
CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- We’re getting a better idea what the COVID-19 pandemic is costing the City of Chicago government.
The city's expected total spending through June is $150-million. That number includes at least $2.5 million a month on space for the homeless to shelter and $3.2 million on hotel rooms for first responders, health care workers, and those recovering from COVID-19.
Aldermen were given a summary on Tuesday of some of the spending that has been going on the last couple of months - most of it for housing.
The city has spent $3.29 million on hotel rooms for people mildly ill with COVID-19, first responders, and health care workers to safely quarantine and plans to spent $2.5 million every month on shelter space for the homeless.
The city is working with five hotels, which are providing hundreds of rooms. According to Crain's Chicago, the city is paying between $129 and $175 per night for those rooms.
According to Crain's Chicago, the initial deposits for those rooms in otherwise mostly empty downtown hotels totaled $1.4 million, and initial payments to shelter facilities totaled $569,229. Those totals were displayed in the document aldermen received.
Also being used for housing are YMCA and Salvation Army centers.
Chicago officials expect to spend a total of $150 million on its COVID-19 response through June, Budget Director Susie Park told aldermen on Tuesday. According to Crain's Chicago, the city is attempting to isolate those costs in the hopes of getting federal reimbursement. The biggest expected line item is the alternate care facility at McCormick Place, an estimated $64 million.
On Wednesday, in a virtual meeting, the City Council will take up a measure requiring the Mayor to submit weekly reports on COVID-19-related spending.