Homeless encampment in Humboldt Park to be removed Friday

CHICAGO (CBS) — A homeless encampment near Humboldt Park is expected to be removed on Friday, leaving Several dozen people living there without a place to go and advocates asking the city to rethink its plan.
Signs around the park warned that “The encampments will come down today,” and that plan is in motion: streets and sanitation trucks and the park district are on site with Bobcats. 
Some who have lived there said they are still dealing with the fact their longtime home will be gone.
“I’ve got mixed emotions, so bad I feel we have been disrespected. They took down our home before we could clean it out—we were going to be respectful enough to get out,” Melissa Johnson said. 
Advocates have been going from tent to tent to see if residents are still there. After clearing it out, Chicago police and the park district would enforce municipal codes that stop overnight stays and tents in the park.
Advocates have asked the city to reconsider, in part because the city hasn’t provided any realistic alternatives for places for those who live there to go. The city has since offered residents access to support services and the option to move into housing or shelters—something those advocates say happened on an “expedited timeline.”
Friday morning’s closure would be the last step in an 18-month process meant to house those living in the park.
Ald. Jessie Fuentes (26th) says more than 100 people living there have been matched with housing through these accelerated moving events since last year. That’s 106 people housed in apartment units. About 21 people who were living in the park are in shelters, and some are awaiting the completion of those housing units.
“We don’t want individuals sleeping in the cold or have to bare in a tent, but to have city resources behind them,” Fuentes said. “Every individual who received an apartment will have case management for two years ensuring they can become self-sustainable in their path to permanent housing.”
This all comes as Mayor Brandon Johnson has announced a plan to close migrant shelters by the end of the year.
Starting Jan. 1, the city will implement a “one system initiative” to address the problems of homelessness and migrants in Chicago.