CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - Whether it’s colder weather or an influx of asylum seekers arriving in Chicago, a program that aims to alleviate homelessness near O’Hare Airport has had a busy year.
Haymarket Center’s O’Hare Outreach program began back in 1990 with a simple goal: Help those using the airport as a place to find shelter find safe and more permanent shelter.
“We connect people to mental health services, substance use treatment services, physical health services and more,” said Jessica Dubuar, director of health and specialty services at Haymarket. “We also provide food, clothing and hygiene products.”
Dubuar said the program has already helped close to 1,000 people this year, up significantly from 2022.
“If we happen to come across individuals who are asylum seekers or part of the migrant population that have come here from other states, we will provide them with the services that we can, but really our goal would be to connect them to the specific services set up to serve them,” she added.
Dubuar expects the need to keep on rising in the new year and said that will continue until the issue in Chicago gets the attention it deserves.
“There isn’t a one size fits all model for homelessness. I think that working in collaboration with other homeless service providers to advocate for more resources is really what it’s going to take to move this forward,” Dubar said.
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