>> Advocates for the unhoused community are not in favor of the city's plan to clear out the humble park encampment last month Alderperson Jesse Flint, this of the 26 ward along with city officials announced a proposal to remove all tents from the area before the holidays as part of Humble Park Encampment, Housing initiative, the city plans to start removal tomorrow morning.

But advocates want officials to reconsider and explore other options.

Joining us is Ellie Simmonds senior case and street outreach worker with the law project at the Chicago Lucian to end homelessness.

And we also invited the area's Alderperson.

Jesse Point is to join us for this conversation.

But she declined her office provided us with the statement which we'll get to in a moment.

Ali, thank you for joining us.

I want to start off.

What are your main concerns about removing the encampment in Humble Park?

>> The main concern is you know, there's pattern being displayed that CBO said down, you public spaces where individuals have the whales to go to go can no longer that.

That's the main concern.

And, you know, without somewhere safe to go game, you know what the options?

>> So you mentioned patterns and we've seen situations like this before with the homeless encampment in Rogers Park being cleared out.

So you're saying that this is something that you often see.

>> It where we're seeing more of it now.

Yes.

>> Would you say there is positive results from that?

>> Can say that there are positive results from it and that some people have gotten house.

But, you know, the downside, he is a lot of people who are in these encampments are getting house and then your clothes and the spaces down permanently so that anybody who was experiencing homelessness or may experience homelessness in the future cannot access the And let's talk more about that.

What services could this removal disrupt?

>> removes a services like access to social stops folks like a lot of individuals who are unsheltered don't have telephones.

They don't have means communication There are social workers who are protesting individuals there are or house and organizations you know, working with in the to try to get them out.

>> And if you disrupt this, can't move in.

We don't know where the of a grants.

>> And older person Fuentes plan is set to include 63 free apartments for people living in the encampment as well as signing off 450 new affordable units in her ward.

But as we know, advocates are still concerned.

Tell us, you know why you just mentioned some of the resources going to be people can may not have access to.

>> Yes, and as far as I understand it, there are that the number has been said to be 63, but I think less than that with actually run house.

>> You have some people who have reconnected to organizations that's going to work with them to find housing.

But as of right now, they are not house and a lot of bill what we're still in a camp.

>> So what does that mean?

Does that mean if yes, they get connected to these organizations?

That means still living outside.

And why do you think keeping access to these public spaces is important?

>> Because we we as service providers, you know, speaking from a service provider perspective, we know where individual lying.

someone connected to a House, organization.

>> you know, we could goal in, you know, we know what and we know where, you individual that all we're of the view that with where they maybe we you know, find these individuals and make sure that they are convicted services.

All right.

mental health services being provided by drug addiction services being provided folks, if they are moved and you know, don't go to shelters, which a lot of don't want to do, then they are disconnected from those >> White talking about that.

Why do you think that some people don't want to go to homeless shelters and rather, you know, living encampment outside?

>> Each individual have their room, you know, personal reasons.

But I know from speaking with individuals prefer to live on the street a lot of don't like rules and regulations that shelters forced them to comply with it.

lot of them feel like seltzers are pretty did year.

They go to a shelter.

Indian government commits to house a lot of them have been no victim has in certain ways while in is just bad experiences for a lot people live in show.

>> So in, in your opinion, you believe that they can cap Humble park.

Should students should stay there?

Correct?

I do.

Yes.

Now, once again, we reached out to the other person's point this office and they provided us with the statement in part saying >> the solution to homelessness is not tense.

It's housing.

We have proved with cut ribbons and broken ground on over 400 new affordable housing units in the ward.

We're also working to open 2 non congregate shelters with the blocks of Humble park.

Together.

These efforts represent a deep and sustained commitment to addressing homelessness and housing insecurity in our ward.

Lee, would you say that the alderperson solutions are moving in the right direction?

>> No to solve the homelessness crisis.

I know this has I mean, something that we've talked about for decades in Chicago.

>> Yeah.

percent really applaud those But at the same time, closing down space like permanently so that no one could ever access into gear may be experiencing homelessness is not the solution.

And, you know, also is not the solution for those who have yet to be connected to house and are right now.

>> What areas do you feel still need to be addressed you?

You're out in the ground.

You know, what would you want people to know?

>> I just think there needs to be more affordable house.

You know?

>> There a lot of people out here experiencing homelessness and is not that they don't want to be how they don't prefer to, you know, live on the street.

They don't prefer live in shelter.

They prefer have their own space.

And rent is just ridiculous these days a lot of people do have jobs.

Lot of people don't hand out, you know, jobs that pay enough for them to keep up with the amount of rain as mandate.

So the only solution for creating more affordable House.

>> And as we know in January 1st, the city will decrease its overall shuck shelter beds with, of course, as we know, bringing the one system initiative with the homeless, the people who are in housten asylum seekers.

What do you think will be the result of that?

>> And amount of individuals who are unsheltered experiencing homelessness.

for Graham concludes.

>> And what is a Chicago Elysian to end homelessness advocating for us turn it solutions to solve the on House crisis.

>> Former they have to have to be a concerted effort to create affordable House.

>> Ali, is there any personal stories that you can share with our audience?

>> In terms of individuals from the can't.

>> Yes.

>> Yeah.

just feel like I one person.

I'm working Aussies from the humble park community.

She grew up.

There are moms stayed there.

A mom passed away.

You know why she was living there.

This the only community seen OC don't feel safe any other community.

Right now.

She's connected to of the possibility of being house.

But she is not house yet and she don't want to leave park.

>> Well, thank you really