>> NEARLY >> A MONTH AFTER MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON ANNOUNCED PLANS TO MOVE THE MORE THAN 3,000 MIGRANTS LIVING IN POLICE STATIONS AND AIRPORTS INTO WORCESTER WINTERIZED TENTS.

CHICAGO OFFICIALS HAVE YET TO IDENTIFY A LOCATION FOR WHERE THEY WILL GO.

OFFICIALS ARE HOPING THESE BASE CAMPS COULD SHELTER FEED AND CARE FOR AS MANY AS 1000 MIGRANTS IN A SINGLE LOCATION.

>> WE ARE NOT JUST SIMPLY LOOKING FOR BRICK AND MORTAR, BUT WE HAVE THESE BASE CAMPS THAT WE'RE PREPARED TO DRIVE STAKES IN THE GROUND TO BE ABLE TO MEET THIS MOMENT.

IT'S A TREMENDOUS SACRIFICE FOR THE PEOPLE OF CHICAGO THAT SOLELY RECOGNIZE HOW HARD IT HAS BEEN FOR THE PEOPLE OF CHICAGO.

>> THIS PLAN COMES AMID RISING CRITICISM FROM PROGRESSIVE POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS AND GOVERNOR JB PRITZKER.

JOINING US NOW FOR A DEEPER DIVE INTO THE IMPACT IN LONGER-TERM SOLUTIONS ARE.

BUT THE SIDE OF THE GETS PRESIDENT, A LITTLE VILLAGE COMMUNITY COUNCIL.

CHRISTINA, THOSE THE EXECUTIVE TO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF AIRY NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE.

ANY GRAHAM AND BERG LEAD ORGANIZER FOR DISTRICT 15 AT THE POLICE STATION RESPONSE TEAM AND ALDERMEN GOGGLES.

I MEAN, ISRAEL, SOME OF THE 30TH WARD.

WE ALSO INVITED MAYOR JOHNSON'S ADMINISTRATION AND GOVERNOR PRITZKER'S ADMINISTRATION BUT DID NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE.

WE THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE, THOUGH.

NOW THERE'S A LOT TO DISCUSS.

NOW, LET'S START WITH GUARDS.

WORLD'S 29 MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT TO SET UP TENT CAMPS FOR MIGRANTS.

THE CONTRACT HAS BEEN CRITICIZED.

I WANT TO HEAR FROM ALL OF YOU.

>> ALDERMAN A COMMUNITY ALSO WANT TO START WITH YOU.

YOU RECENTLY SAID THERE'S NO EASY DECISION WITH THE CRISIS.

COULD THIS BE THE RIGHT MOVE?

AND HOW SOON COULD THESE TENTS GO UP?

>> SO THIS ADMINISTRATION IS COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE INTEGRATING AND PROTECTING NEW ARRIVALS TO OUR CITY.

AND WE'VE DONE THIS WITH VERY LITTLE SUPPORT FROM THE FEDERAL OR STATE GOVERNMENT.

29,000 UKRAINIAN REFUGEES HAVE RESETTLED IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

ALL OF THOSE REFUGEES RECEIVE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE FOR APARTMENTS, FOR HOUSING, FOR HOTELS.

WE HAVE NOT SEEN THAT SAME LEVEL OF ASSISTANCE FOR VENEZUELAN REFUGEES ARE CENTRAL AMERICAN REFUGEES.

AND SO THE CITY HAS STOOD UP.

23, BRICK AND MORTAR SHELTERS.

THAT'S ONE EVERY 6 DAYS SINCE THE START OF THIS TERM ON MAY 15TH.

THAT'S A RECORD PACE.

IF YOU KNOW EVERYTHING THAT GOES INTO OPENING UP A SHELTER, DESPITE THAT RECORD PACE, UNFORTUNATELY, THE NUMBER OF BUSES INCREASE WHEN A RECORD YESTERDAY WE HAVE OVER 3,000 PEOPLE RIGHT NOW SLEEPING ON POLICE STATION FLOORS.

