Good Samaritan picks up hotel tab for 70 homeless cleared from camp in downtown Chicago

[G_j]

https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/weather/ct-met-chicago-cold-weather-homeless-hotel-20190130-story.html

A good Samaritan has offered to spring for hotel rooms for 70 people who were cleared from a homeless camp in downtown Chicago after dozens of propane tanks were confiscated, leaving them without any source of heat.

“Isn't that wonderful?" said Jacqueline Rachev, a spokeswoman for the Salvation Army, which had been checking on the makeshift camp of tents and blankets on Roosevelt Road near the Dan Ryan Expressway. "At least they’re warm and they’re safe."

Shortly after noon, one of the tanks exploded. No one was injured but responding crews came across about 100 other tanks in the encampment and confiscated them because of the safety risk.

City officials notified Rachev, who began preparations to move people from the camp to the Salvation Army’s warming center at 825 N. Christiana Ave. About an hour later, the city called again and said someone someone had offered to put the residents in a hotel for the rest of the week.

..more..

[MineralMan]

1. Excellent.

I suspect that all 70 will take advantage of a long, hot shower as one of their first things in that hotel. That's what I'd do.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

2. Hotel rooms in Chicago are NOT Cheap!

I bet it was NOT the Trump Hotel.

[grumpyduck]

3. Oh, wouldn't it be just deliciously [something] if it HAD been a T hotel?

Can you imagine the TV coverage? It'd be like inviting that fired lady to the SOTU.

[superpatriotman]

4. Tax exempt churches should be handling this year round

What are they required to do to keep that sweet tax exemption?
How about doing what you preach?

[crazycatlady]

6. When I was on the road

There was one church that did a monthly hot meal (free to anyone who wanted it). At that hot meal, there was also donated food and clothing up for grabs. Everything was provided by the congregation.

This is what churches should be doing.

[moondust]

5. Another idea.

Helsinki: Put simply, it gives rough sleepers or people who become homeless a stable and permanent home of their own as soon as possible.

The city with no homeless on its streets