City officials began the painstaking process Wednesday of finding apartments for about 30 people living at a contentious Gompers Park homeless encampment. For Calixto Rodriguez, a resident who clutched a postcard listing available resources, it was a welcome plan.
“I want to get a place where I can rest, sleep, take a shower,” he said.
Others are hopeful as well after the city hosted an “accelerated moving event” for about five hours Wednesday for residents of the Northwest Side encampment, a site that has led to heated debates over safety and whether the city should clear it out.
Residents met individually with caseworkers and ate a meal. They virtually toured available apartment units, completed housing applications, could potentially meet with landlords, and chose furniture options for their new apartment, according to Maura McCauley, acting commissioner of the Department of Family and Support Services.
A DFSS spokesperson said most of the 29 people who had registered for the event showed up, and were matched with caseworkers who will “continue to support their journey.” Some secured housing units, while others opted not to. The spokesperson didn’t provide an exact total.
“DFSS is grateful to its delegate agencies for their tireless support and compassionate handling of this important outreach and housing placement work, and we will continue to connect with and support the Gompers Park encampment residents going forward,” the spokesperson said.
The move-ins cost the city about $30,000 per household, with most money going toward rental subsidies, McCauley has said.
However, officials have cautioned that the move-in process can take about 30 to 90 days after an accelerated moving event, or AME. Chief Homelessness Officer Sendy Soto said Wednesday that residents can still live in the park if they choose to, and they won’t be forced to move.
“This is completely optional,” she said. “We hope that they do take advantage of this opportunity — it’s a rare opportunity that we can offer given our resources. So this is for them to choose to take it or not.”
For months, the encampment has divided the community. Some neighbors have called on the city to clear out the encampment, citing quality of life and safety concerns for parkgoers and encampment residents. Meanwhile advocates for those living there say the only solution for homelessness is permanent housing. If that cannot be offered, then they say those who are homeless should be able to take an offer of shelter or remain where they are camping until it can be provided.
Ald. Samantha Nugent, 39th, said she’s “thrilled” about the AME, and that it’s something the community had wanted for a long time. She’s said the encampment in Gompers Park is a safety issue, with more than three dozen Fire Department service calls since last year.
“I’m very happy that the AME finally came to fruition,” she said. Originally scheduled for last month, the event was pushed back about a week due to the possible freeze of federal funds.
Nugent said she’s willing to work with the move-in time frame if it “truly provides permanent, stable housing and services for the folks most in need.” She cited an August 2023 audit by Inspector General Deborah Witzburg that found that 94% of encampment residents who attended an accelerated event secured housing, and 83% retained that housing.
Ryan Johnson, president of the Gompers Park Athletic Association, also said he’s “hopeful” that the AME will be the “solution that everyone’s really looking for.” As the spring baseball and softball season approaches, Johnson said he has fielded safety concerns from parents of the more than 600 players who use the youth baseball diamond near the encampment and who are worried about fires and pit bull attacks.
“We’re all optimistic that this is going to end well,” he said. “We’re hoping that the residents find housing, and that the kids are able to play there on time.”
He said the first game on the field will be April 21, and the first practice would be around April 15. While the group is prepared to move to other fields if needed, he said they’re hoping to stay put.
When asked if the rehousing event was in response to complaints or concerns from neighbors, Soto said in her position the “first priority” is the homeless residents at the park.
“We’re not in the position to maneuver what the general public might necessarily say,” she said. “We certainly want to hear them out. We want to be supportive of their needs, and we want to build community cohesion. But our priority is the people who are unhoused.”
Peter Marchwiany, who has lived in Gompers Park since July, said Wednesday that he’s hoping he’ll be able to move into an apartment. However, he said he doesn’t want to leave the Northwest Side or live in a shelter, so he had some doubts at Wednesday’s event. The 50-year-old lifelong Chicago resident said he moved to the encampment because he knew a few people there and was previously sleeping on the Blue Line.
“If I had an apartment I could go back to work. I do plumbing,” he said. “If I have an apartment where I can go home, change, shower, keep moving, I’ll be back on my feet within two months.”
DFSS has found housing for about 740 people through 34 accelerated moving events since 2020, McCauley added.
While an AME is a great step, Adam Gianforte, a member of the progressive group 39th Ward Neighbors United, said he wants the neighborhood to know that it isn’t a “silver bullet” that will end homelessness overnight. He said during the event some volunteers offered to watch over residents’ tents so they felt comfortable leaving.
“At the end of the day, what we really want is for all our neighbors, whether they have housing or not, to be treated with dignity and respect,” he said. “It’s important that public spaces are available for people without housing until they’re able to find housing and get on their feet.”
