago that the Archdiocese of Chicago has offered as a potential shelter for migrants that the City has decided not to move forward with -- if so, what was the city's reasoning?

Through the Chair, Alder Rodriguez Sanchez asks how non-city shelters can be integrated with the city's new arrival shelter process + resources available at city shelters. There are churches and non-traditional CBOS that would like to be included in the partnerships.

Through the Chair, Alder Hadden asks when are we unifying our system so that Chicago's unhoused and the new arrivals can access the same sites-- shelters and staging areas?

We received this communication from a volunteer who is assisting a resident of the Inn of Chicago because the resident requested support.

"The baby was diagnosed with the worst case of scabies I have ever seen. Several days later I'm still trying to find a way to get the baby's three medications that were ordered for him due to no one having the patient's medical card information including the patient."

My Committee staff escalated this to Commissioner Knazze and Deputy Mayor Ponce de Leon and there's been movement but I am genuinely shocked and appalled at this. We are hearing varying degrees of complaints from shelter residents that require me to ask many questions about shelter policy and vendor accountability:

1. In a prior hearing, we requested and received the shelter grievance process. Through the Chair please provide the QR code and a URL link to the online grievance form that was referenced.

2. Through the Chair provide an anonymized list of the grievances received per shelter through the form since its opening with, as well as the resolution steps for each grievance.

3. Volunteers report that literacy and/or access-to-technology rates of new arrivals are low. If shelter policy is that "Case managers should ensure that individuals with limited availability to technology or literacy issues are provided assistance, respectively, to participate in the grievance process, but staff are not to enter the grievance on behalf of the resident. " how would you say a person with limited accessibility go about filing a grievance?

Why aren't the viable empty/closed schools being considered? Understood there are many that lack infrastructure and require significant upgrades in order to be considered safe, but there are many that have been approved by the Building Departments. 

A. If the response to the question above is that closed schools with sound infrastructure in place are being considered, which schools? 

B. Have there been community meetings to discuss? 

Thus far we have repurposed 2 closed CPS schools as shelters: Young Women's Leadership Academy and Wadsworth. Every other closed/empty CPS school either requires significant repairs and upgrades or is currently being utlitized for other purposes.

Alder Fuentes requests DFSS’s Shelter Grievance Policy be distributed to all Alders.

The following information is provided in response to questions posed at the hearing on July 26, 2023, to discuss the new arrivals mission and funding. During this meeting, Alderperson Fuentes asked what is the process for residents and staff to file grievances? 

Resident Grievances 

Filing a grievance or complaint regarding a program, staff, or service delivery is a right of all clients. New Arrivals Shelters have a responsibility to respond to these complaints in a fair and efficient process. Addressing grievances provide another way to improve upon program delivery and further gives voice and power to program clients. 

Shelter staff must: 

Alder Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth asked for thresholds for considering someone adult or child, and in what instances families are separated in shelter placement

The following information is provided in response to questions posed at the hearing on July 26, 2023, to discuss the new arrivals mission and funding. During this meeting, Alderwoman Manaa-Hoppenworth asked for information on shelter placement for families with children older than 18 years old. 

New Arrivals Shelters practice family preservation by accepting and keeping together families of all sizes, ages and gender identities at the shelter door and keeping them together. Family shelters are defined as shelters serving adults with minor children. A family may also include adult family members (I.e., adult siblings or extended adult family members). However, in order to be placed at a family shelter, the family must include a minor. If an adult family (e.g., a parent with a son that is above the age of 18) is seeking shelter, they will be placed together at an adult shelter (I.e., shelters that do not house minors/children). 

Alder Reilly asked for CPD statistics on the following around the block of Inn of Chicago :

1. loitering

2. illegal firearms

3. illicit drug use / solicitation

4. sex trafficking

5. cars towed from Alder Reilly’s newly installed tow zone.

Memos Provided by CPD: 

What was spent on each shelter in each community for New Arrivals?

Shelter

Community Areas

Dates Open

Total Cost for period open

Shield of Hope

For any of the existing emergency shelters (e.g., City Colleges and Park District facilities), how long will they be able to operate? For example, will City Colleges need to decrease capacity after the summer when more students return?

City Colleges may mostly decompress by 1 August. Some college non-essential locations may be used beyond this date to continue to support the sheltering program.

