>> CHICAGO OFFICIALS CLOSE FOR MIGRANT SHELTERS IN THE PAST 2 WEEKS AS THE NUMBER OF ASYLUM SEEKERS LIVING IN CITY-RUN FACILITIES HAS DROPPED 17% SINCE MID DECEMBER.

WDW NEWS REPORTER HEATHER SHARON JOINS US NOW WITH A LOOK AT THE CURRENT PHASE OF THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS GRIPPING THE CITY.

HEATHER, YOU HAVE BEEN ON TOP OF THIS.

TELL US WHICH SHELTERS HAVE CLOSED IN WHERE THEY'RE LOCATED?

WELL, THE 4 SHELTERS THAT WERE CLOSED OR THEIR HAROLD WASHINGTON LIBRARY CENTER IN THE LOOP.

>> THE NEW LIFE COMMUNITY CHURCH IN LAKE FEW CASA ESPERANZA IN NORTH LAWNDALE AND NORTH PARK VILLAGE IN NORTH PARK.

SO DISTRIBUTED ACROSS THE CITY AND THE BEGINNING OF JANUARY, MORE THAN 400 PEOPLE WERE LIVING IN THE SHELTERS AS THE CITY STRUGGLED TO COPE WITH RENEWED SURGE OF MIGRANTS MAKING THEIR WAY TO CHICAGO FROM THE SOUTHERN BORDER.

AND I BELIEVE THAT ONE POINT HERE WATCHING TON A CLOSED AND THEN REOPENED REST, CORRECT.

AND HOW MUCH MONEY WILL THIS SAFE?

WELL, MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON TOLD REPORTERS YESTERDAY SHELTERS WERE AMONG THE MOST EXPENSIVE FOR THE CITY TO RUN AND BY THE END OF THE YEAR, THE CITY WILL SAVE SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 19 MILLION DOLLARS BECAUSE THEY WON'T HAVE TO LEAST THESE FACILITIES, STAFF THEM AND PROVIDE FOOD AND LAUNDRY SERVICE FOR THE PEOPLE LIVING THERE OKAY IN THE CITY IS NOW CARING FOR ABOUT OVER 12,000 MIGRANTS AND 24 SHELTERS ACROSS THIS CROSS CHICAGO DOWN FROM NEARLY 15,000 IN MID DECEMBER.

WHAT HAS CAUSED THE DROP?

WELL, THERE ARE REALLY 2 CAUSES.

ONE, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE SEEKING ASYLUM AFTER CROSSING THE SOUTHERN BORDER HAS DROPPED.

AND THAT'S TYPICAL FOR WINTER MONTHS.

IT'S JUST MORE DIFFICULT TO GET TO THE BORDER.

ALSO, CITY OFFICIALS SAY EVERYBODY'S DOING A BETTER JOB OF TRYING TO FIND MORE PERMANENT HOMES FOR THE MIGRANTS.

THAT'S APARTMENTS AND HOMES.

AND IT ALSO INCLUDES GETTING PEOPLE TO ELSEWHERE IN THE COUNTRY WHERE THEY MIGHT HAVE RELATIVES OR FRIENDS WILL TALK ABOUT COST.

THE STATE CITY AND COUNTY OFFICIALS PEGGED THE CURRENT COST OF CARING FOR MIGRANTS ALREADY CHICAGO AT AN ADDITIONAL 321 MILLION THROUGH THE END OF 2024, DO WE KNOW WHERE THAT MONEY IS GOING TO COME FROM, WHICH IS THE MAIN NOT YET.

WE HEARD GOVERNOR JB PRITZKER THIS WEEK ASKED THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR 182 MILLION DOLLARS AND COOK COUNTY BOARD.

PRESIDENT TONI PRECKWINKLE SAYS THE COUNTY WILL COME UP WITH ANOTHER 70 MILLION DOLLARS.

BUT SO FAR, MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON HAS SAID HE'S NOT QUITE WILLING TO ASK THE CITY COUNCIL FOR ANY MORE MONEY.

KEEP IN MIND THAT THE CITY'S BUDGET ALREADY HAS 150 MILLION DOLLARS EARMARKED TO HELP CARE FOR THE MIGRANTS.

THIS IS THE MAIN QUESTION WILL BE FOCUSED ON IN THE COMING MONTHS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU,