Chicago has been struggling to find housing for migrants arriving in the city.
One property owner is opening up his buildings, letting hundreds of asylum seekers live rent-free.
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Chris Amatore, a property manager and real estate investor, is providing beds and food, and paying for it all himself.
Food was delivered Thursday to the families staying in a South Shore building. In recent days, 57 Venezuelans moved in to the building on South Essex, according to Amatore, who said he owns the building.
“I just decided I got the heat on, I got gas and electric, let’s fill them in,” Amatore said. “We’ll worry about the details later.”
Over the last nine days, Amatore said he felt moved to offer shelter in his vacant apartments after visiting the city’s landing center and a shelter for new arrivals.
“I saw five-year-olds with jackets on the streets,” Amatore said. “I’m like, it’s going to be negative 14, what’s going on?”
He, his family and a couple of volunteers have taken in 448 adults and children at 15 of his residential buildings.