*This article has been translated for better understanding
It’s been one month since 18-year-old Estefania Castro crossed the southern border and began calling Chicago home. The differences between her home country of Venezuela and Chicago is something she’s still getting used to. However, the transition wouldn’t have been an easy one without the help she’s been receiving from the city of Chicago.
“They have helped us with whatever we need,” said Estefania Castro, a Venezuelan migrant at the American Islamic College shelter in Uptown.
The city of Chicago has taken the responsibility of caring for thousands of migrants and sending them to shelters across the city, one of them being the American Islamic College shelter in Uptown. The shelter is housing 1,300 Venezuelan migrants providing them with the basic necessities, such as food, water, security, youth services, and wrap-around case management to support them in the process of integration.
Migrants at the shelter also have access to social workers. These social workers help the migrants with any paperwork that might be needed. Also, they have access to the Chicago Department of Family Support Services. The department makes them aware of the resources available to them, and they might help them by placing them in a home, or providing assistance with legal resources.
“They have all the needs that you can think of when it comes to every level of need,” said Angel Rubi Navarijo, Director of Neighborhood Services at the 48th Ward. “The only thing that we don’t help with is clothing, but the neighborhood helps collect clothes for them.”
The city also makes sure that any kid at the shelter is enrolled in a Chicago Public School. For Angelica Arredondo, the city enrolled her two daughters once they arrived at the shelter.
“The good thing is that there weren't any obstacles when enrolling them. They only asked for the registry of Venezuela,” Arredondo said.
Other Venezuelan migrants at the American Islamic College shelter have expressed the same gratitude about the help they’ve received.
“I’m thankful to God and the city for all the support we’ve received,” said Michael Colmenarez. “They’ve helped the kids, families, and elderly.”
Nonetheless, a few Venezuelan migrants believe that the city could be doing more to help them. Veronica Nogueda believes that they should be provided with more opportunities, so they can be self-sufficient.
“If we have more opportunities, then they wouldn’t have a lot of baggage on their shoulders. They wouldn’t have to worry about us,” Nogueda said.
As of Sept. 29, 2023, the state of Illinois has spent $328 million to help Chicago’s migrant crisis, according to an article by WGNTV. However, the 2024 budget only has $150 million set aside for the migrant crisis, according to ABC 7. Despite the future of the resources being uncertain, for a number of Venezuelans, they believe that the city has done enough to help them.
“There’s nothing that’s missing,” Castro said. “We’re migrants, so everything is a process, but I have patience.”
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