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ObamaNation See other ObamaNation Articles Title: Filthy homeless encampment is set up INSIDE Chicago's O'Hare Airport, vagrants now living next to baggage belts in crime-ridden Windy City Images of some of the thousands sleeping rough continue to emerge online It comes amid soaring crime rates as well as a citywide homelessness crisis READ MORE: Chicago recently trialed controversial guaranteed income payments - which could soon spread across the country By Aneeta Bhole For Dailymail.Com Homeless encampments have sprung up inside crime-riddled Chicago's O'Hare International Airport terminal leaving some concerned for their safety as images of people sleeping in filthy makeshift shelters have emerged. Thousands of people sleeping rough have sought refuge at the popular airline hub, with many setting up shelters inside the terminal buildings. Passengers were quick to snap the deteriorating situation with one Twitter user posting a photo of several people sleeping among a throng of belongings near Terminal 1 of the airport. Other shocking photos show one man collapsed inside an entrance vestibule, another slumped over with no shoes on and a group of half a dozen people who have taken over an indoor area next to the escalators. O'Hare's growing problem is just a snapshot of a citywide homelessness crisis bubbling under the surface of city decaying from soaring crime rates. Homeless encampments have overrun crime riddled Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, with some concerned for their safety as images of people sleeping in exits and filthy makeshift shelters continue to emerge Thousands of people sleeping rough have sought refuge at the popular airport hub, where an average of 2,520 passengers travel each day, according to a study between 2000 and 2020 Passengers travelling through the terminal were quick to snap the deteriorating situation With a picture of one such encampment, one Twitter user questioned the city's leadership but was promptly responded to by airport officials. O'Hare said: 'We appreciate your feedback. Safety, security and an optimal passenger experience is top priority for the CDA, and we have forwarded your message along to our security team. 'We apologize for any inconvenience caused and hope your next visit to ORD is more enjoyable.' One user called the scenes at the airport 'dystopian' detailing their uncomfortable experience. 'I flew back to O'Hare, Terminal 3, last week. I had never seen such a homeless problem, in baggage, in the 50 years I have lived in Cook Co,' they wrote. 'It's not even that cold out! Also, aggressively hit-up with 'ya need a ride?' in baggage. It was dystopian.' In what appears to be a copy and pasted answer, O'Hare Airport responded with a similar mantra thanking the customer for their feedback - with no solutions offered. Haymarket Center's O'Hare outreach program which connects homeless people staying at the airport with substance abuse counseling, housing and other social services told Block Club Chicago that they're seeing numbers soar. The organization said they served 25 percent more people in 2022 than in the previous year, and that increased need has continued into 2023. 'Our January at O'Hare was one of the busiest Januarys we ever had,' Jessica Dubuar, director of health and specialty services, told the outlet. 'We are seeing more individuals and more encounters [who are] new to our system.' The nonprofit, funded by the Chicago Department of Aviation and the Department of Family Support Services, is open 24/7 but does not have sleeping capacity. According to the city's annual Point In Time count - which assesses sheltered and unsheltered people - it recorded 3,875 people experiencing homelessness in 2022. The majority of those identified as black, the data shows. A man lays isolated on the floor of the airport earlier this month in pictures taken by commuters walking through O'Hare One Twitter user from 2022 posted these pictures and said 'most of the cabins were closed and became a moving shelter CTA is a shelter for homeless. I guess the city didn't do their job well to provide enough shelters' Pictures show people sleeping at O'Hare wrapped in what appear to be first aid thermal blankets The issue has been prolific for years, this photo from 2020 shows one homeless man lying by the front entrance - a passenger captioning the photo: 'Don't know if he's dead' Two employees who work overnight hours as custodians in Terminal 1 and 2 at O'Hare told CBS News that they are concerned for their safety. According to the city's data collection which assesses sheltered and unsheltered people, 3,875 people were recorded experiencing homelessness in 2022 According to the city's data collection which assesses sheltered and unsheltered people, 3,875 people were recorded experiencing homelessness in 2022 There has also been a 12 percent increase in people living outside and a 20 percent increase in people temporarily staying with others since 2019 According to data from the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless about 65,611 Chicagoans experienced homelessness in 2020. The roughly 16,000 people living rough are also more susceptible to dying from cold exposure during the winter. There were four reported deaths from cold exposure in the city in 2020, seven in 2021 and four in 2022, according to data from the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office. Many traveling through the airport have described their shock online, while others have spoken to their safety fears. 'Flew out of @fly2ohare in January. I was shocked by how many homeless there were!' one Twitter user said. Another quipped: 'I can't even park for longer than 5 seconds to pick my family up from that airport and yet someone lives there.' One wrote: 'As someone who travels for work often, I do NOT feel safe walking from the parking garage to the terminal. 'So many homeless people all over the hallway and behind garbage cans. Why is this allowed? We are paying high $ for airfare, so we should have a safe walk!' While one user wondered whether this was affecting visitors to the city: 'What an utter disgrace. No wonder we can't get our tourism numbers back up @PeteButtigieg @chicagosmayor.' In a post to Facebook with pictures of a number of homeless people sleeping within the terminal one user called upon Chicago's Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot. 'This is what's going on in O'Hare International Airport,' they wrote. 'I find it very strange that when someone important comes to the airport police k-9 and other security officials are putting the homeless people out. 'Lori Lightfoot this needs to be addressed these people need help and all the workers of O'Hare airport needs [sic] to feel safe this is sad and you are a sad mayor y'all only care about y'all self.' In what appears to be a copy and pasted answer, O'Hare Airport responded with a similar mantra thanking customers for their feedback - with no solutions offered 'It's out of control. None of us feel safe,' Vonkisha Chatman told the outlet. 'They will come up behind you, this one man followed us,' Catherine Thompson. 'From the time we get here until the time we leave in the morning, they will be here.' Chicago has recently trialed controversial guaranteed income payments - which could soon be set to spread across the country. In December, Cook County, including Chicago, launched an unprecedented scheme which saw 3,200 residents receive $500 a month with no strings attached. County leaders throughout the US met to announce a network of county-level basic income programs this week, the New York Times reported. Such initiatives have highlighted a rift between Republicans and Democrats - the former label them a waste of money and the latter believe they will emancipate the weakest members of society. Poster Comment: Mayor Lightfoot should run for President against Kamala Harris. Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
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