CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Chicago's faith community is asking its own to commit to housing and supporting current migrants living in police stations.
City council members, faith leaders, and other community members are spearheading an initiative which asks faith groups to commit to supporting one migrant family or group for one year.
"We all need to engage in this work from a place of compassion-from a place of knowing that we are called to be neighbors and if we want to our community to be well ad thrive, everyone must have access to be well and thrive," said Reverend Doctor Marilyn Pagan Banks of the San Lucas United Church of Christ.
Those gathered at Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church also said Chicago should reject what they call a "false choice" that the city can either help migrants or help those who have long lived here.
"We can choose to do both-to invest in our black and brown neighborhoods and communities and we can provide hospitality to strangers," said Reverend Doctor Beth Brown of Lincoln Park Presbyterian.
It's estimated that more than 10,000 asylum-seeking migrants have arrived in Chicago since the first bus sent by Texas Govenor Greg Abbott arrived in the city last August.
The Chicago City Council voted 34-13 Wednesday to spend $51 million from the city’s 2021 budget surplus to help care for migrants sent to Chicago from Texas.
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