Logan Square residents concerned about encampment as city, advocates cite homelessness challenges
A resident said people began setting up tents in June, shortly after the park reopened following a $27 million renovation.
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Residents near a homeless encampment in Logan Square say they are concerned about safety, cleanliness and access to a recently renovated park, while advocates for the unhoused argue that moving people from one location to another does not address the root causes of homelessness.
A woman who lives in the neighborhood and asked not to be shown on camera, citing safety concerns, said the encampment at Kedzie and Logan has become a source of frustration for nearby residents.
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"Well, it's just, it's unsafe. There's mental instability. There's a lot of yelling," she said.
The resident said people began setting up tents in the area in June, shortly after the park reopened following a $27 million renovation. She said residents have repeatedly contacted their alderperson's office and the city seeking a plan of action but have not seen changes.
"There's people that are kind of going to the bathroom wherever they want or having their stuff be placed wherever. And so, the people that this park is designed for are not able to utilize the area that is being currently occupied by the encampment," she said.
She also expressed concerns about reported conflicts within the encampment.
"There have been fights between the folks, so you don't feel comfortable walking any time of day," she said.
The office of 35th Ward Ald. Anthony Quezada said it has been working with the city to connect unhoused residents with shelter, case management and other resources. The office also said it has coordinated with the Department of Streets and Sanitation on regular cleanups and requested additional police attention because of public safety concerns.
Ali Simmons of the Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness said the situation is more complicated than simply offering shelter beds.
"They need somewhere to go, somewhere safe to be," Simmons said. "They need to be somewhere where, you know, providers can reach them, you know, on a regular basis. A lot of people that's living on the street are trying to get house is just, there are not enough housing units for folks. So, in the meantime, they have to do the best they can."
Despite video showing several tents and belongings in the area, there is disagreement about how many people are living there.
The city said there has only ever been one permanent resident at the site. The Mayor's Office of Homelessness and the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services said additional tents may be used for storage. According to the city, outreach teams regularly offer shelter, transportation, food, mental health and substance abuse services, employment assistance and help securing housing.
The Department of Family and Support Services said, "The City of Chicago respects the rights of unhoused individuals to make decisions for themselves based on their own unique circumstances and needs."
Simmons said a lack of affordable housing and shelter capacity remains a larger issue.
"So, even if everybody who right now is living on the street said, 'OK, I will take a shelter,' be it, there aren't enough shelter beds available to house everybody. And a lot of people who are unsheltered and live on the streets, they've had bad experiences in the shelter, which is why they prefer not to go back," Simmons said.
The city told the I-Team it is "making continuous investments into its shelter system through the Shelter Infrastructure Initiative and other key investments, such as expanding support for youth experiencing homelessness and an expanded homeless outreach partnership."
Neighbor Steve Berman said the encampment reflects broader economic realities.
"I think to me, it's just a sign of, I guess, the economy. And you know what reality is right now. And it's to me, it makes me feel a little sad to see people, you know, living in a park, in a town, you know, surrounded by condos and coffee shops and things like that," Berman said.
After the I-Team's inquiry, the Department of Family and Support Services shared photos showing fewer tents and city cleanup efforts. A resident later shared additional photos showing more tents, people and belongings in the area.
"I feel like we can do better. There are resources available and I think that it's the easiest thing to do absolutely nothing because it's the path of least resistance. But for people that are paying significant property taxes, there are resources that are available to these people and having them on the streets should not be one of them," the resident said.
The city also said it is making "meaningful strides" to expand affordable housing in Chicago through projects underway within the Department of Housing. Chicago's homelessness response strategy is outlined in a five-year Blueprint on Homelessness, which is available through the city.
