LATINA VOICES.

WE ARE ON EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING AT 5:00 AND 6:00.

>>> ON THE SHOW TONIGHT.

FIRE EXCHANGES AT A COMMUNITY MEETING AS RESIDENTS SOUND OFF ON A PLAN TO MOVE MIGRANTS INTO A FORMER SCHOOL.

>>> PLUS, HOW PEOPLE ACROSS THE CITY ARE WORKING TO ASSIST MIGRANTS AS MORE ARRIVED.

>>> SPEEDING UNHOUSED RESIDENTS INTO HOUSING.

>>> WE HONOR MOMS WITH MUSIC ON MOTHER'S DAY.

>> TO BE ABLE TO DO WHAT I LOVE AND AM PASSIONATE ABOUT.

>>> HAVE A SMALL BUSINESS IN HUMBOLDT PARK AND DUG UP OUTSIDE FUNDING TO GET THROUGH ROUGH TIMES.

>>> ALL THAT COMING UP.

BUT FIRST, THE HEATED DEBATE OVERTURNING A FORMER HIGH SCHOOL INTO A SHELTER FOR MIGRANTS.

THAT IS RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> CHICAGO TONIGHT LATINA VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> FIRE EXCHANGES AT A COMMUNITY MEETING IN SOUTH SHORE AS RESIDENTS ARE CALLING ON THE CITY TO STOP ITS PLAN TO MOVE MIGRANTS INTO A FORMER SCHOOL.

THIS COMES AS THE CITY IS STRUGGLING TO HOUSE HUNDREDS OF ASYLUM-SEEKERS ARRIVING IN CHICAGO WITH MANY MORE CURRENTLY SLEEPING AT POLICE STATIONS.

CITY OFFICIALS HOSTED A COMMUNITY MEETING IN SOUTH SHORE THURSDAY TO HEAR FROM RESIDENTS.

WE WERE THERE.

>> Reporter: IT WAS A SOLD OUT EVENT PEOPLE HAD A LOT TO SAY.

THERE WAS TENSION AS CITY OFFICIALS TRY TO LAY OUT THEIR PLAN.

DOZENS OF RESIDENTS LINED UP TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR CONCERNS AND FRUSTRATIONS SURROUNDING THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING MIGRANTS MOVE INTO THEIR COMMUNITY.

THE MEETING WAS HELD AT A NEWER SCHOOL AROUND THE CORNER FROM THE SHUTTERED SOUTH SHORE HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH THE CITY PLANS TO TURN INTO A RESPITE CENTER.

ACCORDING TO OFFICIALS, THE GOAL IS TO USE THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE FORMER HIGH SCHOOL, GIVING 500 ASYLUM-SEEKERS A PLACE TO STAY TEMPORARILY AS A CITY FIND MORE PERMANENT SHELTER FOR THE MIGRANTS.

>> THIS IS A FACILITY THAT IS A TEMPORARY HOLDING PLACE IN ORDER FOR THEM TO ACTUALLY SEEK A SHELTER BED.

WHAT THAT MEANS, THOUGH, IT IS A CHAIR FOR THEM TO SIT, A PLACE TO DECOMPRESS, AND A PLACE TO TAKE A HOT SHOWER.

A PLACE TO DECOMPRESS AND NOT BE IN A POLICE DISTRICT.

WHEN IT COMES TO OTHER SERVICES BEYOND THAT, IT IS VERY TEMPORARY FOR THESE FOLKS.

>> Reporter: RESIDENTS SAY THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY AND THE TIMELINE OF THE PLANT.

RECENTLY THE BUILDING HAS BEEN OCCUPIED AS A TRAINING CENTER FOR THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT.

WE ARE TOLD THE COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN PUSHING FOR YEARS TO HAVE THE PROPERTY BECOME A COMMUNAL HUB.

