Chicago transit security conduct widespread sweep of transit property evicting homeless persons trespassing
Chicago IL January 26, 2023
Chicago CTA transit security officers are continuing their widespread sweeps of transit property, evicting homeless persons loitering, sleeping and essentially living in CTA train stations and in some CTA train cars.
The widespread effort to crack down on dirty trains, smoking and people living or sleeping in CTA cars and stations has led to some homeless people being forcibly removed from trains and stations, and sometimes having their belongings thrown in the trash, witnesses and advocates say.
MTA transit has repeatedly reported that security officers have assisted the homeless with resources and have worked with groups trying to aid the homeless people with shelter and food however they continue returning to the CTA property.
For at least two years, people experiencing homelessness have used the heated bus shelters at the Jefferson Park Transit Center, 4917 N. Milwaukee Ave., as a respite from the frigid winter temperatures.
Monica Dillon, who runs The Northwest Side Homeless Outreach volunteer group, said security guards came early in the mornings for at least four straight days last week and again Tuesday morning to remove people from the shelters and throw away some of their belongings.
A video of one incident shows security guards going into the bus shelter and telling people, “it’s time to get up and go.” One person leaves, while others do not move. After a few minutes, the security guards put on gloves, go back into the shelter and throw away some of one man’s belongings in an effort to get him to move, the video shows.
The security guards told witnesses they had orders from CTA leaders to clear the area, so people standing in the cold could use the bus shelters, they said in the video.
Volunteers have been working with CTA guards and employees conducting regular sweeps of the station to have people leave the shelter and pick up trash to keep the area clean, she said.
Maddie Kilgannon, a CTA spokesperson, said the “the guards properly engaged with individuals seeking shelter at the terminal” and defended their actions.
Under the CTA safety ordinance, it is a violation for any person to loiter or store personal belongings on CTA properties, according to the agency’s code of conduct.
“No personal belongings were discarded and only after the unhoused individuals packed up their belongings was the area cleared of small pieces of debris left behind,” Kilgannon said in a statement. “CTA works in close coordination with the Department of Family and Support Services to routinely have personnel on-site at the Jefferson Park Transit Center to offer assistance and resources to the affected individuals.”
The bus shelters reopened in December after being closed for 10 months after a man damaged the glass. They have long been a spot for people experiencing homelessness in the area to take shelter.
Early morning commuters have lodged a series of complaints about the people sleeping at the transit center, saying it makes them feel unsafe.
Scott Andrews, a journalism and graphic design student at Northeastern Illinois University, used to commute to school from Park Ridge home using the station five to six times a week. Now that he lives on campus, he passes through it two to three times a week, he said.
On multiple occasions, he said he saw a man relieve himself on the sidewalk and in the transit tunnel.
The clean up of the area closed down parts of the station and added hours to his commute because it delayed buses, he said.
While Andrews said he is understanding of those who stay in the bus shelters, witnessing public urination and defacation — and how it’s affected CTA’s operations — has ruined his perspective of those who are unhoused at the transit hub, he said.
“It was the most vile thing I’ve ever seen,” Andrews said. “People would walk through there and there would be poo and pee on the sidewalk. It was disgusting.”
