Homeless encampments have overrun the crime-plagued Chicago terminal at O’Hare International Airport and some are concerned for their safety as images have surfaced of people sleeping in exits and filthy makeshift shelters.
Thousands of people sleeping outdoors have taken refuge along the popular thoroughfare, and many have set up shelters in the terminal buildings.
passengers were to quickly catch the deteriorating situation A Twitter user posted a photo of several people sleeping among a pile of belongings near Terminal 1 of the airport.
Other shocking photos show a man collapsed in an entryway, another slumped without shoes, and a group of half a dozen people occupying an area by the escalators.
O’Hare’s growing problem is just a snapshot of a citywide homelessness crisis simmering beneath the city’s surface, which is being eroded by rising crime rates.
Homeless encampments have engulfed Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport with crime, some with concerns for their safety, as images continue to surface of people sleeping in exits and filthy makeshift shelters
Thousands of homeless people have sought refuge along the popular thoroughfare, which a study says an average of 2,520 passengers travel daily, between 2000 and 2020, according to a study
Passengers traveling through the terminal quickly took notice of the deteriorating situation
With a picture of one such camp, a Twitter user questioned the city’s leadership, but was promptly answered by airport officials.
O’Hare said, “We appreciate your feedback. Safety and an optimal passenger experience are top priorities for CDA and we have forwarded your message to our security team.
‘We apologize for the inconvenience caused and hope your next visit to ORD will be more pleasant.’
One user called the scenes at the airport “dystopian” and described their uncomfortable experience.
“I flew back to O’Hare, Terminal 3, last week. I’ve never seen a homeless problem like this in my luggage in the 50 years that I’ve lived in Cook Co,” they wrote.
“It’s not even that cold outside! Also hit out aggressively with “Need a ride?” in luggage. It was dystopian.’
In what appeared to be a copied and pasted response, O’Hare Airport responded with a similar mantra thanking the customer for their feedback – with no solutions offered.
The Haymarket Center’s O’Hare Outreach program, which connects homeless people who stay at the airport with addiction counseling, housing and other social services, told Block Club Chicago the numbers are skyrocketing.
The organization said they served 25 percent more people in 2022 than the year before, and the increased need will continue into 2023.
“Our January at O’Hare was one of the busiest Januarys we’ve ever had,” Jessica Dubuar, director of health and specialty services, told the outlet.
“We see 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 hours a day but does not have sleeping facilities.
According to the city’s annual point-in-time census — which assesses protected and vulnerable people — 3,875 people were hit by homelessness in 2022.
The majority of those identified as black show the data.
A man lies isolated on the airport floor in pictures taken of commuters walking through O’Hare earlier this month
A 2022 Twitter user posted these images and said: “Most of the shacks have been closed and have become mobile housing. CTA is a shelter for the homeless. I think the city didn’t do their job well to provide enough accommodation.
The topic has been prolific for years, this 2020 photo shows a homeless man lying at the front entrance – a passenger captioning the photo: “Don’t know if he’s dead”.
Two employees who work night guards at Terminals 1 and 2 in O’Hare told CBS News they were concerned for their safety
According to the city’s data collection, which assesses protected and vulnerable people, 3,875 people were recorded as homeless in 2022
Since 2019, the number of people living outside has also increased by 12 percent and the number of people temporarily staying with others has increased by 20 percent
According to the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, about 65,611 Chicagoans were homeless in 2020.
Since 2019, the number of people living outside has also increased by 12 percent and the number of people temporarily staying with others has increased by 20 percent.
The roughly 16,000 people living in harsh environments are also more prone to dying from exposure to cold during winter.
According to data from the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office, there were four reported cold exposure deaths in the city in 2020, seven in 2021 and four in 2022.
Many traveling through the airport have described their shock online, while others have expressed safety fears.
“Flew out of @fly2ohare in January. I was shocked how many homeless people there were!’ said a Twitter user.
Another quipped, “I can’t even park for more than 5 seconds to pick up my family from this airport and yet someone lives there.”
One person who travels for work often wrote, “As a frequent traveler, 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’re paying big $ for the flight so we should have a safe walk!’
While one user wondered if this affected visitors to the city: “What an absolute shame. No wonder we can’t recover our tourism numbers @PeteButtigieg @chicagosmayor.
In a post on Facebook with pictures of a row of homeless people sleeping in the terminal, a user reached out to Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot.
“That’s what’s going on at 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 send the homeless people out.
“Lori Lightfoot, this needs to be addressed, these people need help and all O’Hare Airport workers need help [sic] Feeling safe is sad, and you’re a sad mayor, you only care about yourself.
In what appeared to be a copied and pasted response, O’Hare Airport responded with a similar mantra, thanking customers for their feedback – with no solutions offered
Two employees who work night guards at Terminals 1 and 2 in O’Hare told CBS News they were concerned for their safety.
“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 arrive until we leave in the morning, they will be here.”