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NW Side church transforms into migrant shelter

migrants sitting in pews
The City welcomes newly arrived migrants Tuesday inside Portage Park's St. Bartholomew Catholic Church.
Andy Dahn

CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - Mayor Brandon Johnson and other elected officials were on hand Tuesday to welcome newly arriving migrants to their new home: a church on the city's Northwest Side.

At no cost, the Archdiocese of Chicago has leased St. Bartholomew Catholic Church to the for the sole purpose of providing service to migrant families, with a shelter expected to be fully operational in a matter of weeks.


"I hope that Chicago becomes a place that not only do you establish your roots, but that your children's children will come to see this place as their home," Johnson said.

Volunteers with the Zakat Foundation filled the church to greet the new arrivals, who were treated to dinner after welcoming messages from the Mayor and others.

"You are a part of the future of the city of Chicago, and you are not alone. We pride ourselves on being an open and a welcoming city," the mayor added.

It came on the same day the City was expected to begin evicting migrants who had been in shelters for more than 60 days.

Leaders said since last June that Chicago has received over 43,000 new arrivals.

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