Chicago’s Homeless Dilemma
The homeless population in Chicago has had a steady uptick since 2021. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defines homelessness as ” lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.” HUD also uses the Point-in-Time method (PIT).
The PIT method uses a designated night in January to calculate the unhoused population. Meanwhile, The Chicago Coalition for the Homeless (CCH) believes homelessness also includes those who are “doubling up” and or temporarily staying with others.
HUD’s Statistics
CCH believes that changing HUD’s definition of homelessness is a step towards ending the issue. Those who don’t fall under the definition but are compelled to double up with others for housing are barred from crucial homeless services. As well as having “adult children” or family members who can’t contribute to the household. This asymmetrically affects black and brown individuals.
According to HUD, roughly 5,390 people in Chicago experienced being unhoused in 2020. The homeless census in 2021 was 4,477 with 72.9 % being disproportionately African Americans. However, in 2023 the Department of Housing and Urban Development reported 6,139 individuals to be unhoused.
HUD uses the point-in-time method to calculate the number of unhoused individuals. A method that uses a certain date in January to calculate the unhoused population.
CCH Statistics
However, the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless (CCH) finds this method and definition to be substandard. Their 2020 report stated that an estimated 65,611 people were experiencing homelessness in the city. Out of the more than 60,000 reported homeless in 2021 by CCH, a reported 64% were doubling up with other families.
Again, in 2023 CCH and HUD had different numbers, with CCH estimating over 68,000 Chicagoans were experiencing being unhoused. While HUD reported 6,139 homeless citizens. This is due to the two organizations’ different ways of defining being homeless.
Both HUD and the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless have reported African Americans disproportionately are the majority of those found to be homeless in Chicago.
Race and Homelessness
The Department of Housing and Urban Development reported that around 69% of Chicago’s homeless are African American and 14% are Latinx.
In addition, CCH believes that the rate of Latinx unhoused individuals is higher due to doubling up households. Also since Chicago has become a sanctuary for undocumented migrants, there has been a large influx of houseless Latinxs.
With men, women, families, and children having nowhere to go, people have been seen filling up places such as O’Hare airport lobbies as well as various Chicago police stations.
Support and Backlash
Chicago politicians have been making efforts to move homeless migrants to empty schools, hotels, and even restaurants. Some residents are opposed to the decision due to prejudice surrounding homelessness and loitering, gambling, and uncleanliness.
In addition, some of the opposition also want these resources to be given to struggling American citizens who are already limited to aid as well. Some subscribe to the belief that underprivileged asylum seekers will “take over.”
Despite the modest backlash, other citizens are a lot more hopeful and welcoming, due to this incoming group being largely families with children. Residents are hoping to live in harmony with the arriving families.
Chicago’s Mayor Brandon Johnson also signed off plans to raise real-estate transfer taxes on high-end homes to raise $100 million towards unhoused benefits. Also, this plan will lower taxes on homes sold for less than $1 million.
Local politicians are also looking to seek government-funded help as well. Especially due to the next groups of migrants that are soon expected to arrive in the city.
Written by AriAnna Rathers
Sources:
Chicago Gov: Point in Time (PIT) Count
CCH Org: Estimate of People Experiencing Homelessness in Illinois
Chicago Sun-Times: Johnson’s plan to help the homeless would lower, raise, and raise taxes on different home sales
ABC 7 Chicago: 120 migrants start moving into Lake Shore Hotel in Hyde Park
Featured and Top Image Courtesy of Courtesy of Taymaz Valley’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
First Inset Image Courtesy of Pedro Ribeiro Simões’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
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