An estimated 3,800 beds designated for immigrants — funded by the city and state — will be added to the existing 3,000 beds for anyone experiencing homelessness in Chicago. That number is far less than the 14,175 beds a group of community advocates and officials had recommended the city keep for the One System Initiative.

It is also less than the city’s own estimate of 11,000 shelter beds it needs to combat homelessness. An estimated 18,836 people are experiencing homelessness in Chicago this year, according to the city’s annual tally.

“Could this lead to people on the street? Look, I’ll be remiss if I did not acknowledge the financial straits that we are experiencing right now,” Johnson said, pointing to other budget needs in Chicago Public Schools and across city departments. “I don’t want to see anyone lose, right. But the harsh reality is that we can do what we can afford. We’ve been stretched to the limits.”

Ald. Andre Vasquez, chair of the City Council’s Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights, said the shelter system should have served both asylum-seekers and longstanding homeless residents together from the start.

He praised the city moving to the unified system and winding down contracts with controversial, costly staffing companies, Vasquez said he’s worried more residents will end up on the streets as the consolidated system will go into effect during the winter in Chicago.

“That is concerning, because we’re going to head into winter fairly soon,” Vasquez said. “…not having 1,000 people out on the street as you’re heading into the winter.”

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