AND SO THAT'S WHY THE ADMINISTRATION HAD TO MAKE THE VERY DIFFICULT DECISION OF GOING WITH A ESSENTIALLY WHAT'S A PREFABRICATED SHELTER, UNFORTUNATE.

THERE'S NOT THAT MANY COMPANIES THAT DO THAT AND UNFORTUNATE IN THIS CASE WE CAN'T WAIT 6 MONTHS OR A YEAR TO GO THROUGH A FEW FOR PROCUREMENT PROCESS.

AND THAT'S WHY THE CITY'S PIGGYBACK OFF OF THE STATE'S CONTRACT TO MOVE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO GET PEOPLE OFF POLICE TO FORCE ANYONE TO GO TO YOUR PART OF A LOCAL GROUP HELPING MIGRANTS OUTSIDE OF POLICE STATIONS.

WHAT WERE YOUR CONCERNS WHEN YOU READ THE CONTRACT?

>> YOU KNOW, SO THIS IS 151 PAGE CONTRACT THAT QUITE SIMILAR IN SOME WAYS TO THE CONTRACTS TO TO THE PIOS RELATED TO THE FAVORITE HEALTHCARE STAFFING CONTRACT.

>> I THINK THIS WHERE WE'RE BUYING FIX THIS PROBLEM SOLUTION WHERE WE HAVE THERE'S REALLY ONLY SO MANY COMPANIES THAT CAN DO WITH A COMPANY LIKE GARDAWORLD IS DOING.

WE'VE HAD A LOT OF PUSHBACK WITHIN THE VOLUNTEER NETWORK BECAUSE WE'RE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONDITIONS THAT A COMPANY LIKE GARDAWORLD IS GOING TO BRING IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THIS.

THE CONDITIONS THAT WE'RE SEEING EXISTING IN SHELTERS RIGHT NOW, I DON'T SEE WITHIN THIS CONTRACT A LOT OF PROTECTIONS FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE WITHIN THAT.

THERE'S A LOT OF INTERNAL REPORTING AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHERE THE OVERSIGHT COMES FROM COMPANY FROM FROM THE STATE GOVERNMENT FROM D TO T F S S TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING THERE GOING TO BE TAKEN CARE OF.

THERE IS SOME IN WITHIN THIS COUNTRY.

THERE ARE SOME LANGUAGE ABOUT SUB CONTRACTING.

I KNOW THAT THE CARROT, IF IT WERE AS YOU WORK FOR THE BRANDON ADMINISTRATION OF THE JOHNSON ADMINISTRATION HAS REALLY BEEN THAT PERHAPS WE WILL BE ABLE TO BRING OTHERS INTO CARING FOR AND PROVIDING SOME OF THE SERVICES.

THE LANGUAGE AROUND SUB CONTRACTING IS IS THERE.

BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE PROM.

I'D LIKE TO SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE FLESHED OUT.

I DON'T SEE THAT AS PART OF WHAT WE'RE SIGNING ON FOR WITH THIS CARD WILL CONTRACT AGAIN.

THERE'S A LOT OF EXPERTS IN URBAN REFUGEES THAT THEY THE CITY'S CONSULTANT WORK.

THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS WITHIN THE CITY.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS THE GOLD STANDARD FOR AN EYE FOR AN URBAN CENTER LIKE CHICAGO FOR DEALING WITH A MIGRANT POPULATION THAT SAID I'M COMPLETELY SYMPATHETIC TO WHAT THE ALDERMAN WAS SAYING THAT THIS PRESIDENT.

WE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE AND I TO TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION THAT IS ACTUALLY GOING TO ABLE TO WORK WITH IN THE NUMBER OF WEEKS THAT WE HAVE BEFORE.

AS WE ALL KNOW, LIVING IN CHICAGO, THE WEATHER IS GOING TO TURN INTO A VERY COLD AND THE WINDS WERE LIVING AT THE STICK AT THE 15TH ARE COLD WHEN IT'S 70 DEGREES OUT.

SO AND I I THINK THAT WE ALL HAVE TO.