WHAT ATTEND THE INTEREST HAVING EMPATHY FOR THE MIGRANTS, BUT WANTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT SUMMER PROGRAMS AND PARTNERSHIPS THE CITY HAS FOR ASYLUM-SEEKERS.

>> THERE HAS BEEN DISINVESTMENT IN THIS COMMUNITY, IN GENERAL, WHEN IT COMES TO SUMMER PROGRAMS.

CAREER PROGRAM TO ALL THE THINGS LISTED BEFORE.

I AM TRYING TO GET A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT PROGRAMS, SPECIFICALLY, WILL BE IMPLEMENTED BEFORE AND WHO YOU ARE COLLABORATED WITH.

>> Reporter: THE CITY PLANS TO PARTNER WITH INSTITUTIONS TO OFFER ESL CLASSES, AS WELL AS ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN BUT THE PANEL DIDN'T HAVE A CLEAR ANSWER ON HOW LONG MIGRANTS ARE EXPECTED TO STAY, BUT DID SAY THEY PLAN TO HAVE A 24 HOUR POLICING.

THAT IS A MOVE SEVERAL RESIDENTS WERE IN FAVOR OF.

SOME SAY THEY HAVE ASKED THE CITY TO TACKLE HOMELESSNESS AND GUN VIOLENCE.

>> IT IS A COMMUNITY THAT IS BEING SERVED HERE.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY FAIR FOR EVERY HOMELESS IMMIGRANT THAT YOU BRING IN THAT YOU SCOOP UP ONE OF THE HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY .

[ APPLAUSE ] I THINK THAT WOULD BE FAIR.

>> Reporter: THEY SAY THEY HOPE THE MAYOR ELECT MOVES ASYLUM-SEEKERS TO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS ONCE HE TAKES OFFICE.

IN A STATEMENT TODAY, JOHNSON CALLED FOR MORE COORDINATION AT THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS, WHILE ADDING "I'M GOING TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE PEOPLE OF CHICAGO AND ELDER PERSONS."

BUT THE STRONGER OUR COMMUNITIES ARE, THE BETTER POSITIONED WE ARE AND SUPPORTING NEWCOMERS AND CURRENT RESIDENTS AND FAMILIES.

>> AS YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THE CITY CALLED A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS.

HUNDREDS OF ASYLUM-SEEKERS HAVE BEEN SLEEPING IN POLICE STATIONS ACROSS THE CITY.

>> DEFINITELY.

AND MORE ARE STILL COMING.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>> UP NEXT, WE HEAR ABOUT LOCAL EFFORTS UNDERWAY TO HELP THE ASYLUM-SEEKERS.

STAY WITH US.

WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>>> A CDC HAS SEEN AN INCREASE IN MIGRANTS.

MORE THAN 8000 MIGRANTS HAVE ARRIVED SINCE LAST SUMMER.

NOW CITYWIDE EFFORTS ARE REACHING A TIPPING POINT AS RESOURCES DWINDLE.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ARE WHO RUNS A FREE STORE FOR MIGRANTS ON THE NORTH SIDE AND A VOLUNTEER IN GARFIELD RIDGE ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE AND A MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF THE INTERCITY MUSLIM ACTION NETWORK, ALSO ALDERMEN LOPEZ .

WE ALSO INVITED THE CITY TO ENJOY JOINT AS TODAY, BUT THEY DECLINED.

WE WOULD GET STARTED.

THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING ME TODAY.

WE KNOW YOU RUN A FREE STORE FOR MIGRANTS AND HAVE BEEN HELPING THEM.

HOW HAVE THINGS BEEN LATELY AT THE STORE?

>> WE ARE VERY, VERY BUSY.

WE RUN OUT VERY QUICKLY OF THE GOODS WE HAVE.

IT IS A DAILY BUSY, BUSY TIME.

WE HAVE SOMETIMES 100 PEOPLE IN ONE DAY.

THESE ARE ALL NEW ARRIVALS.

