The Challenge to Find Jobs and Homes for Migrants
Thousands of people, that arrived during the Chicago migrant crisis, are having a really difficult time establishing and ensuring a job and a home. Which in result of this frustrating challenge and situation, more than 13,000 migrants are now under pressure to immediately find homes and work. Something that needs to be done before they are mass-evicted from city-operated shelters. In order to conserve the budget and make even more room for the newcomers migrants.
Furthermore, more than a dozen of migrants expressed in NBC News interviews last week, that they fear that they won’t be able to meet those expectations. They also communicated that it is nearly impossible for the newest arrivals to get rental assistance. Furthermore, it’s really difficult to acquire quick access to obtain work permits, in order to establish and secure what the city is asking for in the limited amount of time given.
Even advocates and Chicago leaders think that it is going to be unlikely that every single individual or family will be secure a successful transition out of their respective shelter to a home. Which ultimately, another alternative will be for them to reapply for access to another shelter. Advocates fear that some of the migrants might unfortunately end up being homeless.
Concerning Experience and Statements of Migrants
Maria Cinfuentes is a 30-year-old woman and mother of three. Cinfuentes is very worried and concerned of her future in the city of Chicago. As she learned last week, that her stay at the shelter, which has been the only home that she’s known and been only aware of, since her arrival to Chicago from Venezuela back in December, will eventually have to come to an end next month. This news concerns her a lot. The reason being that she doesn’t know where she will go next, after being in her shelter for the past two months. Cinfuentes expressed the following to NBC News:
I don’t have a job. My husband doesn’t have a job. I don’t know anyone here. How am I going to pay rent?
“I can’t even sleep. I’m staying up all night thinking. It makes me sick.
Cinfuentes is trying to improve her situation by walking around the city holding a sign that says, “I am looking for work. Help me please find a job.” She is not giving up and is trying to secure a future by taking steps to find a job.
Another case is Daniel Vizcaino, a 20-year-old Venezuelan. Vizcaino also has been informed that his move-out date is in early April. He mentioned that he has actually been trying to look for housing since December. Also, that he does have a case manager that is supporting him in the process. However, it is a complicated case because of all the requirements and etc. Therefore, he is constantly checking Facebook Marketplace or just walking around to see signs that read “For Rent. He said:
It really stresses me out. What am I going to do? Where am I going to go?
Chicago Struggles to Keep Up With the Demand for Housing and Social Services
The city of Chicago are not the only ones facing a great challenge with the demand for housing and social services to endure the well-being of all migrants. New York City and Denver are facing this crisis as well many others across the nation. They are all having a hard time trying to manage this situation as best as possible.
For Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson placed a 60-day cap in regards for how long migrants can stay in the city-operated shelters. Why? In order to make space for newcomers. This being said, the first wave of eviction will be in mid-March and by the end of April. It is expected to have removed about 5,673 people from their current shelters.
This entire crisis situation is very upsetting for the migrants because the city is not making it any easier on them. Furthermore, they all came to Chicago for a better future and improvement. However, Chicago is being overloaded with migrants from Texas, and this is creating a snowball effect that is ultimately impacting the city.
Written by Jeanette Sanchez
Sources:
NBC News: Migrants in Chicago are on edge as evictions from temporary shelters loom
CBS News: Chicago officials say spike is expected in migrant arrivals-how will it be paid for?
WBEZ Chicago: Chicago migrants are under pressure as the deadline to find permanent housing looms
Featured Image Courtesy of Prachatai Flickr Page-Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Conor Lawless Flickr Page-Creative Commons License
