The city said overnight camping bans will start being enforced in the first quarter of 2026. Several homelessness advocates plan on speaking out against the closure during a Wednesday Park District Board of Commissioners meeting.
NORTH PARK — A “Know Your Rights” pamphlet is one of the few things that lines the walls of “Mama’s” new tent.
Mama, who asked not to share her real name, has been living in the Legion Park homeless encampment since May. Mama and her husband used to live in a makeshift home along the banks of the North Shore Channel in Legion Park, 3103 W. Peterson Ave., but their home was knocked down during a September encampment clearing. Now the 72-year-old who uses a wheelchair may have to move again.
Mama, like many of the other 35 or so Legion Park residents, was added to the city’s affordable housing list months ago but hasn’t heard anything.
Credit: Molly DeVore
Quote from the article:
In a statement, the Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness said the group opposes the Legion Park clearing.
“During previous evictions, the same set of services have been offered and we have repeatedly seen that many are left out in the cold. This is because the resources offered are not sufficient to meet everyone’s needs,” according to the coalition. “We strongly believe that unless solutions are offered that meet the needs of everyone experiencing homelessness, public spaces should not be closed off to people seeking refuge there.”