Reports have come out about moldy food and other quality-of-life issues in the shelter systems. Has the City explored a system, be it a telephone number or otherwise, that allows asylum seekers to report poor conditions or abuse?

The shelters have a grievance process in which residents are able to communicate their concerns and share any feedback to shelter leadership. Currently, DFSS with the EOC is looking to launch an online grievance process through Smartsheets where residents will be able to submit grievances electronically via a QR code. The City has received feedback on the food concerns and other issues, investigates and resolves rapidly with each food vendor.

What is done for men and women staying in shelters for singles?

Individuals staying in the singles shelters are provided with a cot, a pillow, and a blanket, as well as access to showers, laundry, and three meals a day. Wrap-around services available at shelters run by the City include access to health care through Cook County Health and an on-

site health care provider, case management, resettlement assistance, and connections to local enrichment and volunteer opportunities to promote community integration and independence. Some shelters also have opportunities for indoor entertainment and recreational spaces.

Are there any updates as to when volunteers will be granted permission to enter the shelter?

Will the city provide a written copy of the process for migrant intake and tracking including an outline of the "wrap around" services that are available to migrants who are staying in a city funded respite center, shelter or police district?

Wrap-around services provided at shelters include:

Medical: ​

Connection to Cook County Health for initial screening and follow-up care​

CDPH Lead Coordinating Organization (Heartland Alliance Health or Lawndale Christian Health Center) on-site at least one day per week supporting primary care and behavioral health care needs and infection control, as needed.​

Alderwoman Gutierrez asked for the standard operating procedure (code of conduct) at shelters. She also asked for the processes available to new arrivals to file grievances.

The following information is provided in response to questions posed at the hearing on June 28, 2023 to discuss the new arrivals mission and funding. Alderwoman Gutierrez asked for the standard operating procedure (code of conduct) at shelters. She also asked for the processes available to new arrivals to file grievances.

The following information details what the Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) has put in place at New Arrivals Shelters. Shelter residents are provided a rights and responsibilities document (see attached) at intake. A QR code is being rolled out to offer residents an expedient way to submit grievances and anonymously, if they prefer. Currently, there are paper grievance forms available in accessible and visible location(s) at the shelter for residents to discreetly grab and submit to a staff member.

CLIENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

New Arrivals Shelters respect the rights and dignity of the people it serves and treats them in a non-coercive manner. New Arrivals Shelters have procedures in place to facilitate a respectful

How is the city tracking shelter residents? What is the average length of time folks are staying at the shelters before finding other homes?

How is the city tracking folks who have found other homes? The 6 month rental assistance will soon be expiring for the first set of recipients-- what % of those folks who received rental assistance are able to keep renting? What % are back in shelters or police districts?

The City is currently using a system called Salamander, which was made available to the City by the State in response to the migrant crisis. The averages are as follows: 1) For clients that have exited: Average: 51 days (median is 56 days), 2) For current clients and clients that have exited combined: Average: 71 days (median is 43 days).

In areas where asylum seekers are currently housed, have there been any conversations or public meetings with the immediate surrounding community? Residents of the First District say concerns have been met with deaf ears, specifically around the Inn of Chicago and Standard Club. 

A number of community meetings have been held both for shelters about to come online and to address ongoing issues, however, since this administration took office, we have not done a public meeting or community conversation around the Inn of Chicago or Standard Club. MOCE has attempted to reach out to stakeholders around the Inn and engaged in some conversations and has worked with other departments to elevate issues mainly dealing with suspected criminal activity and general cleanliness of the surrounding area. Some improvements have been made in those regards but they do not solve the issue. MOCE is happy to hold a community meeting in August specifically around those concerns.

The Broadway Armory is an active Park District field house serving 1000s of Edgewater residents every week. It is also the only Park District field house in Edgewater and the only public senior center in a community of 50,000 people. Those programs primarily serve minority and immigrant populations of at risk youth, low income seniors, and working families who have no other options for this programming in their own community and for whom it is difficult to travel out of this community. Please specifically identify any other Park District or other public facilities with this level of active programming serving 1000s of residents in a community with no other public recreational facilities and senior centers for these populations where such programs have been displaced by the City to create shelter for the new asylum seekers.