WE ONLY THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE A COUPLE HUNDREDS NOW MISSING MILLIONS.

>> BUT THIS THAT I WANT TO GO TO YOU.

YOU HAVE WHAT DO YOU WHAT WERE YOUR FIRST THOUGHTS WHEN YOU READ THE CONTRACT WHEN YOU HEARD YOU'VE BEEN HELPING PEOPLE FROM THE START.

>> THIS IS A YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING FOR IDEAS AND SOLUTIONS.

BUT SOMETIMES THE SOLUTIONS IS JUST NOT TO PUT A BAND-AID.

AND BRINGING THIS TENSE IS NOT A SOLUTION.

I'VE BEEN ON THE BORDER AND THE THERE IN THE HOT.

>> BRINGING THEM TO COLD AREA.

WE'RE GOING TO NEED A LOT OF HEAT.

A LOT EVERYTHING.

SO IT'S VERY COSTLY.

AND WE'VE BEEN THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION THIS ADMINISTRATION, LET'S LET'S LET'S INVOLVE THE NOT JUST OUR FRIENDS, OUR ALLIES, TO HELP THOSE ON OUR CAMPAIGN.

SO, YOU KNOW, THEY ALREADY SPEND 51 MILLION DOLLARS OUT OF THE 51 MILLION DOLLARS.

47 WAS SPENT IN STAFFING.

THAT'S RIDICULOUS.

SHOULD NOT BE LIKE THAT.

AND THERE'S REALLY NOT TRICKLING DOWN TO THE TO THE ASYLUM SEEKERS BECAUSE WE STILL AND POLICE STATIONS, THEY'RE STILL ON THE STREET.

THEY'RE NOT BEING HELPED THROUGH IT THE RIGHT WAY.

WE COULD.

SAY WE'RE DOING THIS.

THE RIGHT WAY.

BUT IN REALITY, THE FACTS ARE THERE AND PEOPLE ARE STILL BEING ON A STAIN ON THE STREET AND WE NEED TO FIND A BETTER SOLUTION BY INVOLVING THE COMMUNITY.

LET US HELP USE HOPE.

THERE'S HELP THEM BECAUSE THERE'S ALREADY A SENSE OF EVERYTHING AND THERE'S A DIVISION THIS HAPPENING WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AS AN ORGANIZATION TRYING TO MAKE SURE THE NO.

LET ME TELL YOU THE TRUTH IS NOT THE WAY THEY'RE PAINTED.

THEY'RE NOT GETTING EVERYTHING.

IT'S NOT THAT EASY.

IT'S BEEN HARD FOR US AS AN ORGANIZATION TO GET HELP AND GET THE ATTENTION OF OF THE LOCAL LEADERS BECAUSE THEY JUST DON'T WANT TO WORK WITH YOU.

IF YOU'RE NOT ONE OTHER ALLIES OR FRIENDS AND CHRISTINE OTHERS, MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS.

WILL YOU KEEP AN EYE ON IF THE TENSE, IF THE TENT CITY PLAN DOES GO INTO EFFECT?

>> I THINK IT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING LIKE.

AN UNDERLYING CONCERN IS THE CONTINUITY OF CARE.

A LOT OF THERE ARE SOME ORGANIZATIONS LIKE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE THAT ARE CURRENTLY DOING CASE MANAGEMENT PROVIDING SOME COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT AND WRAP AROUND SERVICES.

AND SO I'M REALLY KEEPING THAT AT THE FOREFRONT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY STILL ARE IN CONTACT WITH INDIVIDUALS THAT THEY'VE ALREADY BUILT TRUST WITH.

I THINK THAT THAT WOULD I HOPE.

>> IN THINKING ABOUT HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO, YOU KNOW, KEEP IN MIND SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE SEEN, BUT ALSO LETTING THEM KNOW THAT THERE ARE STILL FAMILIAR FACES THERE TO HELP THEM THROUGH THIS PROCESS AS DIFFICULT AS IT MAY BE, OF COURSE, NOT SPOKE WITH SEVERAL GROUPS ARE ALREADY HELPING PEOPLE LIKE, BUT THAT'S ABOUT THE SIDE.

