19th Ward Mutual Aid is an effort that brings community members together to provide resources and assistance to others when current conditions lead to needs not being met.
In August 2022. asylum seekers who started to arrive in Chicago were being temporarily housed in police stations across the city, a place for them to wait until a shelter bed becomes available at one of the refugee shelters around the city. The wait can be as short as a day or longer than 3 months. There are no resources available at the Police Departments, so the effort to bring essentials to the asylum seekers sheltering at police departments is volunteer led.Hundreds of migrants have stayed in District 22’s Lobby in Morgan Park. As our newest neighbors, we have provided:
A member of the Chicago Police Station Response Team, a network of volunteers meeting the needs of recently arrived asylum seekers sheltering in police stations, 19th Ward Mutual Aid is managing the efforts to provide for asylum seekers at the 22nd District (D22).
Advocacy
At South Side Garden, Migrant Families Build A Community As ‘Burned Out’ Volunteers Ask For Help – Block Club – Oct 18, 2023
Winter forecast puts migrants in bad spot – Beverly Review – Oct 17, 2023
Air mattresses, bed pads, sheets, blankets and tents
Provided Weekly Medical Clinic and perscription and over the counter medicine
Meal Train providing three meals a day
Mental Health and Social Services
English as a Second Language (ESL) classes and practical language skills
Celebrations of Families
Showers, clothing and laundry
Transportation and logistics on attain a CityKey ID
Onboarding: provide emergency bags that include tooth paste, tooth brush, soap, socks, underwear, and everything needed
