The city of Chicago’s shelter system is failing homeless disabled people it is meant to support, leaving them out in the freezing winter weather.
Two homeless senior adults we have been working with for the last few months, one with a mobility disability requiring personal assistance from the other, have now been waiting for an accessible shelter bed for 47 days. In that time, they have been living in their truck and desperately seeking housing after an unexpected eviction from their apartment of eight years.
This illustrates why it’s critical that the city immediately offer accessible resources to our homeless population, and it needs a more nuanced approach to housing that considers accessibility. Chicago’s shelter system has long struggled with accessibility, leaving homeless disabled people few, if any, options. This is simply unacceptable.
In December, the couple went to the only wheelchair-accessible shelter we could find in the city, the Shelter Placement and Resource Center known as SPARC. It is the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services’ new and first 24/7 overflow facility. They could get inside, but the sleeping cots at SPARC are a mere 5 inches off the ground, making it impossible for a person with a physical disability to safely get in and out.
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SPARC does not allow for a personal assistant, or reasonable accommodations required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. This shows a fundamental lack of understanding of the diverse needs of the homeless population and is a human rights violation.
Since then, we have submitted five service requests to 311 requesting shelter beds, and four of those service requests were closed without any contact or notice. The fifth remains open without any contact. The repeated, unanswered service requests to 311 are deeply concerning and suggest a breakdown in communication and follow-through within the system.
The couple has had no choice but to continue living in their truck.
This highlights a critical failure in the city shelter system and is precarious. Living in a truck, especially during harsh weather conditions, poses significant health and safety risks. The couple’s reliance on each other for essential daily tasks further underscores their vulnerability.
Beyond the systemic failures, the human cost is immense. This is only one of many similar stories from our disabled community members. Chicago can and must do better. Disabled lives depend on it.
Monica Dillon, registered nurse, Northwest Side Homeless Outreach Volunteers
Iliana Rivera Haven, Access Living community organizer
Look at migrants through wider lens
The attitude expressed recently by reader Sherry Szilage Stoffel regarding immigrants, while not entirely wrong, suffers from tunnel vision (“Restore Welcoming City carveouts”).
Speeding on a public road is illegal, but what if the speeder is trying to get a loved one to a hospital? Stealing is wrong, but what if a parent with starving children swipes a jar of peanut butter?
In a similar way, many of the immigrants are suffering greatly in their home countries. If that is not enough to temper justice with mercy, consider that much of the violence south of our country is from drug gangs that only exist because of our seemingly insatiable appetite for their product. Consider that some areas are becoming unlivable due to the climate change we have helped to bring about.
I suggest those who wholly agree with the idea that “illegal immigrants are criminals” and should therefore all be deported read the Book of Ruth in the Old Testament (you know, one of Trump’s two favorite “Testaments” of the Bible).
Or read the novel or watch the movie, “Les Misérables.” Perhaps that might soften your heart just a bit.
Tom Jacobs, Elgin
Who will stop Trump?
With each day, it is becoming clearer that we may not be able to stop President Donald Trump’s takeover of the government and destruction of democracy.
Arguably, he has anointed himself as king. Why do I say this? First, the Republican majority in Congress has completely acquiesced to the president and shirked its responsibility to provide checks and balances.
For example, other than Matt Gaetz, Trump is now positioned to have all of his Cabinet picks approved. And make no mistake: All of them are totally loyal to Trump and hence will not stop his dangerous and illegal actions.
So, what’s left? The courts. Trump’s policies, most of which are illegal, will continue to be challenged in the courts. Legal decisions, as always, will be delayed. Then, even if the courts rule against Trump, he won’t comply. Sadly, there doesn’t appear to be an enforcement mechanism.
To make matters worse, the rule of law may be officially gone: The FBI turned over details of 5,000 nonpartisan employees who worked on Jan. 6 cases to the Trump Justice Department. I fear for the safety of these investigators who simply were doing their job.
What this means is that any law enforcement officer who legally investigates the alleged wrongdoing of others can be prosecuted. This only happens in fascist and autocratic nations. Trump voters will rue the day they elected this power-grabbing felon. They will come for you as well.
Like many Americans, I am worried.
Richard Cherwitz, Ph.D., professor emeritus, University of Texas at Austin
If U.S. takes Gaza, bring Palestinians to U.S.
If President Donald Trump wants the U.S. to own Gaza and redevelop it into a Trump resort, why does he expect neighboring countries to provide the “beautiful homes” to the 1.8 million Gazans he intends to expel? The neighbors are already hosting displaced Palestinians.
So why not fly the Gazans to the U.S. and provide them with “beautiful homes” here, as compensation for taking their homes and homeland?
Don Wedd, Hyde Park