The Park District is looking into this and will follow up. Note that the Park District can only respond to its facilities - the City or others will need to respond to "other public facilities" portion.

How is the City evaluating potential spaces for temporary shelters? What would be safety concerns and/or staffing-related costs required to stand up any location? What type of case management services are provided at shelters and by whom?

CM question was answered above. Currently, case management services are provided by the staffing contractor and they partner with IDHS, CityKey and other providers through referrals/linkages. The City is working with IDHS to bring on a CBO case management model which will provide similar type of servces but through Chicago-based CBOs.

Are there any updates to how the city is opening, closing and tracking 311s that are related to new arrivals? Who is now inputting them and making sure they are renewed? What is the average length that a 311 of this nature is open per new arrival?

The City is working to implement policy changes to tracking shelter requests through 311, including who can input requests and replacing the re-entry of shelter requests after 72 hours with the ability to update requests as needed.

When are volunteers expected to be in the shelters?

Unclear deadline; proposal is in motion, getting approval from Department of Human Resources and OIG

A newspaper report quoted Deputy Chief of Staff Pacione- Zayas as saying [after asylum seekers complained about conditions at a volunteer run shelter in Pilsen] "...Because it is not city-run shelter, there's nothing that we can do." What is the city doing to ensure shelters have a minimum standard of care? This quote makes it seem like volunteer run shelters are essentially a free for all, which sets a bad precedent and poor human rights conditions. (https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-migrants-protest-city-hall-20230713-25pwhh5rmjgmhod5hwvxyws3k4-story.html)

The City is only able to ensure that shelters funded by the City follow guidelines and requirements.

We have been told that the Armory is not going to open registration for its programs in the Fall because the City anticipates sheltering asylum seekers at the Armory for an indefinite period of time. Please specifically identify the programs that will be displaced, including all CPD run and other publicly or privately run programs in the Armory.

The Park District is working on a plan for Fall 2023 programming, which includes securing alternate locations for programming that has been previously held in the Armory in the Fall. This planning is ongoing. The Park District and the City are in direct communication with the Jackalope Theatre School and the Trapeze School. The City and DFSS are communicating regarding the DFSS Senior Center.

Alders Vasquez, Taylor, Lee asked for information on what happens after / processes following someone being ‘removed’ from a shelter as "We request them to seek alternate shelters" is an unhelpful demand.

DFSS: The following information is provided in response to questions posed at the hearing on July 26, 2023, to discuss the new arrivals mission and funding. During this meeting, Alderwoman Lee asked for the process by which individuals are removed and/or banned from a shelter, and if/how that information is coordinated with federal immigration officials. 

The City of Chicago does not coordinate with federal immigration officials on removals from New Arrivals Shelters. 

An exit from a shelter may occur if/when: 

Alder Vasquez asked for a one pager about the timeline / process of establishing a shelter (permanent or temporary) in a ward, specifically including timeline of when alders and communities are engaged and what communication goes out to each stakeholder

The following information is provided in response to questions posed at the hearing on July 26, 2023 to discuss the new arrivals mission and funding. During this meeting, Alderman Vasquez asked what is the process by which OEMC and DFSS assess shelter locations.  

Attached is a one pager outlining these steps.   

Facility Identification & Elected Official Engagement   

Through the Chair, Alder Taliaferro requests breakdown of City of Chicago spending on homeless prevention.

How many households have used the ASERAP rental assistance program? How many funds are unspent? What’s the plan to spend unused funds? What's the plan to speed up exits from the shelter system? 

Short and Long Term Housing Strategy:

Rental Assistance:

What are the security measures for migrants?

Are there funding opportunities available to provide more equitable services to our community?

How can the City make direct connections on our behalf to the same services other groups have been receiving?

What services are being offered to Haitian migrants?

How do we get direct access to Haitian migrants?

Through the Chair, Alder Sigcho-Lopez asks for a breakdown of 'the [$330] million dollars.'

Through the Chair, Alder Taliaferro asks for a breakdown on the spending on the new arrivals crisis. He specifically asks for the breakdown to illustrate how much each organization / contracted entity is getting paid.

Through the Chair, Chair Vasquez requests a breakdown of positions the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Rights would like to add to their staff.

Through the Chair, Alder Dowell + Alder Conway requested a digital copy of spending chart in welcoming slide deck.

