CHICAGO — As more migrants continue getting sent to Chicago from Texas, city leaders are looking to find more shelters for them to live and migrants are officially coming to the Parthenon this month.
Ald. Bill Conway of the 34th ward held a meeting Wednesday to discuss the city’s plans to open migrant shelter at the Chicago Parthenon Guest House, located at 310 South Halsted Street, in Greektown.
The meeting was held for the Greektown community to voice concerns of having migrants return to the Parthenon Hostel, located near the corner of Gladys and Halsted.
Just last week, the city opened the Lake Shore Hotel in Kenwood for migrants to live. These are just two options of housing for asylum seekers being bussed from Texas.
From October to February this year, more than 100 migrants were housed in the hostel, Ald. Conway said.
The move is happening as police districts across the city continue to tackle the overcrowding where more than 1,500 asylum seekers call home.
Last week was the anniversary of when the first group arrived from the border. Since then, more than 13,000 migrants have been brought to Chicago.
Migrants have found shelter living in and around police stations and recently at O’Hare International Airport.
The issue extends to O’Hare International Airport where more than 400 migrants are taking shelter. In just a year, more than 13,000 migrants have been bussed to Chicago from Texas.
While the decision has already been made on the Greektown facility, some people openly spoke their feelings on having the new neighbors moving in next week.
“I completely support the idea of putting migrants in the Parthenon. I think it’s a very important issue,” a community member said.
Ald. Conway said there were no issues the last time migrants stayed in this building.
A spokesperson told WGN the projected date for them to return will be Sept. 15 with only single adults living in the facility.