Illinois and Cook County have pledged a combined $250 million to help support shelters and healthcare services for asylum seekers coming to the region, Gov. JB Pritzker and county board President Toni Preckwinkle said Thursday. [Health News Illinois]

The funds are intended to address the $321 million cost to maintain shelters and services this calendar year, according to estimates from recent discussions between the state, county and city of Chicago.

"With thousands of asylum seekers continuing to come to Chicago in desperate need of support and with Congress continuing to refuse to act — it is clear the state, county and city will have to do more to keep people safe," Pritzker said in a joint statement. "I'm thankful to President Preckwinkle for working with us to help close this budget gap and maintain critical services in the year ahead."

The city of Chicago was not included in the release. A spokeswoman for Pritzker directed questions on how it plans to cover the remaining shortfall to Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office.

Johnson told reporters Thursday there is "no disconnect" between him and the state and county. 

When pressed about the city's financial commitment to asylum seekers, Johnson said that additional details need to be clarified, but they are "committed to the mission."

"It's not just simply about finding financial resources, it's about building an entire operation," he said. "For the first time in the history of the world, a local municipality has been asked to establish, build, maintain and operate a migrant resettlement."

The city's current budget allocates more than $150 million to support temporary shelter, food and other necessities for asylum seekers — an amount officials have acknowledged is well short of the actual expected cost.

Of the state and county funding announced Thursday, $182 million will come from Pritzker’s proposed budget for the coming fiscal year. The rest will come through the Cook County Board of Commissioners.

Preckwinkle said the funds will maintain shelter capacity, as well as the continuation of wraparound and healthcare services.

“As critical funding for this ongoing humanitarian crisis stalls in Congress, Cook County stands committed to the well-being of the region," she said.

The joint statement noted that Cook County Health has been the primary healthcare provider for new arrivals, having served more than 25,000 patients and provided for nearly 70,000 visits.

Illinois previously pledged a total of $638 million to help address the asylum seeker response, while Cook County pledged more than $100 million in its current fiscal year budget.

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