CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Ald. Maria Hadden (49th) announced that Touhy Park will soon reopen for recreation, after nearly all of the people living in a homeless encampment there have been matched with housing.
Hadden said only two people remain living in Touhy Park, the last residents of a homeless encampment that first appeared in 2021.
The Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) has already found housing for 84 people who were camped at the North Side park, where 6 tents remain standing, Hadden said.
“We had housed all but four people by May 2022 and were confident we could have housed the remaining people and restored the park to recreational use, but the [Chicago Parks District was] not yet enforcing their policies … so more people came,” Hadden wrote Saturday,
DFSS has marked any that are unoccupied for removal.
Hadden said the Chicago Parks District will begin enforcing curfew and anti-camping policies “sometime in March.” The alderwoman said her goal is to complete restoration work to the field in time for spring programming.
“Homelessness will continue to be an issue in this city and in our ward,” Hadden wrote to her constituents. “On a city level, I will continue to advocate for more funds both to fund rapid rehousing events and units to house our houseless neighbors.”
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