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The Chicago Police Department 4th District's Kids for Cops Club spent a day (during their spring break) visiting residents at South Chicago's Villa Guadalupe Senior Services center. The police officers organized the day's activities between residents and the young advocates to include playing board games like bingo. 
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 CHICAGO, IL – Claretian Associates in partnership with the Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) acquired the South Chicago YMCA and its housing units financed by HUD and owned by YMCA Foundation entities.
Claretian Associates and POAH co-owns the property, with Claretian Associates reopening the center as the SALUD Center, co-locating its main offices and some other direct services for residents and the community. Claretian Associates has worked tirelessly to bring the SALUD Center to South Chicago, said its Executive Director, Angela Hurlock. “When we were first approached of the Y's closing, many residents and community stakeholders encouraged us to do our best to keep the facility intact and in operation. That’s when we began to think strategically about the right type of partnerships that would benefit South Chicago and our most value assets – our residents." Claretian Associates is a community anchor and the only nonprofit housing developer based in South Chicago, where it has developed over 140 units of affordable housing to stabilize low-income families and seniors. With deep ties to grassroots coalitions such as the Concerned Citizens to Keep the South Chicago YMCA and support from 10th Ward Alderwoman Susan Sadlowski-Garza, Claretian Associates was able to leverage its relationships and local housing expertise to assist POAH in not only preserving these units, but also fortifying the health of its residents through the incorporation of wellness services that address the physical and social determinants of health. POAH, a nonprofit organization that manages, creates and restores affordable housing, purchased this facility with the commitment to continue to provide affordable housing for years to come. POAH plans in the coming years to secure financing to complete capital improvements that will extend the life of the SALUD Center and enhance residents’ comfort and experience. YMCA President and CEO Richard Malone stressed that as part of the Y’s ongoing focus on youth development, the YMCA is maintaining an active presence in South Chicago. “The YMCA of Metro Chicago will continue to provide Youth Safety and Violence Prevention (YSVP) programming from its current South Chicago location and will consider other youth and family programs in the communities either by itself or by partnering with other organizations,” said Malone, who noted that the YMCA offers many of its programs through partner sites. “We are excited to further strengthen our community’s voice through this unique partnership with POAH and the YMCA of Metro Chicago. The YMCA and YSVP are vital assets to our community’s identity and redevelopment plan for South Chicago," said Hurlock. In fall of 2017, rumors were beginning to spread that the local YMCA was closing in South Chicago. Countless discussions of uncertainty filled the halls as seniors at the old dilapidated building wondered “Why was the YMCA shutting down?” “What does that mean for me?” “Where am I going to find a place to stay?” Questions like these not only swirled the 101 apartments within the building but they spilled onto the streets of South Chicago causing panic among the countless families who looked to the YMCA as a neighborhood resource and a place to create memories with their children. On October of 2017, this sudden disinvestment dealt a heavy blow to South Chicago, and its most vulnerable residents were dragged into a state of panic. That is, until Claretian Associates stepped in with a strategic plan. We began searching for, and eventually found, a partner to assist in purchasing the building and preserving the 101 units of senior housing. With our deep ties to grassroots coalitions such as the Concerned Citizens to Keep the South Chicago YMCA and expertise as a local housing expert, we convinced YMCA to accept our joint bid with POAH (Preservation of Affordable Housing) and not only preserve these units (saving over 100 seniors from becoming homeless) but to also fortify the health of these seniors through the incorporation of a new community health center, called the Salud Center! This is a testament to the fact that when hit hard with circumstances, South Chicagoans, like the staff here at Claretian Associates, do not give up. We Listen. We Speak. We Plan. We Act. And with supporters like you, We THRIVE! This Holiday season, we invite you to thrive with us by making a tax-deductible contribution of $25, $50, or $100 to make sure that no family or senior is without an affordable place to call home this Holiday season. |
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