Monday, October 2, 2023 PR: sent the presentation decks to ALDLIST listserv

Political Strategy:

Since releasing welcometochicago.org we have heard a positive response and some feedback on the data we are providing.

Alderwoman Taylor asked for more information about community-based organizations, and a list of the community-based organizations involved in the City’s migrant response.

Name of Organization

Instituto del Progreso Latino

Center for Changing Lives

LUCHA

Refugee Community Connection

Nuevos Vecinos

Alder Jeannette Taylor requests a special city council meeting with all City Departments regarding the City’s plan to address the Migrant Crisis.

Alder Hadden, Alder Reilly, Alder Sigcho-Lopez request the same.

Alder Hadden requested Congressional Delegation to meet with City Council at the special meeting. 

Alder Sigcho Lopez, Alder Rodriguez Sanchez request the same.

When can the city expect to see or hear about a comprehensive plan plan for addressing the crisis from the Administration? 

This goes with Ald. Martin's question on the uses and future needs here. Any clarity on the broad plan going forward? What do we anticipate as far as Federal/State/County support? What is the longer plan beyond this $51mm/60 days? Or is this likely to be a recurring request?

We have used a mix of funding for this operation and are applying for additional federal and state funding as those sources become available.

Is the position of the Director of New Americas going to filled to work on this issue alongside the Deputy Mayor? 

a. Where are the subject matter experts on immigration law and policy in the organizational chart? The Deputy Mayor of Refugee Resettlement and Immigrant Rights is not a subject matter expert on this issue (according her resume). 

How many staff members and project managers are working on this issue? How many holdovers from the previous administration staff are providing continuity and working on this issue? 

Overall, what are the metrics associated with asylum seekers as they make the journey from Police Staton --> Respite Center --> Permanent Housing. I have seen reports of 500 being houses, however over 5,000 have entered the city. 

1. Who is holding the entity responsible for meeting this metrics?

OEMC and the Emergency Operations Center track client metrics. As of 7/25, there are 5,445 clients in shelters, 941 clients in PD stations & airports, and Catholic Charities has resettled 348 households into long-term housing. Other clients have left our sheltering system without assistance

Can the city provide a breakdown by year of funds provided by the State to assist migrants? Has the city rejected any assistance from the State? If so, what type of assistance did we decline, and why?

Through the Chair, Alder Rodriguez asks what Federal supports are given to other jurisdictions to fund busing individuals to Chicago from other areas-- and what are the efforts from Chicago to leverage those funds.

Through the Chair, Alder Ramirez Rosa asks how much money has the State of Illinois has provided for the new arrivals crisis to the City of Chicago. Alder Vasquez asks for a comparison of this information between Mayor Johnson's administration + former Mayor Lightfoot's administration.

Through the Chair can you provide a one-time snapshot from Aug 2022 to today's date of # of people who have 1. arrived to Chicago via coerced travel from TX, FL,etc. 2. promptly out-migrated 3. are at staging areas 4. are at shelters 4. resettled in Chicago after leaving a staging area or shelter 5. resettled outside of Chicago after leaving a staging area or shelter

Following the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus meeting, what are action items and timelines to work with other townships across Illinois, and what percentage of new arrivals to Chicago will that decompress?

CIty is awaiting release of $42.5M funding from the State for municipalities. we have begun conversations with neighboring suburbs

Who is overseeing the communication and strategic planning with the State of Illinois on moving asylum seekers to suburbs (Cook County or otherwise) or rural areas with space and closed colleges and universities? MacMurry College and Lincoln College are two campuses that immediately come to mind. 

a. If someone has been working on this, has the State been receptive to assist with relocating asylum seekers to other areas?

What role are the state and the federal government playing in housing, for both homeless individuals in Chicago, and migrants and asylum seekers?

The following information is provided in response to questions posed at the hearing on June 28, 2023 to discuss the new arrivals mission and funding. In this meeting, Alderwoman Taylor asked what role the state and the federal government are playing in housing, for both homeless individuals in Chicago, and migrants and asylum seekers.

