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Affordable Housing & The Samaritan House Program
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| Affordable Housing
In addition to the 2-flat building that the organization currently operates out of; The Beloved Community purchased and rehabbed a 12-unit building for the purpose of providing affordable housing in the community. This development allows The Beloved Community to provide below market rate housing for residents and accomplishes 2 primary goals:
1.) Improving underutilized vacant property.
2.) Providing housing opportunities for working families overlooked by existing programs.
In addition to providing affordable housing we also offer units to homeless people as a part of our Samaritan House Program.
Samaritan House Program
Based on the parable, “The Good Samaritan,” The Beloved Community in partnership with the Faith Community of St. Sabina has established the Samaritan House Program. In an effort to impact Chicago’s homeless community, The Samaritan House Program provides a life-changing opportunity for homeless individuals to re-enter mainstream society.
We collectively assume financial responsibility for fully furnished apartments for two homeless individuals over the course of a one year period. To support their transition, these individuals are each assigned two mentors, required to attend weekly transitional meetings, enroll at the Employment Resource Center, maintain full-time employment, and open a savings and checking account. Through this program we provide homeless individuals with the necessary support and direction to gain full-time employment and maintain the requisite financial and emotional solvency required to become productive, self-sufficient members of the community.
At the end of their one- year period, the participants are in a position to help mentor the next incoming class. Since its induction, the Samaritan House Program has transitioned over 30 men and women from homeless shelters on Chicago’s south side to independence. Program participants have had many successes including: marriage and family reunification, workplace advancement, and the incalculable self-esteem that comes with financial and emotional sustainability.
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The Center for Working Families, in partnership with St. Sabina Employment Resource Center and the Greater Auburn Community Development Corporation is a one-stop facility providing employment services, financial services, access to public benefits, and free tax preparation for residents of Auburn-Gresham and surrounding communities. The goal is to alleviate many of the difficulties and barriers that prevent families from obtaining gainful employment, while helping them develop a family financial plan.
There are no charges to interested participants, and the program is open to the community.
Developing and implementing strategies for decent and productive work for young people is a major challenge in our community. The Youth Career Development Center is designed to address the severe need for jobs and job training in the 16-24 age bracket. This program supports our young people and provides them with the resources necessary to alleviate the cycle of poverty and social exclusion often stemming from the inability to obtain gainful employment.
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