Would you house an asylum-seeker? Naperville may want to know
As the Chicago region continues to respond to the influx of asylum-seekers coming from Texas to Illinois, one Naperville councilman is proposing a novel approach.
Councilman Josh McBroom on Tuesday suggested the city compile a list of residents who would voluntarily house new arrivals.
The idea garnered enough support from half the council to have Naperville city staff explore the idea. Officials will report back later to the city council.
McBroom made his pitch the same day Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced plans to devote $17 million to help municipalities that provide aid to migrants.
McBroom said Naperville has provided migrants safe passage to Chicago without spending taxpayer dollars to house or aid them.
But with more migrants arriving in the area, McBroom says the city should look into whether any residents or organizations are willing to help.
“My idea would be let’s find out ... let’s find out who’s willing to help,” he said, adding that Naperville is an affluent community with many large homes. “If there are people who would do that, God bless them.”
There are no known organized efforts in the suburbs for residents to take in asylum-seekers.
On Tuesday, Pritzker said he was earmarking an additional $17 million in funding so communities could help with the ongoing crisis.
The state will work with the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, which will award $11 million to municipalities outside Chicago willing to support recent arrivals in their communities.
The remaining $6 million will be dedicated to setting up 13 new welcoming centers and to helping agencies focusing on providing new arrivals with translation services, information about public benefits and advocacy.
Metropolitan Mayors Caucus Executive Director Neil James said Wednesday that details for the grant application process are still being worked out. However, factors such as a town’s willingness to help with housing and food will be considered as the group reviews applications for the $11 million in grant funding.
He said it’s too early to tell which municipalities will apply.
“Our position is that this a whole of government response -- the state, municipalities and federal government,” said Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns, who also serves as president of the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus. “The assistance is necessary from every level of government. And that’s why we’re grateful for the additional funding from Illinois, and that’s why we’re going to continue to seek support from the federal government.”
Meanwhile, McBroom acknowledges there are many unanswered questions about his idea to have Naperville residents voluntarily house migrants. Some of those include the impact the proposal may have on local schools and what role the city would play in managing a list of volunteer hosts.
But, he maintained, the current state of affairs is “inhumane” and said a stronger federal response is needed.
“I don’t think the current open border policy is, in any way, humane,” McBroom said. “I think that a lot of these families have been misled that there’s all these resources and opportunities, and they’re finding out that maybe isn’t the case.”