Community meeting does little to ease NW Side residents' concerns over homeless encampment

CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - People who live near a park on Chicago’s Northwest Side packed a meeting Monday night to talk about a homeless encampment there.

Many of those who filled the Salvation Army’s Mayfair Church were upset about the condition of Gompers Park after the number of tents there has grown to 25.

Olga Maria Kaba-Perez told CBS News Chicago she avoids the park at Foster and Pulaski.

"I don't even walk in the park any longer. I don't. It's disgusting," said Olga Maria Kaba-Perez. "There's feces all over the place."

The meeting hosted by 39th ward Alderman Samantha Nugent and the City’s Chief Homelessness Officer was heated, with police removing one man.

Others felt they were just given lip service, with no plans to move the encampment any time soon.

"Being homeless is not a criminal activity, and the city will not criminalize people who are unhoused,” Soto said.

The city is trying to address the situation by encouraging those staying in the tents at the park to move and renovating an old hotel, but that won’t be ready until next year.

Meanwhile, residents say they’re keeping kids away from the park after seeing drug use and partying.

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