State-based migrant aid

From the time that migrants began arriving on busses in 2022 until May 1, 2023, the state provided housing in the form of hotel rooms for migrants and asylum seekers that were bussed to Chicago from Texas and Arizona. The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) is administering both state and city funding for migrant resettlement through the ASERAP program. In terms of financial support, the state legislature provided $30M total for the State fiscal year that ended June 30, 2023. Additionally, the city and state are actively working

together to activate a new congregate shelter facility funded by the state along with other opportunities for the State to support the City’s efforts both with financial support and programmatic support.

Federal migrant aid

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has granted money to Chicago through the Food and Shelter Program, twice in 2022, totaling $5.49M, and once in May 2023 for $4.3M. The City has also preliminarily been awarded nearly $10.6M in Shelter and Services Program funding from FEMA and is currently working on the required application.

What steps is the U.S. government taking to expedite work visas for migrant/asylum seeking families?

Expediting work authorizations for asylum seekers goes through USCIS, where processing times have elongated under immense demand. It is also an incredibly burdensome and hard to navigate process for asylum seekers as it stands. The White House and the Department of Homeland Security are aware of the challenges and examining ways in which they may be able to help on this front.

Alder Taylor requests the amount of money that each community based organization has received through the city (directly or pass through from state or federal).

Through the Chair, Alder Hadden asks for a list of organizations we ALREADY have contracts with in the city that offer staffing and/or social services. Alder Vasquez asked for a list of State contracts as well.

Through the Chair, Alder Hadden asks about the Catholic Charities USA operations, as she read a report that stated that Catholic Charities San Antonio was flying new arrivals from Texas to Chicago-- what are the City of Chicago's contractual responsibilities to look into an organization that is making money on both sides of the operation?

Security contract inquiry: Who got it and how much?

Thursday, September 28, 2023 PR: sent this prior request response to Karena

Alderman Reilly asked what the RFP for current shelter operation is

The following information is provided in response to questions posed at the hearing on July 26, 2023 to discuss the new arrivals mission and funding. During this meeting, Alderman Reilly asked what the RFP for current shelter operation is. 

The RFP will likely seek applicants for the following models:  

The Shelter Operation RFP is currently still in the development phase, and therefore the department is not able to share it at this time. DFSS will share this RFP when it is released to the public. 

Alderman Reilly asked what the contract agreement between Favorite Staffing and the city was

The following information is provided in response to questions posed at the hearing on July 26, 2023 to discuss the new arrivals mission and funding. During this meeting, Alderman Reilly asked what the contract agreement between Favorite Staffing and the city was.  

We have included a copy of all four Contract Agreements between the City and Favorite Staffing, as requested. All contracts with Favorite Staffing can also be found on the City’s Procurement Services website - https://webapps1.chicago.gov/vcsearch/city/vendors/10563047/contracts. 

Favorite Staffing Contracts to date: 

Contract PO # 

Award Amount 

Award Date 

Favorite staffing is also used by Illinois to staff Illinois Department of Corrections. The contract with the City was just updated and increased on July 14, 2023.

What kind of training do favorite staff employees go through to serve at shelters and what do incident managers do?

What direct management does DFSS provide to Favorite staffing, if any?

Favorite Staff are required to complete the following trainings:

-Active Shooter Training

-Descalation

-Mandated Reporter

-Overdose Response and NARCAN

Alder Vasquez requests security procedures / requirements for DFSS shelters + future RFP shelters as well as a copy of the Skytech contract

The following information is provided in response to questions posed at the hearing on July 26, 2023 to discuss the new arrivals mission and funding. During this meeting, Alderman Vasquez asked for the contract agreement with SkyTech Security Services. 

A copy of the original contract and modifications between the City and SkyTech Security Services is attached. For any follow up questions please feel free to reach out to the Department of Department of Assets, Information & Services directly. 

Skytech Contract PO 12687.pdf 

Where is the City at in terminating the costly contract and instead working with CBOs and other local delegate agencies to provide services and resources to migrants in the shelter?

DFSS is working on an RFP for CBOs to become new arrivals' shelter operators. The RFP is on track to be released in August. The RFP presents two models: 1) respondents can submit proposals to assume the operations of a current new arrivals' shelter or 2) respondents can submit a proposal for their own facility (a minimum of 100 beds).

What address should migrants use when filling out paperwork? Is the Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) giving out letters in order for migrants to obtain their CityKey IDs?

