On Tuesday, the Chicago Park District dismantled the homeless encampment at Legion Park. They cited repeated fires as one of the reasons, as well as unsafe structures along the riverbank, which posed risks to both residents and first responders. Some residents of the encampment accepted shelter placements while others declined. The loss of shelter for so many people is, in a word, tragic.

As a veteran living in the city of Chicago, who regularly interacts with the city’s homeless population, the move seems cruel, especially with winter just over the horizon. Residents of the Legion Park encampment have worked for close to a year to build a community in that space. No small percentage of that community’s population is comprised of veterans. The sweep may have cleared tents, but it did not resolve the crisis they all see and feel.

There is a better path: The City of Chicago should cede stewardship of Legion Park to the American Legion.

The city would create a formal, accountable partnership to build and operate a “Veteran Village” in the space formerly occupied by the homeless encampment. This solution rapidly houses unhoused veterans. It honors the park’s namesake and replaces whack-a-mole cleanups with a proven, humane solution.

The park is literally named for veterans of the U.S. Expeditionary Forces in World War I; our policy should reflect that purpose.

Why veterans, and why here?

First, the data: overall homelessness reached record highs in 2024. However, veteran homelessness fell roughly 7–8% year-over-year according to federal counts. That’s not a coincidence. It’s the result of focused systems like HUD-VASH and SSVF that combine housing with targeted services and case management. Chicago should lean into what’s working.

Second, the model: tiny-home “veteran village” communities, like the Veterans Community Project (VCP), have shown about an 85% success rate. They successfully move residents into permanent housing. These communities offer dignified and code-compliant units with on-site services. The success of these projects provides an operating blueprint with defined, reachable outcomes.

Third, the mission match: Legion Park exists to honor veterans. Let’s transform symbolism into measurable service. The park should be a launchpad for ending veteran street homelessness on the North Side.

A Rights-Respecting Design

Chicago must not simply swap one form of displacement for another. Illinois law guarantees people experiencing homelessness the right to access public spaces without discrimination based on housing status. Recently, the Illinois Department of Human Rights reminded municipalities of those obligations in clear terms. Any plan for Legion Park must elevate, not erode, those protections.

That means that there can be no sweeps without offers and no displacement without placement. Participation must be voluntary, and the city should establish a civil-rights ombudsperson for the park and publish transparent metrics quarterly.

The Veteran Village should prioritize safety measures (e.g., fire risk reduction, lighting, refuse management) while maintaining the vast majority of the park open and accessible to everyone. Everyone who’s served this country in uniform knows what it means to stand a fire watch. Chicago is a city that understands the importance of keeping blazes in check.

A Deal Structure Chicago Already Knows How to Do

Ceding “responsibility” does not require selling off parkland. The Park District regularly executes operating and partnership agreements with nonprofits. These agreements help run specialized assets like Lincoln Park Zoo’s long-standing operating agreement. They also include the ARCS partnership framework for mission-aligned programming and concession/permit agreements used throughout the system. Legion Park deserves the same administrative imagination.

Instrument: a five-year, renewable Use & Stewardship Agreement between the Chicago Park District (CPD) and an American-Legion-led nonprofit consortium (“Legion Park Veterans Trust”).

Governance: voting seats for CPD, the American Legion (Department of Illinois and local posts), the City’s Department of Family & Support Services (DFSS), VA Chicago, and a civil-rights advocate, plus a community representative.

Transparency: publish dashboards (inflow, exits to permanent housing, 12-month retention) and hold open quarterly meetings at a nearby fieldhouse.

Sunset: if the project fails to meet outcomes and rights benchmarks, the site reverts to standard park use.

What it would look like on the ground

Footprint & reversibility. A small parcel near the former encampment off the riverbank and out of trail pinch points, built with modular, pier-foundation units so the city can restore the site to open lawn if and when the village sunsets.

Phase 1 (25–35 homes). Private, winterized micro-homes (each with a locking door and bath), a staff hub for case management and tele-VA health, 24/7 staffing, secure storage, and harm-reduction services. The entire site would integrate with Coordinated Entry to speed permanent placements (HUD-VASH, SSVF, RRH, PSH).

Environmental add-backs. The park would feature tree planting, pathway lighting, and clean-energy elements that enhance safety and make it more welcoming for all users.

The playbook that drove progress for veterans nationally is simple: real-time by-name lists, aligned outreach, and fast tracks to permanent housing.

Chicago has begun merging and modernizing its shelter system. DFSS reports thousands of new long-term beds coming online under the One System Initiative. They are also making additional investments in non-congregate capacity. A Veteran Village complements—not competes with—that direction by freeing up resources citywide as veterans successfully exit to housing.

It’s also how Lake County, Illinois, reached and sustained “functional zero” for veteran homelessness. This is proof that Chicagoland can achieve this with the right design.

How to pay for it

Public dollars we can already access. HUD-VASH vouchers provide rental support. SSVF focuses on prevention and rapid rehousing. VA case-management grants are built for this population. They are the reason why veteran homelessness dropped, even as overall homelessness rose. Pair these with City shelter-modernization funds to build non-congregate capacity that actually works.

Private/philanthropic partners. Foundations and corporate sponsors routinely back veteran housing initiatives. Design-build firms can donate materials and labor, following the VCP model that already demonstrates national results.

Accountability you can measure

Speed: median time from village move-in to permanent housing ≤ 90 days.

Stability: ≥85% 12-month housing retention (in line with VCP outcomes).

Safety: zero structure fires and a significant reduction in EMS/fire calls versus pre-village conditions.

Rights: zero substantiated violations of the Illinois Bill of Rights for the Homeless; independent ombudsperson reports publicly each quarter.

A 180-day timeline Chicago can hit

Days 0–30: Announce intent; convene the Legion Park Veterans Trust; run design charrettes; begin environmental and accessibility reviews.

Days 31–90: Execute the use & stewardship agreement. Procure modular units. Hire an operator. Integrate with the Coordinated Entry and VA teams.

Days 91–180: Open Phase 1; publish the first public dashboard; iterate based on resident feedback.

Chicago can mobilize this quickly. We tackled challenging tasks, such as merging shelter systems and adding non-congregate capacity, because the moment demanded it. Legion Park demands the same urgency. (Chicago)

The moral (and literal) name on the sign

If the city can clear tents in a day, it can stand up dignity just as fast. Legion Park bears a veteran’s name; it should bear a veteran’s mission.

Cede stewardship to the American Legion. Build a Veteran Village that saves lives, honors the site, and gives Chicago a replicable, rights-respecting blueprint for ending street homelessness.

That would be a radical solution worthy of this city.