>> AND THEY ALL ASKED THE SAME QUESTION.

WHY IS THE CITY NOT GIVING MONEY TO SUPPORT ENDEAVORS FROM LOCAL GROUPS OF THEM?

AND I MEAN, IT ALSO CAN YOU GIVE US FOR PERSPECTIVE ON THIS?

WHY DO WANT TO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE SAID HERE?

>> I DON'T USE THE WORD 10 CITIES BECAUSE I THINK IT THIS REPRESENTS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PREFABRICATED SHELTERS.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BATHROOM FACILITIES.

THIS IS NOT LIKE A SHANTY TOWN CAMP ARE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, CAFETERIA.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RECREATIONAL SPACE.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A CASE WORKS.

ENTER, YOU KNOW, I WISH THAT WE COULD BUILD A BUNCH OF NEW BUILDINGS OVERNIGHT.

WHAT CAN THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS OPENED?

ONE BRICK AND MORTAR SHELTER, PEACE ONE EVERY 6 DAYS.

AND DESPITE THAT, WE CAN'T KEEP UP WITH THE BUSES ARE COMING.

SO WE HAD TO MAKE THE DIFFICULT A DECISION OF MOVING IN THIS DIRECTION.

AND ONE THING THAT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THESE ARE NOT MILITARIZE FACILITIES, RIGHT?

IT'S NOT AS IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE LOCKED IN THERE.

THIS IS A FACILITY WHERE YOU CAN BE TREATED WITH DIGNITY, RESPECT AND TO MAKE SURE TO YOUR POINT THAT WE ARE PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE.

WE STARTED THE CONVERSATION WITH IMMIGRATION ADVOCACY GROUPS INCLUDING BUILDING A CLOSE FROM THE REFUGE, WRITES THE RESURRECTION PROJECT WE'VE BROUGHT IN MUTUAL A TOUGH CONVERSATIONS WE'VE ALSO BROUGHT IN INDEPENDENT POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS, GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, LABOR ORGANIZATIONS.

WE'VE HAD A WHOLE SERIES OF BRIEFINGS THIS ENTIRE WEEK AND STARTING IN LAST WEEK TO TALK ABOUT WHAT CAN WE DO COLLECTIVELY TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE'S RIGHTS ARE PROTECTED?

SO WE'RE GOING MAKE SURE THAT THE IMMIGRATION ADVOCACY GROUPS, THE PRESIDENT, WE'RE GOING MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE CIVIL RIGHTS GROUPS PRESENCE THERE.

I MYSELF AS A MEMBER OF THE LATINO CAUCUS AND AS A PROGRESSIVE LEADER, I'M GOING TO BE THERE.

BUT I WANT TO SAY IN TERMS OF GETTING MONEY TO THE SMALLER GROUPS THAT'S BEEN AN ONGOING CONVERSATION.

SOME OF THESE MUTUAL AID DO NOT HAVE A 5, 1, C 3 STATUS.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT PHILANTHROPY HAS NOT REALLY WANTED TO FIND MUTUAL AID.

WE HAVE BEEN GOING TO THEM AS A CITY AND SAYING, HEY, CAN YOU HELP US GET SOME FUNDS TO THESE MUTUAL AID GROUPS?

AND WHAT THEY'VE SAID IS THAT'S NOT IN OUR PORTFOLIO.

I'M SURE ISIS TO YOUR HOUSE IS FAMILIAR WITH THAT LANGUAGE.

SO THIS IS AN ONGOING EFFORT AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, I JUST WANT TO THANK FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.

PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND OUR OTHER MUTUAL AID VOLUNTEERS BECAUSE THEY HAVE GIVEN SO MUCH AND THEY REALLY EXEMPLIFY THE BEST OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

AND I THINK THAT THEY SPEAK TO WHAT OUR VALUES ARE AS A COMPASSIONATE AND WELCOMING CITY.

