The Evanston City Council on Oct. 10 approved a $50,000 Refugee Resettlement Fund to aid migrants in obtaining essentials such as clothing and transportation.
The fund was proposed by Ald. Devon Reid to provide assistance to those arriving to the Evanston area from Texas, Afghanistan and Ukraine. Kyiv, Ukraine is Evanston’s sister city.
Buses carrying migrants from Texas first reached Chicago on Aug. 31 under the direction of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. Abbott told the Texas Division of Emergency Management to coordinate the transport of migrants to sanctuary cities in protest of the nation’s immigration policies.
Before approving the Refugee Resettlement Fund, Evanston only had two programs offering Evanston residents need-based financial assistance — the General Assistance Program and the Community Relief Fund, according to a memo sent to City Council. These programs both contain stipulations, such as maintaining legal status and a social security number for General Assistance Fund aid. Additionally, the Community Relief Fund, which was created at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to provide assistance to undocumented residents, has tighter restrictions on what its recipients can spend the money on.
“Right now the Community Relief Fund is providing assistance for rent and utilities. That’s pretty much it,” Evanston Director of Health and Human Services Ike Ogbo said. “With the refugee fund, you’ll be able to cover a range of services such as rent, utilities, transportation services, wellness programs, (clothing and food).”
The refugee fund is supported by a surplus in the Human Services Fund, according to Reid.
Residents attending the City Council meeting were split on whether they supported the refugee fund or not. Some preferred that funds go to the homeless.
“We need help right here in Evanston for our residents … I have gone and spoken at several meetings (and with city staff) … in the last month (to discuss Evanston’s homeless),” Tina Payton said. “This is a disgrace.”
Others, like teacher and Evanston resident Kristin Huzar, support the fund despite the vocal opposition.
“I’m really proud that we live in a town that wants to do this,” Huzar said. “It’s very important.”
Huzar, who helped house Afghan refugees this past year, said while people were claiming the city is not taking care of its homeless, she believes both objectives can be accomplished.
“It’s apples and oranges; we can do both,” Huzar said. “These refugee families want what everybody else wants. They want to come and raise their families in a peaceful place. They want to work. They want opportunities for themselves and their kids.”
“Evanston is such a great, supportive place for a family to land,” she said. “Evanston has people who are really generous and have the resources and willingness to give. These refugees really enrich the fabric of our lives.”
Ogbo said the number of refugees residing in Evanston has not been calculated since the COVID-19 pandemic began but that roughly 150 refugees lived in Evanston and attended its schools prior to the pandemic.
Corey Schmidt is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.