Some Northwest Side residents pushing city to clear new homeless encampment

CHICAGO (WGN) — City of Chicago officials cleared a homeless encampment at Gompers Park on the Northwest Side earlier this year but the story didn’t end there. 

A new encampment popped up directly across from Gompers, upsetting some neighbors who say it has triggered an increase in reported crimes and drug use.

WGN Investigates recently visited the new encampment at Eugene Field Park near Foster and Pulaski avenues. We counted at least 15 tents. 

Joe Neal was among the people we interviewed.

He told us he moved to the encampment at Eugene Field, from a different site along the lake that he says grew too dangerous.

“I had a lot of loss out here,” Neal said. “I lost my fiancé and my mother last year. That will mess with your mental health.”

Neal, a former college cheerleader, said he’s forced to live in the encampment because of issues obtaining a state ID, which he says he needs to obtain housing.

“I don’t have enough paperwork that has my name and social [security number],” he said. “That is why I’m still here, honestly.”

“Once you get stuck it’s very hard to get out add,” he added.

But that’s of little consolation to some neighbors who pushed the city to clear out Gompers Park, only to have another encampment pop up nearby.

WGN Investigates spoke with people who said they’ve witnessed drug use and found needles near the park. Kate Jedynak’s mother lives in a nearby senior facility.

“[Residents of the encampment] have done trespassing,” she said. “They’ve broken down fences.  We’ve been finding used needles throughout the courtyard.” 

Chicago police data reviewed by WGN Investigates showed a sharp increase in reported crimes at the two-block stretch where Gompers and Eugene Field parks are located.

Last year, there were 54 reported crimes such as theft and assault, a 200 percent increase compared to 2021.

“We are seeing the exact same behaviors that we saw at Gompers Park,” said Nicole Foster, of the Restore Gompers Park Coalition.

Residents voiced their concerns about the Eugene Field Park encampment at a recent Chicago Park District board meeting.

But officials said there are no immediate plans to clear the site.

“Where the Eugene Field encampment is located does not impede park district programming,” said Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, superintendent of the Chicago Park District.

“One of the problems is that we don’t have enough shelter beds—enough housing for individuals experiencing homelessness,” he said.

The city’s Department of Family and Support Services says the AME at Gompers led to 21 cases of permanent or transitional housing.  They argue, people showing up at Eugene Field Park are new residents who have arrived due to media attention.