As a Vietnam veteran and coordinator for the Illinois Union of the Homeless, I’ve witnessed the devastating realities of homelessness, especially among my fellow veterans. Veterans make up a disproportionate share of the unhoused population, despite their service and sacrifices for this country. This reality has fueled my lifelong commitment to advocating for solutions that not only move tents but also people into homes, ensuring dignity and stability for all. That’s why the Humboldt Park encampment housing initiative gives me hope — not just for Chicago but for cities across the nation.
For years, the large tent encampment in Humboldt Park has been a visible reminder of the housing crisis that grips our city. But through the leadership of 26th Ward Ald. Jessie Fuentes, Chicago’s Chief Homelessness Officer Sendy Soto, and Department of Family and Support Services leadership, it has also become a beacon of what is possible when compassion and collaboration guide our actions. This initiative is not about “clearing tents”; it’s about putting housing first.
Over the past 18 months, three expanded moving events held in Humboldt Park have housed over 100 households and connected 63 households to permanent housing, with over 20 already moved. During these events, I personally walked alongside case workers to inform and guide unhoused neighbors to the events. For those of us who’ve lived without a roof over our heads, this isn’t just a number — it’s lives changed. It’s families who can sleep safely at night, individuals who can take the first steps toward stability, and communities that are strengthened through care and intentionality.
The Illinois Union of the Homeless is proud to partner in this work alongside a coalition of city agencies, nonprofits and neighborhood organizations. Together, we’ve hosted multiple clinics and seen what can happen when individuals without housing are treated with dignity and respect, not as problems to be managed but as neighbors to be supported.
This is why I’m calling on all of us to keep fighting after December 2024, when the Humboldt Park encampment initiative comes to a close following the successful housing of its residents. The work doesn’t end when the tents come down. An estimated 68,000 people, including 26,800 students, are still homeless in Chicago. For every person housed, there are many more waiting for their chance.
As a veteran, I understand the unique challenges facing many of my peers who end up unhoused. I also understand the collective responsibility we all share to address this crisis. The Illinois Union of the Homeless will continue to fight not just to end homelessness but to end the conditions that perpetuate it. Housing is not a privilege; it’s a right. We believe you only get what you organize to take, and we are committed to this sustained struggle.
The Humboldt Park initiative proves that when we lead with compassion and resolve, change is not only possible — it’s already happening. We must build on the success of this work. That means expanding shelter options, especially non-congregate shelters, which offer privacy and dignity to those in crisis. It means creating more shelter beds across the city, so no one has to sleep outside in the bitter cold. It also means continuing to invest in permanent, affordable housing to address the root causes of homelessness.
Now, it’s up to all of us to carry this momentum forward. We must urge our city to replicate this initiative across Chicago, not just as a response to encampments but as a proactive strategy to end homelessness altogether.
Let’s keep going.
Bruce Parry is the veteran coordinator for the National Union of the Homeless and a member of the Illinois Union of the Homeless.
Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.