Public parks are not a permanent place to live. They do not have the infrastructure to support basic human needs. Gompers Park has become a permanent place to live for over two years to a homeless encampment. It has limited the public's access, caused public safety risks with illegal activity, and destruction to the environment.

There is illegal drug use, with used needles discarded throughout the park, prostitution, battery, fires, hidden weapons and knives found in trees and bushes, extensive shoplifting at nearby stores, threatening behavior, lewd conduct and indecent exposure, excessive garbage, debris and human waste, and a pit bull kept off leash by someone in the encampment that viscously attacked 3 dogs. There have been over 21 fires which have occurred at Gompers Park during this time which have required Chicago Fire Department to extinguish. The public safety risk posed around the little league baseball diamond has necessitated all games be moved to other fields this spring.

When public spaces are allowed to become permanent places to live these images demonstrate what can be the result. Now that an Accelerated Moving Event has occurred and the homeless are being paired with housing and support services, the work to restore Gompers Park begins.