CHICAGO – State Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, D-Chicago, applauds the recent opening of a local shelter at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church in Portage Park for migrant families while also calling for more support for the long term homeless on the far Northwest side of Chicago.
“I want to thank the City of Chicago, Alderwoman Ruth Cruz, Cook County, the Archdiocese of Chicago, and the Zakat Foundation for taking action to open one of the first ever shelters for unhoused individuals and families on the far Northwest side. I hope we now turn a corner and acknowledge that our area has long had shelter and support needs, and many of our long time unhoused neighbors also deserve support and shelter access right in their home area. Nobody should be forced to sleep in a police station lobby or in a park.”
Representative LaPointe has championed increased state funding for homelessness, including $500K additional dollars in the SFY25 budget for the Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) Portage Cragin location for targeted local services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, including veterans and people with disabilities. Next year’s state budget includes an additional $90M for homelessness, a portion of which will come to Chicago.
The new shelter will be located on Lavergne Avenue in Portage Park, Chicago. Those interested in volunteering to support the residents of the new St. Bart’s shelter can contact ward30@cityofchicago.org. All migrant families will come through the landing zone located near downtown.