>> WHAT IS A MAJOR NECESSITY FOR THE MIGRANTS?

>> THEY COME IN AND HAVE NOTHING.

WHEN THEY CROSS THE BORDER, THEY HAVE TO LEAVE EVERYTHING BEHIND, LIKE BAGS, CLOTHING, EVERYTHING.

SOME EVEN NEED GLASSES OR HEARING AIDS THAT THEY HAVE TO LEAVE BEHIND.

WHEN THEY ARRIVE, THEY ONLY HAVE THE CLOTHES ON THEIR BACK.

WE GIVE THEM A GOOD TWO OR THREE CHANGES TO GET STARTED.

WE ARE AN EMERGENCY FREE STORE.

>> I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN ALSO HELPING MIGRANTS AT POLICE DISTRICTS AROUND THE CITY UNTIL THEY FIND A MORE PERMANENT TEMPORARY SHELTER.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING THERE?

>> WE ARE SEEING A CRISIS THAT THE CITY HAS.

WE HAVE PEOPLE SLEEPING ON CONCRETE FLOORS.

WE HAVE CHILDREN THAT ARE SICK.

WE HAVE PREGNANT WOMEN THAT ARE NOT HAVING ACCESS TO MEDICAL SERVICES.

WE ARE SEEING FAMILIES GO WITHOUT FOOD, SOMETIMES FOR DAYS.

THAT IS WHEN WE TOOK ACTION TO MAKE SURE THAT FAMILIES AT POLICE STATIONS HAD AT LEAST TWO MEALS, TWO HOT MEALS, WATER , FOOD A DAY.

>> WE KNOW HEALTH CAN ALSO BE AN ISSUE.

DR. JAMES, YOUR MEDICAL TEAM HAS BEEN GOING TO SEVERAL OF THESE POLICE DISTRICTS ON THE SOUTHSIDE TO ASSIST MIGRANTS.

WHAT YOU SEEING OUT THERE?

>> I AM BLOWN AWAY BY WHAT I SEEN.

WE'RE SEEING PEOPLE STRUGGLING JUST TO GET HYDRATED, JUST TO GET WATER.

WE ARE SEEING HIGH RATES OF INFECTIONS AFFECTING JUST ABOUT EVERYONE IN THE VICINITY.

AND JUST THE RAVAGES ON THE BODIES OF FOLKS WHO HAVE TRAVELED, SOMETIMES MONTH, A TRICK FAMILY TRAVELED MONTHS THROUGH A JUNGLE AND HAD VERY LITTLE ACCESS TO CARE.

>> WE KNOW THE CITY IS TRYING TO UTILIZE DIFFERENT BUILDINGS TO GIVE THEM TEMPORARY HOUSING , BUT THERE ARE SOME COMES CONCERNS.

HOW SHOULD THE CITY APPROACH THIS?

>> THE CITY HAS TO START ACKNOWLEDGING THE MISTAKE OF IMPOSING OR PLANNING WITHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO START WITH COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE SENSITIVITY TO THE ISSUE AND UNDERSTANDING OF IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE STORY.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THAT INFRASTRUCTURE, BILINGUAL SERVICES, WE HAVE MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES WHO COME IN WITH TRAUMA.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE RESIDENTS RIGHT NOW DEALING WITH A LOT OF ISSUES.

EVERY COMMUNITY HAS TO BE INCLUDED FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE CONVERSATION.

THAT IS A MISTAKE THE CITY CONTINUES TO MAKE.

WE ARE WORKING ALREADY WITH MAYOR ELECT JOHNSON TO CORRECT THAT SO WE CAN BETTER ASSESS AND ADDRESS THE ISSUES AFFECTING THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES WE REPRESENT.

>> YOU ARE TRYING TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM.

HOW WILL YOU BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO HELP MIGRANTS GIVEN THEIR RESOURCES ARE LIMITED?

