A man who was often seen in Humboldt Park has been missing since November, according to his family. José Rivera Santiago, 57, was last seen on November 26 near the Cicero Police Department at 4600 W. Cermak Road, based on information from his family and a missing person alert issued by the Chicago Police Department.
Santiago is originally from Puerto Rico and had lived for many years in Logan Square before becoming homeless. In 2024, he stayed at a tent encampment in Humboldt Park and later secured an apartment on the South Side with help from city services, his family said. However, Santiago lost that apartment and returned to living on the street.
His brother, Victor Rivera, said Santiago has not made contact since being hospitalized for pneumonia in November. “It’s been a few months since we have heard from him, and we are worried,” Rivera said in Spanish.
Rivera reported calling several hospitals and city agencies but has not received any information about his brother’s whereabouts. He lives in Massachusetts and does not have other relatives in Chicago.
Santiago may have returned to Humboldt Park after losing his apartment and could be staying under the Chicago Avenue bridge where a small encampment formed after people were displaced from the park last year, according to Rivera.
Rivera and his mother, who lives in Puerto Rico, are asking for help from the community to locate Santiago due to concerns about his health. “My mom is really anxious; we want to find out what happened for real to him,” Rivera said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives at 312-746-6554.
