19th District Mutual Aid
Support for New Neighbors
Asylum seekers, or Nuevos Vecinos (new neighbors), stayed at the 19th District Police Station from April to December 2023.
As of December 2023, all Nuevos Vecinos have been transitioned to shelter. Tremendous needs persist for Nuevos Vecinos staying in nearby shelters and those who have recently transitioned to housing.
Our mission is to provide housing, work authorization and asylum application support, and support to Nuevos Vecinos formerly at the 19th police precinct and currently at local shelters, primarily the American Islamic College (AIC) shelter nearby our district, and in their transition to housing. We also support new arrivals at the Landing Zone with essential supplies through welcome kits.
Since January 2024:
Hosted an asylum clinic for 24 individuals to apply for asylum without the burden of legal fees.
Moved 5 families who are ineligible for housing vouchers from the sate into housing where we will provide six months of rental support. We created transition teams to support their transition from shelters into their communities, and welcomed them with home furnishings and supplies.
Packed and deliver over 1,000 welcome kits to the landing zone and to our local shelter.
Started offering ESL Classes and engaged more than 61 new neighbors in learning.
Our mutual aid network was recently recognized by the Chicago Reader as “the best community living Chicago’s welcoming city values."
None of this would be possible without the incredible support and engagement of this community, for which we remain grateful.
Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
There is still work to be done!
The 19th District Mutual Aid Network continues to work to fill the gaps and provide essential goods and services to new neighbors.
The 19th District Mutual Aid Network continues to work to fill the gaps and provide essential goods and services to new neighbors.
Review the opportunities below and complete our Volunteer Intake Form to get more involved - we'll do our best to match your skills, interests, and availability with opportunities to support. Completing this form will also add you to our weekly "Action Updates" email with the highest priority needs each week.
You can also jump right into the opportunities detailed below without waiting and join our WhatsApp Group here.
Fundraising
Cash donations are critical to supplement the in-kind donations we receive and are utilized to:
Provide and supplement meals
Purchase over the counter and prescription medicine
Support our housing transition program, which includes rental and utilities support and work authorization support (both the filing fee and the legal fees to file with an attorney).
Donating Supplies
We have a team creating welcome kits filled with essentials. These are being given to migrants when they come to Chicago and arrive at the city's Landing Zone and the nearby AIC shelter.
Drop-In Supply Sorting and Welcome Kit Making
Drop in to help sort donations and pack welcome kits at Broadway United Methodist Church.
Volunteer Times:
Saturdays: 9am-1pm
Tuesdays: 9am-1pm
Wednesdays: 5:30pm-8:30pm
Thursdays: 9am-1pm
No ongoing commitment required - any time you can give is appreciated.
Teaching ESL Class
We have compiled opportunities for small group ESL classes in coordination with a lifelong ESL Educator and a variety of local organizations.
Join the "ESL Planning" WhatsApp Group to connect with volunteer leaders.
Long Term Housing
We have funds available to house migrant families for a six-month period.
We are looking for 1-3 bedroom units with reasonable rents ideally in Lakeview, Buena Park, Ravenswood, Wrigleyville, Lincoln Square, Albany Park, Rogers Park, and Uptown.
We will pay rent and utilities and will support with wraparound services. This is a great chance for landlords to receive steady rent payments while helping out new neighbors.
Please contact mutualaid19th@gmail.com for more information.
Driving
We are looking for drivers to help out as needs arise.
Common tasks include: driving people to doctor appointments/ER, picking up donations at Alder offices, and dropping off urgently needed supplies at the station.
Join the WhatsApp group to hear about these needs as they come up.
Advocacy
Call your Congress person to advocate changes to work permit laws - right now people who want and need to work have to wait 5 months to apply for work permits after applying for asylum. This must be expedited. Find your congressperson here.
Advocate at the Federal level to change foreign policy and end sanctions that create these harmful conditions to begin with. Listen to a great NPR story on this topic.
Meals
We no longer regularly provide meals since folks are not staying at the 19th Police District Precinct. However, needs persist for support of many organizations working hard to support new neighbors and lifelong Chicagoans experiencing hunger and food insecurity.
One of our partner churches, Our Lady of Lourdes/St. Mary of the Lake, has a Wednesday evening community meal that is serving hundreds of new neighbors from area shelters and unhoused Chicagoans each week. You can learn more about how to get involved in the community meal here and in their food distribution program here.
If you are interested in meal support, you can find a non-exhaustive list of organizations in the area and how to volunteer here.
Missed our most recent volunteer overview meeting? Learn more about our current work and future vision here:
Other Ways to Help & More Information
Information & Resources
You can find more background information here and view this city dashboard to get current information on how many new arrivals have come to Chicago, what countries they have come from, and what their living situation is like currently.
ICIRR (Illinois Coalition for Refugee Rights) - ICIRR is dedicated to promoting the rights of immigrants and refugees to full and equal participation in the civic, cultural, social, and political life of our diverse society.
Centro Romero - For over 38 years, Centro Romero has been a community-based organization that serves the refugee immigrant population on the northeast side of Chicago.
Who we are
We are neighbors across the north side, including volunteers from the Police Station Response Team (no affiliation to CPD), Lake View Lutheran Church, Saint Mary of the Lake, Broadway UMC, Centro Romero, and many organizations, and individuals dedicated to providing mutual aid support. We're partnering with the 19th District Elected Police Councilors and elected officials from local government (44th, 46th, and 47th wards) to support migrant families in need.
This is truly a community effort and we appreciate your generosity and support.