>> WE HAVE BEEN DOING IT AS A MIRACLE FROM THE BEGINNING WHEN THE FIRST BUSES CAME FROM TEXAS.

ERIC CHURCH, -- OUR CHURCH.

WE HAVE A SPANISH CONGREGATION.

SINCE WE HAVE A SPANISH CONGREGATION, WE FELT LIKE, HEY, WE ARE THE ONES WHO SHOULD DO THIS.

WE SPEAK SPANISH.

WE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR DONATIONS.

WE HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANY GRANTS OR CITY HELP OR ANYTHING.

>> JUST COMMUNITY HELP.

>> ALL COMMUNITY.

IT'S AMAZING.

WE HAVE PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE COMING IN , WORKING NEXT TO EACH OTHER, WOMEN, MEN, YOUNG AND OLD, ALL KINDS OF CHILDREN , NO CHURCHES, ALL KIND THE CHURCHES, KNOW POLITICAL SIDES.

SO GOOD.

>> YOU ARE ALSO PART OF THE SOLUTION TRY TO HELP THE MIGRANTS.

YOU HAVE SPOKEN WITH THEM.

WHAT DO YOU THINK WOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT THE SITUATION?

>> THAT THE PEOPLE SITTING IN POLICE STATIONS ARE PEOPLE.

THEY ARE HUMAN.

THEY HAVE HAD SOMETIMES YEARS OF TRAUMA AND MONTHS OF CHALLENGES TO GET TO THIS COUNTRY.

WE ARE A COUNTRY OF OPPORTUNITY.

WE ARE A COUNTRY THAT WELCOMES IMMIGRANTS.

AS MANY OF OUR ANCESTORS WERE.

SO WHAT CAN WE DO AS A CITY , AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS, TO MAKE SURE THAT SOME OF THE BASIC NEEDS ARE MET UNTIL THEY CAN HAVE BETTER HOUSING?

>> DR. JAMES, YOU MENTIONED HOW YOU WERE SEEING IN EQUITIES IN REAL TIME.

WHAT YOU MEAN BY THAT?

>> I MEAN BY THAT, JUST WHAT WAS SAID.

FOLKS ARE BEING TREATED AS IF THEY AREN'T HUMAN.

THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WERE GRANTED THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING HUMAN AND ALL THE RIGHTS THEREOF.

THE SPEED OF THE RESPONSE, THE RESPONSE EVEN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, REALLY IS NOT REAFFIRMING TO HUMANITY OF THE FOLKS WE ARE DEALING WITH.

>> ALDERMAN, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO NOW?

>> IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE JOIN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

NEEDS TO ACT QUICKLY.

THERE IS $800 MILLION ALREADY ALLOCATED, BUT HAS NOT BEEN DISPERSED.

IT HASN'T BEEN DISTRIBUTED.

FUNDS HAVE NOT EVEN BEEN DISCUSSED, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO EXPEDITE.

FEDERAL AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES MUST DO THEIR JOB, AND WE CANNOT DEHUMANIZE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.

THE STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS , I'M GLAD TO SEE THE PRESIDENT OF COOK COUNTY WENT TO THE STATE TO ASK FOR MORE FUNDING.

THERE IS NOW THE RESPONSIBILITY TO ACT AND STOP PLAYING WITH PEOPLES LIES AND DEHUMANIZING.

THERE IS ALSO A NATIONAL POLICY HURTING PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN.

WE NEED TO STOP THIS.

IS REALLY HURTING A LOT OF COUNTRIES.

THEY HAVE A LOT OF LOCAL ISSUES DEMOCRATICALLY.

WE ALL HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER.

ALSO, FEDERAL AUTHORITIES MUST BE COORDINATED TO STOP SUCH A HUGHES CRISIS.

40,000 PEOPLE AT THE BORDER.

THIS WILL GET WORSE WITH TITLE 42 LIFTED.

WE NEED TO ADDRESS SYSTEMICALLY AND LOCALLY.