The following information is provided in response to questions posed at the hearing on June 28, 2023 to discuss the new arrivals mission and funding. In that meeting, Alderman Taliaferro asked what address migrants should use when filling out paperwork and asked if the Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) is giving out letters in order for migrants to obtain their CityKey IDs.

To qualify for a Chicago CityKey ID, an individual must be a resident of Chicago and provide at least three points of documents establishing the Applicant’s identity, and one document proving residency. DFSS provides signed forms for identity verification purposes, so that migrants and asylum seekers are able to successfully apply. Migrants and asylum seekers staying at shelters run by the City may use the shelter address on their paperwork.

New arrivals staying at police stations are not able to use station addresses, however they are able to work with local community-based organizations and mutual aid organizations to procure a “care of” letter to meet the residency requirement needed for a CityKey.

How many asylum seeking adults have received legal status thus far?

The City is not tracking legal status. DFSS is contracting with Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services to coordinate legal services for new arrivals for support in navigating their options.

What information are migrants given regarding their status in the United States, i.e., what/when they can legally work and what if/if any benefits they can receive?

When migrants first arrive at a shelter, our main priority is to ensure they're aware of the first step in the process, which is typically to complete their ICE Check-In. All new arrivals shelters are equipped with the information to appropriately advise new arrivals on this process. There is a one-pager that the Chicago Legal Protection Fund and IL Access to Justice network put together to ensure this information is readily available and digestible for new arrivals who may not be fully aware of the process. DFSS is contracting with Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services to coordinate legal services for new arrivals for support in navigating their options and has also been sharing a list of Access to Justice providers that are already doing this work, prior to the new arrivals response. Lastly, the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) put together a Legal Welcome Packet that is shared with new arrivals.

Alder Lee asked for information about how immigration status / asylum is affected if an asylum seeker gets arrested or cited for something

Through the Chair, Alder Rodriguez Sanchez asks what supports are put in place for schools that are enrolling New Arrivals.

Monday, October 2, 2023 PR: provided this prior response and asked RRS to submit the questions form with specific asks

Through the Chair, Alder Rodriguez Sanchez asks what the CPS protocols will be in base camps, and asks how students will be supported in base camps.

Language access across facilities that recent new arrivals, and immigrants and refugees who have been here longer, remains an issue-- what are the tentative plans for this to improve?

DFSS is ensuring that shelter management and staff across all the New Arrival sites are bilingual and fluent in Spanish. Shelter staff are also extremely helpful in supporting City and community partners coming on site to help with translation as necessary. DFSS is also coordinating with City Colleges to connect each shelter with an ESL course on-site or a local ESL provider in their network near the shelter. Daley, Wright, and Wadsworth are three shelters that are already connected and we're working on establishing a connection for the remaining shelters.

How is DFSS managing early intervention services for young newcomers? Will DFSS staff go to respite centers to evaluate young newcomers?

DFSS has connection to the Children and Youth Services to extend current services provided to the City for new arrivals. Shelter case managers have been equipped with the resources to be able to connect families to early childhood enrollment, supporting CPS enrollment, and enrollment in youth enrichment programs​.

Alder Gutiérrez asked for CPS to share their job postings / information re : bilingual CPS teachers with all Alders, so Alders can share that information with their ward.

As you can see, we’ve made significant progress in improving the number of teachers with bilingual and ESL endorsements.  

Over the past five years, we've seen a 32% increase in the number of bilingual endorsed teachers, and a 42% increase in the number of ESL endorsed teachers.   We have about 700 more bilingual endorsed teachers than we have bilingual teaching positions.   

Some additional info: CPS works hard to recruit and retain talented teachers and school leaders that meet the diverse needs of our students.  

What supports are being given to teachers to assist new arrivals, specifically how is CPS preventing overcrowding of schools? Which schools are receiving the majority of new ELLs?

Teacher/School Supports:

Staffing, PD, sensitivity training, and dual language/bilingual curriculum

Coordinating transfers/placement to avoid overcrowding or placement in an inappropriate academic setting

All of our CPS Networks have EL students.

Are there assessments being done: What type of assessments? Psychological, physical, mental health, etc..?

Are there efforts being made for state health care insurance awareness, since a deadline for signing up is coming soon?

