CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The Johnson administration is offering another exception to its policy of limiting stays in city migrant shelters to 60 days, at the request of Latino alderpersons.
The decision came after the City Council Latino Caucus sent a letter to Mayor Brandon Johnson and requested a full end to the 60-day eviction policy. The alderpersons said the city now has the funding capacity to house new arrivals without evictions.
Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th), a Johnson ally, was among those who signed the letter, but he said he knows the administration is trying.
“I’m happy that when the school year was in full swing, the administration extended the policy to ensure that no child was displaced during the middle of the school year,” said Ramirez-Rosa.
According to Ramirez-Rosa, the Johnson administration told the City Council Latino Caucus that it is willing to extend the 60-day limit on stays in Migrant Shelters, but only for families and children.
The Northwest Side alderman said he thinks it’s important that Chicago moves toward “more humane and compassionate policies for everyone.”
“As a city, as it relates to our migrant mission, we have to work to ensure that we have humane and compassionate policies,” Ramirez-Rosa said. “We haven’t always gotten it right, but I know that this mayor, I know this administration, and I know that this council — for the most part — is striving toward ensuring that we are providing migrants with the support that they need.”
The indications are that the administration is currently checking with its partners at the county and state level to ensure that they are in agreement with the change.
Ramirez-Rosa said he's been told that the easing of the policy for some migrants is through cooperation with community groups, as well as success in what he described as “decompressing” the shelters.
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