>> IT AND ON MAY 11.

I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>> GROWING UP IN LOGAN SQUARE, CATALINA AND HER SIBLINGS WEREN'T ALLOWED TO HAVE DOGS, NO MATTER HOW MUCH THEY BEG.

IT IS NO SURPRISE THAT THEY WENT ON TO, NOT ONLY OWNED DOGS THEMSELVES, BUT ALSO OPERATE DOG DAY CARE CENTERS ACROSS THE CITY.

LIKE MANY SMALL BUSINESSES, THE PANDEMIC TOOK A BITE OUT OF THE DAYCARE, BUT SHE DID NOT ROLLOVER.

INSTEAD, SHE NOSED AROUND FOR OUTSIDE FUNDING OPTIONS TO HELP HER BUSINESS.

>> MINGLE, PLAY, SOCIALIZE.

NOT ONLY DOGS, BUT HUMANS LIKE MYSELF.

THEY GET DROPPED OFF ON THE SCHOOL BUS AND GO HOME HAPPY.

>> Reporter: THE OWNER OF FURRY PAWS DOWN TO TAKE HER DAYCARE IS A FAMILY AFFAIR.

>> MY PARENTS MIGRATED HERE FROM MEXICO.

50 YEARS THEY HAVE BEEN YOUR.

MY MOTHER HAS OWNED A RESTAURANT FOR 30 YEARS .

IT IS IN OUR BLOOD TO BOSS UP AND BE AN ENTREPRENEUR AND OPEN UP YOUR OWN BUSINESS .

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS HER FAMILY ENCOURAGED HER TO JOIN THE DOG DAY CARE BUSINESS WHEN SHE HAD HER FIRST CHILD.

SINCE THEN, SHE HAS SEEN UPS AND DOWNS.

>> WHEN I FIRST STARTED, THE DOGGIE DAYCARE INDUSTRY WAS VERY NEW.

SKYROCKET HIGH.

EVENTUALLY THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, IT WAS STILL HIGH, BUT THEN THE PANDEMIC HIT AND IT HIT ROCK BOTTOM.

FOR AFTER THAT POINT, SHE SAYS SHE FINANCED FURRY PAWS ON HER OWN.

BUT WITH THE PANDEMIC DIP, SHE BEGAN LOOKING FOR SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT OPTIONS.

>> I WAS REFERRED TO THE SMALL DIGITAL GRANT.

IT WAS ONE OF MY FIRST ATTEMPTS.

WHAT ARE THE ODDS OF ME GETTING AWARDED?

LONG STORY SHORT, I DID.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS THE $10,000 GRANT ALLOWED HER TO ADD SERVICES LIKE GROOMING, AS WELL AS BOOSTER SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE.

>> I LIKE TO TAKE PICTURES OF EVERYTHING I POSSIBLY CAN, FROM THEM LANE DOWN TO WRESTLING AND DRINKING OUT OF WATER BALLS.

>> Reporter: CLIENT SAY THOSE KINDS OF TOUCHES MAKES FURRY PAWS STAND OUT IN A CROWDED FIELD.

>> I LIKE BEING ABLE TO SEE ON SOCIAL MEDIA WHAT IS HAPPENING AT DAYCARE AND WHERE FREDDIE IS IN THE PICTURE.

THE TRUST HAS GROWN HAVING A PLACE LIKE THIS TO SEND HIM WHERE HE LOVES IT AND THEY LOVE HIM.

THIS IS LIKE HIS FAMILY.

I CAN'T PUT A PRICE ON IT.

THE REASON NEIGHBORHOOD SURVIVE IS BECAUSE A SMALL BUSINESSES.

YOU DON'T GET THE CUSTOMER SERVICE OR SAY LOVE FROM A BIG CORPORATION.

WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO HAVE A DOG WITHOUT FURRY PAWS.

WE FEEL SO CONFIDENT IN THEM AND KNOW HE IS SO LOVED ALL DAY, EVERY DAY.