The following information is provided in response to questions posed at the hearing on June 28, 2023 to discuss the new arrivals mission and funding. During this meeting, Alderwoman Manaa-Hoppenworth asked if there are efforts being made for state health care insurance awareness, since a deadline for signing up is coming soon.

DFSS has been coordinating with the IDHS Special Units team for much of the migrant response. Therefore, shortly after it was reported that the Health Benefit Coverage for Immigrant Adults (HBIA) program was pausing new enrollments, DFSS spoke with IDHS Special Units leadership to better understand the impact it would have on asylum seekers in new arrivals shelters. DFSS learned that recent migrant arrivals in the affected age group may still be eligible for healthcare coverage under the Victims of Trafficking, Torture, or Other Serious Crimes (VTTC) if they are approved/qualify for VTTC.

The IDHS Special Units team has been providing on-site application and enrollment assistance for the VTTC program at the MARC and all new arrivals shelters since the MARC closed. In addition, Cook County Health (CCH) assists new arrivals in applying for these benefits upontheir first health screening visit. Therefore, the impact should be minimal for our current sheltered population. This of course may shift healthcare coverage for any new ongoing arrivals and anyone who does not qualify under VTTC.

When the 20th district lice kits weren't bought in time by the city which resulted in mutual aid organizations, that are already stressed for time and money, buying them and trying to finding places for folks to de-lice.

How are we addressing medical outbreaks such as lice? Were the police districts notified of this (and other) outbreaks?

It is important to note that although not plesent Lice is not a critical medical concern, and doesn't pose significnt risk. and there are higher order medical concerns that take precedent at the police districts which have caused delays in addressing some concerns including lice. In addition without enough beds being open in our shelter system the team can be limited in their mitigation measures. . When we are able we take them to showers and launder their clothing.

Critical medical prioroties are addressed by CDPH and Operations, generally by taking these asylum seekers direct to shelter where they can be supported, as soon as beds are avalable. Other medical needs, such as lice, are a lower priority, and medical providors are checking CPD Districts often to identify these to the city, so we can support their basic needs (e.g. medical checkup, appointments at CCH, provide them with lice kits, etc.) and then get them into shelter as quick as beds become available. Often we have addressed lice cases by working with CBOs, volunteers and providing lice treatment kits, clean/new clothing, new bedding (when available), and providing transportation so showers, until they can be provided shelter. At a minimum we provide treatment and instructions to treat their clothing.

Does the City expect changes in state law around Medicaid for undocumented individuals to put a strain on local healthcare systems? How is the City and CDPH working with local hospitals, FQHCs and other healthcare providers in anticipation of increased demand from uninsured individuals?

CDPH is working closely with IDHS and community partners to monitor how changes in State law might strain the healthcare system. Thankfully, there are safety net providers in the City- including FQHCs and hospitals- that serve folks regardless of ability to pay. But we do need to continue to monitor for healthcare system strain, and we will continue to convene and communicate with our healthcare partners to monitor whether increased demand impacts the ability of our healthcare system to meet our City's needs.

Stats; location, number of migrants, ability to track migratory pattern

Through the Chair, Alder Rodriguez asks for information about resettlement and integration efforts within Chicago, when new arrivals leave city shelters.

What information is being shared with the migrants upon their arrival about what the City of Chicago is offering them in terms of support? Is there any support or resources provided to the migrants from the Federal Gov't regarding their asylum cases?

A welcome flyer is provided at police stations with information about shelter and services that will be available at the shelter. It also provides instructions for how to submit a 311 shelter request and the need to update the request. At shelter, new arrivals are provided an overview of services offered at intake.

Alderman Rodriguez asked about any access to outmigration data and is interested in seeing 'trends' of new arrivals circumventing the shelter process and moving into community.

Since May 18, 2023 we have taken in an average of 62% of the passengers arriving on Texas buses. 38% of the passengers had their own arrangements for onward movement.

RESETTLEMENT &OUTMIGRATION

As of 7/7/2023

For context, many families who had been in State-run hotels found homes in communities rich in immigrants and Spanish-speaking neighbors and businesses.

Through the Chair, Alder Martin asks how the City has engaged service providers (not security officers) to address gender based violence in existing shelters?

Through the Chair, Alder Taliaferro asks Sergeant Chung if the new arrivals crisis has negatively affected the police response time in the 25th Police District.