Chicago Police Station Response Team

We are the Chicago Police Station Response Team - a network of volunteers meeting the needs of recently arrived asylum seekers sheltering in police stations.

Since August of 2022, over 8000 migrants have arrived in Chicago - some on buses sent by border states and some on their own by bus or plane.  Recently, due to lack of available shelter space, these men, women, and children have been sent to police stations and other very temporary shelters while they wait for space in other more appropriate facilities. Many of their right-now needs are being met by community-organized volunteer networks.

There are no services at the police station – no food, no showers, no microwave or hot water, nothing – it is just a place for folks to wait until a shelter bed becomes available at one of the refugee shelters around the city.  We are a network of volunteers and have organized to meet needs for food, bedding, and supplies as well as connecting folks to medical services and showers when possible.  Our group is in every police station across the city, with more than 150 volunteers.

Please consider giving to fund our ongoing efforts. Funds will be used directly and immediately to fund meals and supplies for our new neighbors. Volunteers are bringing food, clothing, and medical supplies daily, and as this crisis stretches on, it is apparent that there is a need for funds to continue this work.  We hope that our group’s mission is temporary, and any funds remaining after police station support is no longer needed will be directed to organizations that serve migrants in the city’s shelter system and as they move to transitional or permanent housing.

This is the only official fundraiser for our efforts at police stations.  We hope that our group’s mission is temporary, but as this crisis stretches on, it is apparent that there is a need for funds to continue this work.  Any funds remaining after police station support is no longer needed will be directed to organizations that serve migrants in the city’s shelter system and as they move to transitional or permanent housing.