>> Reporter: SHE ENCOURAGES SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS TO LOOK FOR OUTSIDE FUNDING SOURCES HELP KEEP THEIR FINANCES OUT OF THE DOGHOUSE.

>> SMALL BUSINESSES LIKE MYSELF, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF RESOURCES OR PLATFORMS.

I HAVE TO KIND OF PUT MY PRIDE ASIDE AND START LOOKING FOR GRANTS.

DOGS ARE MY PASSION.

THE FACT THAT I CAN WORK HERE AND WERE MY OWN BUSINESS IS MY BIGGEST .

TO BE ABLE TO DO WHAT I LOVE.

>> THE VERIZON SMALL BUSINESS DIGITAL READY PROGRAM IS OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS THROUGH MAY 12.

YOU CAN FIND MORE ON THAT ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> BACK WITH MORE RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> THE KENNEDY EXPRESSWAY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT THAT KICKED OFF EARLIER THIS YEAR HAD AN UNEXPECTED EFFECT ON SOME OF THE UNHOUSED RESIDENTS IN THE 33rd WAR.

THE SCOPE OF THE WORK ENDANGERED THOSE LIVING IN VIA DUCTS UNDER THE EXPRESSWAY.

WITH JUST A FEW WEEKS NOTICE, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND LEADERS SAY THEY WERE ABLE TO MOVE THE MAJORITY OF THOSE RESIDENTS INTO TEMPORARY HOUSING AND GET THEM ON TRACK TO PERMANENT HOUSING.

JOINING US NOW TO TALK ABOUT HOW THAT HAPPENED ARE 35th WARD ALDERMAN AND STREET OUTREACH ORGANIZER FOR THE CHICAGO COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS.

WELCOME, GENTLEMEN.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THE ENCAMPMENTS UNDER THE KENNEDY EXPRESSWAY WERE IN PLACE FOR A LONG TIME.

WE HAVE AN IDEA OF HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE ACTUALLY THERE BEFORE THE CONSTRUCTION WAS ANNOUNCED?

>> THE MAIN ENCAMPMENT HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR 15 PLUS YEARS.

DROP A TIME, THE POPULATION HAS FLUCTUATED.

PEOPLE HAVE MOVED IN.

IN SOME INSTANCES, THEY BEEN CONNECTED WITH HOUSING, IN SOME INSTANCES, THEY HAVE RECONNECTED WITH FAMILY.

SOMETIMES THERE HAS BEEN AS MANY AS 16 PEOPLE, SOMETIMES FOUR OR FIVE PEOPLE LIVING THERE.

INITIALLY WHEN I CAME TO THE -- WHEN THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION CAME TO MY OFFICE THEY SAID THEY ENCAMPMENT WOULD NOT BE IMPACTED.

KICK IN PEOPLE WHEN THEY ARE DOWN IS NOT THE SOLUTION.

MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AND BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM AND FINDING THEM THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO GET INTO HOUSING, THAT IS THE SOLUTION TO HOMELESSNESS.

INITIALLY, WHEN THEY TOLD US THE ENCAMPMENT WAS NOT GOING TO BE IMPACTED, WE SAID WE WOULD CONTINUE TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND CONNECT PEOPLE WITH RESOURCES.

BUT IT WAS LAST MONTH THAT I -- THAT IDOT TOLD US THAT EVERYONE HAS TO MOVE.

THAT IS WHEN WE STARTED CALLING STATE OF ILLINOIS AND OTHERS TO HELP US FIND HOUSING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

>> THAT IS WHERE YOU GOT INVOLVED.

YOU WERE AMONG THE ORGANIZATIONS NOTIFIED BY IDOT THAT THIS WAS HAPPENING.

CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT PROCESS?

HOW THAT BEGAN?

>> IDOT REACHED OUT TO US VIA EMAIL AND WANTED TO HAVE A LARGE MEETING WITH US AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS.

