CHICAGO (NEWSnet/AP) — Chicago is scrambling to house hundreds of asylum-seekers as winter weather approaches.

The city announced a partnership with religious leaders this week to house 400 of the migrants in churches. But with nighttime temperature dropping below freezing, more than 1,000 are living at police stations or at O’Hare International Airport as of Friday, according to the city dashboard.

“As winter fast approaches, our need for greater collaboration and coordination grows. And that is why we are mobilizing Chicago’s faith community and our partners in the philanthropic community to meet this moment,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said at a news conference announcing the partnership.

More than 23,000 asylum-seekers have been bused to Chicago from Texas since early 2023 according to the city.

Illinois announced this month it would funnel an additional $160 million to help resettle migrants who arrive in Chicago, including $65 million to help the city build two temporary shelters to avoid people sleeping outdoors. On Friday, the state announced it would give an additional $4 million toward feeding asylum-seekers, in partnership with Greater Chicago Food Depository

Construction began this week on a structure meant to house 2,000 migrants in what had been a vacant lot in the Brighton Park neighborhood. No time frame is apparent for its opening.

Alderwoman Julia Ramirez, who represents the ward on the City Council, said she opposes the project due to safety concerns for her constituents and migrants.

“I will gladly shelter and welcome asylum-seekers. But I think that we haven’t done it in a very dignified and humane way,” Ramirez told The Associated Press.

The faith-led housing initiative will prioritize pregnant women, children, and those who have been sleeping outside, according to Johnson. The churches plan to host people for 60 days with the goal of moving them to independent living or another shelter, according to Pastor Torrey Barrett of Life Center Church, which welcomed 40 migrants on Wednesday.

The situation is even more pressing in New York than in Chicago. More than 120,000 seekers of asylum have arrived in the city over the past year, and about half of them are staying in shelters run by the city, which is legally required to provide emergency housing to homeless people.

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