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Sanctuary Evanston outlines mutual‑aid work and fundraising; residents press for clarity on housing funds
Summary
Colm Davis said Sanctuary Evanston has organized mutual‑aid support for families affected by immigration enforcement, reporting more than $50,000 raised and roughly $47,000 used for rent and mortgage relief; residents asked how a 2022 participatory‑budgeting allocation of $645,000 was spent.
A volunteer mutual‑aid network that formed in late 2024 and early 2025 briefed the 9th Ward community meeting on June 3 about continuing support for families affected by immigration enforcement and on ways residents can help or donate.
Colm Davis, speaking for Sanctuary Evanston, described a grassroots network that has grown to several hundred members and a set of volunteer teams offering school-based outreach, legal referral connections, wellness supports and community aid such as rides, errands and direct financial assistance. Davis said Evanston Latinos serves as the fiscal sponsor and reported more than $50,000 raised in local donations; "over $47,000 has supported rent and mortgage payments for over 30 families," he said, and roughly $3,000 had been spent on utilities.
Why it matters: Organizers described continuing need tied to enforcement actions and said mutual‑aid fills gaps for families who fear leaving home or who lost income because of detentions. Residents at the meeting pressed organizers and city staff on whether previously allocated public funds had been used effectively to house migrants and what protections or assistance landlords might receive after enforcement actions.
During the Q&A, Miss Payton asked whether ICE had executed home raids in Evanston; Davis said detentions continue locally and that many earlier arrests had been visible on streets and at retail locations. Payton also asked about support for landlords whose properties are affected; Davis and the Moderator said city staff are working on broader housing mitigation tools and that some rental assistance programs have been used in the past.
Residents raised a specific budget question: Miss Payton said a 2022 participatory budgeting allocation of $645,000 was intended to house migrants for 12 months and asked where the money went. The Moderator said there were multiple pots of money and that some funds were used for rental assistance while other ARPA funds were repurposed for projects such as lead service line replacement; the Moderator offered to provide a detailed breakdown and said the city will not "lose" ARPA funds because there are allowable reuses and revenue‑replacement options.
What’s next: Sanctuary Evanston paused its intake form for new aid requests while volunteer capacity and funding are limited. Davis urged residents to join the network, consider recurring donations and use the QR codes he provided to connect. The Moderator said staff would follow up with a clearer accounting of how relevant city funds were allocated and will discuss housing mitigation strategies at future community meetings.