THEY WERE INFORMING US ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION WORK READY TO TAKE PLACE.

THEY WANTED US TO DO OUTREACH TO INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN THE CONSTRUCTION ZONE AND NOTIFIED THEM OF THE CONSTRUCTION AND THE FACT THEY WOULD HAVE TO MOVE FROM THAT AREA.

AND SO, CCH, ALONG WITH THE FSS AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS, WE ADVOCATED AND PUSHED BACK THAT IT WASN'T SUFFICIENT ENOUGH TIME FOR US TO GO OUT AND ENGAGE WITH THESE INDIVIDUALS, FIND OTHER PLACES FOR THEM TO GO.

WE ASKED IDOT TO GO BACK TO SOME OF ITS PARTNERS AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS AND SEE IF THEY COULD COME UP WITH RESOURCES SO WE CAN HOUSE THESE INDIVIDUALS INSTEAD OF JUST PUSHING THEM TO THE SIDE.

>> IT IS NOT JUST THEM.

PEOPLE WERE ALSO LIVING AT THE PARK.

THAT SIDE ALSO WAS CLEARED OF THOSE PEOPLE?

>> WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS CONSISTENTLY SOUGHT TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AND FIGURE OUT WHAT IS NEEDED TO GET PEOPLE INTO HOUSING.

IN SOME INSTANCES, THEY NEED HELP GETTING THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY CARD.

AND OTHERS, THEY NEED HELP GETTING THEIR STATE IDEA.

IN SOME INSTANCES, THEY ARE ON A WAITING LIST.

WE WERE ABLE TO GET THEM INTO THE SYSTEM, AND NOW THEY ARE WAITING TO FIND THE RIGHT APARTMENT OR HOME.

IT IS WORKING AND BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS OF TRUST, FIGURING OUT NEEDS, AND THAT IS WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO AT FIREMAN SPARK, AT THE CORNER OF KIMBALL.

WE STARTED WORKING WITH RESIDENT THERE.

FORTUNATELY, A SLEEP HAD BEEN PLANNED BY SOME OFFICIALS IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

THE COMMUNITY RALLIED.

WITH STOPS THAT IT DID THE ALTERNATIVE.

WE WORKED WITH THE PEOPLE THAT WERE THERE AND CONNECTED THEM TO THE RESOURCES TO GET THEM INTO HOUSING.

>> SO NOT EVERYBODY HAS FOUND PERMANENT HOUSING YET.

>> IN SOME INSTANCES, WHEN PEOPLE LEARN THERE WILL BE AS WE.

THEY JUST GET UP AND LEAVE.

THAT IS NOT WHAT WE WANT.

WE WANT PEOPLE TO STAY WHERE THEY ARE SO WE CAN MEET THEM AND TALK TO THEM AND BUILD THAT RELATIONSHIP AND HELP THEM.

BUT IN SOME INSTANCES, WHEN PEOPLE DO HERE THE CITY IS COMING OUT, THEY THINK, OH MY GOSH, THERE'S GOING TO BE ASLEEP, LET ME GET OUT OF HERE.

IN OTHER INSTANCES, PEOPLE MOVE.

THEY MOVED TO ANOTHER STATE, OR IN SOME INSTANCES, THEY JUST DISAPPEAR.

WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY WENT.

BUT WE DO KNOW THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE THAT WE MADE CONTACT WITH AS A RESULT OF THIS NEED TO RELOCATE PEOPLE, TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE FROM THE CONSTRUCTION HAPPENING , WE KNOW A MAJORITY WERE CONNECTED INTO SHELTERS.

>> HOW MUCH OF THIS PROCESS CAN BE DUPLICATED IN OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY?

WHAT IS NECESSARY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN?

>> ALL OF IT CAN BE DUPLICATED IF THERE IS THE PROCESS OF MAKING THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE AND APPLYING IT WHERE IT IS ACTUALLY NEEDED.

