CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — There have been a number of arguments made citywide against the use of resources to address the influx of asylum seekers.
“I do understand both points of view,” said community organizer Delilah Martinez. “In Chicago here, there’s a lot of communities that are underserved that have [a] lack of resources, lack of opportunities, [and] don’t have funding. We do have homeless people here.”
For years, Martinez has been spearheading efforts across the city to lead food and clothing drives and coordinate other resources for those in need. In August 2022, when the buses began arriving from Texas, the success of Chicago’s newest residents was added to her mission.
“I’m the type of person, when I see somebody struggling, I’m there to help them,” Martinez said. “It doesn’t matter what nationality, where they came from.”
Some have argued that the schools, which have sat vacant for a decade, should serve as community centers — not migrant shelters.
“The migrants being there isn’t going to be permanent,” she said. “This is temporary. At least the doors are open for some type of community elements in there and they should then leverage off of that.”
Martinez said the use of those schools and buildings presents a unique opportunity for those in underserved communities who have long wanted to see those buildings put to use.
“I feel like this is a foot in the door for it to be open as a community center,” she said.
Martinez said it’s important to recognize that the doors are now open to these buildings, which had previously just been sitting there. If communities are welcoming and get involved — creating a positive temporary space for the asylum seekers, instead of pushing back from the outside — she said it could increase the chances of keeping those doors open.
“Act fast on it, so that way [it] could be another way to use that same space for something in the future for our communities,” said Martinez.
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