AND I HOPE THAT WE BOTH AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL STATE LEVEL CITY LEVEL AND IN THE PHILANTHROPIC PRIVATE SECTOR CAN REALLY MATCH THEIR SEEMING THROUGH Z AND THEY'RE SEEING COMMITMENT TO THIS CAUSE.

ANYONE OVER TO YOU.

HAVE YOU ASKED THE CITY FOR HELP?

SO WE'VE BEEN MEETING WITH THE CITY WEEKLY SINCE JUNE 8TH WHEN WE WROTE A LETTER TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE THAT WAS PUBLISHED IN MANY NEWS OUTLETS THAT WAS REALLY >> MAKING SPECIFIC CALLS TO SAY THESE ARE THESE ARE THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE SEEING ON THE GROUND.

THIS IS THE SUPPORT THAT WE NEED.

THIS IS NOT THE JOB OF PRIVATE CITIZENS.

I SHOULD NOT BE THE REASON I SHOULD COPY THE PERSON WHO WAS MAKING SURE THAT LITERALLY 70 PEOPLE HAVE FOOD AND DRINKING WATER AND AND CHILDREN ARE GOING TO SCHOOL.

THIS IS NOT WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING AS MUCH AS GREAT AS MUTUAL AID AND COMMUNITY GROUPS TO.

I'M AN ORGANIZER MORE THAN I'M A VOLUNTEER AND I HAVE TO SAY THIS IS BEN.

THIS WAS IN SOME WAYS.

THIS IS BOTH AN OPPORTUNITY AND KIND OF A LOST OPPORTUNITY TO CAPITALIZE ON THE INVOLVEMENT OF VOLUNTEERS AND ORGANIZERS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

AND THIS WAS ALSO SOMETHING WE BROUGHT TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO SAY INCORPORATE US INTO YOUR PLANS IN A DIRECT AND SUBSTANTIVE WAY PARTNERSHIP IN THIS COMMUNITY AND THE CITY MEANS.

AND PARTNERSHIP MEANS SUPPORT IN REAL MATERIAL WAYS THAT WE'VE JUST NOT SEEN.

AND AT THE AT THE CITY LEVEL.

I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU.

ALL THE MEN.

WE NEED INVESTMENT ON THE PART OF THE STATE ON THE PART OF THE FED.

ANYBODY AND WE KNOW THAT WE JUST HAD RECENT CONVERSATIONS CHICAGO, PHILANTHROPY, WHICH HAS BEEN MULLING THIS OVER FOR A WHILE, WHICH I UNDERSTAND.

I HOPE THAT THAT CALVARY WILL ARRIVE SOON AND THERE'S THERE SO WE COULD WE COULD TALK ABOUT HE ONLY HAVE A COUPLE SECONDS.

CHRISTINA, WANT TO GO TO YOU.

>> WHAT HAS THE JOURNEY BEEN LIKE FOR PERMANENT HOUSING NOW?

AND SO WE HAVE BEEN WORKING CASE MANAGING A LOT OF THE FAMILIES WORKING FROM IDENTIFYING THEIR NEEDS.

WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO SOME FUNDS TO HELP RAPIDLY HOW SOME OF THE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HOUSE.

ALMOST 75 FAMILIES THROUGH SOME EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE THAT WAS MADE AVAILABLE.

>> WE'RE ALSO COLLABORATING WITH CATHOLIC CHARITIES WHO HELP INITIATE THE PROCESS AND THEN WE MAKE SURE THAT FAMILIES HAVE THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED TO FILL OUT THEIR APPLICATION.

SO IT'S WORKING AND IT DOES TAKE A LOT OF CONVERSATION WITH BOTH PROPERTY OWNERS ARE PRIVATE, THE PRIVATE CITIZENS RATE.

THEY WANT TO ALSO CONSIDER THERE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO THEIR PAYMENTS.

AND SO IT'S A LOT OF THAT RELATIONSHIP BUILDING THAT ALSO MAKES A LOT OF TIME.

BUT OTHER SO MUCH EVEN MORE TO TALK