BRING CHICAGO HOME IS A CAMPAIGN THAT HAS BEEN OUT FOR YEARS NOW.

WE HAVE BEEN PUSHING SEVERAL ADMINISTRATIONS, TRYING TO GET THEM INTO PLACE.

THAT ALONE SEEKS TO CREATE A DEDICATED STREAM OF MONEY BY WHICH WE CAN ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS.

THAT RIGHT THERE IN ITSELF WILL ALLOW US TO DO A LOT IN TERMS OF CONNECTING FOLKS TO HOUSING AND OTHER RESOURCES THEY NEED TO STAY HOUSED.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE HAD FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF PEOPLE START MOVING BACK WHEN THE CONSTRUCTION IS DONE ?

>> THE HOPE WOULD BE THE PEOPLE THAT WERE LIVING THERE, THAT THEY ARE NOW IN SHELTERS .

SOME OF THEM ARE STAYING IN HOTELS.

OVER THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO, THEY WILL GET PAIRED WITH AN APARTMENT.

WAS A MOVE INTO THAT APARTMENT, THEY WILL ALSO GET SUPPORT FROM THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

AND CASEWORKER.

THE HOPE WOULD BE THAT THEY WON'T NEED TO MOVE BACK TO LIVING UNDER A BRIDGE.

NO ONE WANTS TO LIVE UNDER A BRIDGE.

THAT IS WHY WE NEED MORE RESOURCES.

I AGREE 100%.

WE NEED TO PASS THE CHICAGO WHOLE PROPOSAL.

THE LIMITED SUCCESS WE HAVE HAD, AND I SAY LIMITED, BECAUSE THEY SHOULD BE THE BARE MINIMUM OF HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS.

BUT WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH HERE, BECAUSE GOT $500,000 FROM THE STATE.

>> AND WE NEED MORE RESOURCES.

>> OUR TIME IS DONE HERE.

WE NEED MORE TIME TO KEEP TALKING ABOUT THIS.

THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN.

>>> EACH MOTHER'S DAY MARCO OF MARIACHI SAYS HE HONORS HIS MOTHER WITH A MORNING SERENADE.

BUT IF YOU ARE NOT UP FOR THAT CHALLENGE, YOU CAN LET MARCO AND THE REST OF THE BAND DO THE SERENADING SET AT THE MAY 14 CONCERT.

>> THEY WILL BE PERFORMING ON MAY 14, MOTHER'S DAY, IN CELEBRATION OF ALL MOTHERS AROUND THE COUNTRY, ESPECIALLY OUR MOTHERS WHO LIVE WITH US IN CHICAGOLAND AREA.

LAST YEAR WE HAD A MOTHER'S DAY CONCERT AS WELL.

WE ARE KIND OF TURNING IT INTO A YEARLY TRADITION IN THE BAND WHERE WE JUST CELEBRATE OUR MOTHERS.

YOU CAN EXPECT TO HEAR A LOT OF THE WIDE VARIETY OF MEXICAN REPERTOIRE, AS WELL AS SOME THAT CATER TO APPRECIATING OUR MOTHERS .

AS A MATTER OF FACT, THIS CONCERT WE WILL HEAR A LOT OF NEW MUSIC WE HAVE BEEN CRAFTING IN THE BACKGROUND FOR THE PAST HALF A YEAR.

>> YOU CAN FIND A LINK TO INFORMATION ABOUT TICKETS FOR THE MOTHER'S DAY CONCERT ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S HER SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUR WEBSITE , WTTA W.COM/NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST.

IF YOU'RE WATCHING US ON FRIDAY NIGHT, YOU CAN ALSO CATCH LATINA VOICES AND BLACK VOICES ON SATURDAYS BEGINNING AT 6:00 VIA.

DON'T FORGET TO TURN INTO EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING.

I WILL BE WAITING FOR YOU.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT LATINA VOICES, >>> POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICE, A