CHICAGO — Two major homeless shelters in Kenwood and West Lawn will shut down in the coming months, after city officials reversed their earlier commitment to take over operations from the state, citing mounting budget pressures.
The Department of Family and Support Services announced the closures Sunday, stating that the Midway Shelter at 7353 S. Cicero Ave. will shut down by June 30, while the Kenwood facility at 4900 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive will phase out within six months.
City Reverses Course on Shelter Takeover
Both shelters were originally opened by the state to house migrants and asylum seekers, as Chicago faced an influx of arrivals from Texas and other states. They were later folded into the city’s system under the “One System Initiative.”
Earlier this year, city officials had said they would assume control of both locations, continuing their operations indefinitely. However, the plan was quietly scrapped…