Oak Park Regional Housing Center 021721

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We l c o m e t o O u r H o u s e | O a k Pa r k R e g i o n a l H o u s i n g C e n t e r

February 17, 2021

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Welcome to Our House

D

uring the civil rights movement, the Village of Oak Park initiated a concerted approach to improve racial integration and break the pattern of block-by-block segregation. In 1972, the Oak Park Housing Center opened its doors to address fair housing concerns and to promote affirmative racial integration of renters in Oak Park. Twenty years later, the housing center expanded its services to surrounding communities and changed its name to Oak Park Regional Housing Center (OPRHC). Still occurring today, OPRHC Rental Counselors meet with potential renters to find apartments through one-on-one counseling and guided/ virtual apartment visits. Participating building owners list their units for rent with us, receive education on fair housing requirements, and ways to enhance their units. All services of OPRHC are provided free to renters and owners. Within the area served, 41 percent of housing are rentals and one-third of renters move each year, thus OPRHC continues to sustain this successful integrated housing program.

In Oak Park, OPRHC serves an average of 2,000 clients annually and work with 1,300 building owners/managers amassing 7,500 units. To improve upward mobility, the OPRHC develops and initiates programs to connect residents and promote dialogue

Meet our staff:

Going on 50 years, the OPRHC has transformed from a rental integration agency to all-encompassing, regional housing agency providing advocacy on the premise of creating integrated communities and building wealth for people of color.

Moving Forward Acknowledging the agency’s growth, the OPRHC worked with a consulting agency to develop a strategic plan. At the top of the list was strong recommendations to undergo rebranding initiatives and upgrading technology. The goal over the next three years is to better define our purpose and mission, to increase our outreach to serve a growing targeted population, and to efficiently serve our clients with technology that meets today’s standards.

Athena Williams, Oak Park Regional Housing Center, Executive Director

within neighborhoods. Neighbors Knowing Neighbors events are held throughout the year and attracts over 150 residents from the near west suburbs and our Chicago neighbors to the east of the Austin Community. Planned for Spring 2021 is a Neighbors Knowing Neighbors event and a spring forum focusing on healing racial transformation in an effort to furthering equity and inclusion. In 2006, the OPRHC opened the West Cook Homeowner

Athena Williams, Executive Director

Center (WCHC), a HUD-approved homeownership program providing home buyer and financial empowerment counseling and education. In 2020, at the West Cook Home-ownership Center, 403 clients received after received home-ownership and financial empowerment education.

53 households received assistance in foreclosure avoidance, and more than 50 families purchased homes.

Michael Stewart, Associate Director

Deborah Williams, Program Director, Housing

Michael has been with OPRHC for more than 25 years. He works directly with Property Owners.

He also provides Human Resource and Operational oversight for the agency.

Athena Williams has been with the agency in multiple capacities since 2015.

Lisa Zeigler, Strategic Initiatives Director

Gretchen Worley, Residential Housing Coordinator

Lisa oversees grant management and special project implementations.

Gretchen has been with OPRHC for more than 20 years. She performs all duties from intake, to client advising, to client apartment marketing.

Deborah has been with the agency for 3 years.

She manages programs associated with Homebuyer Education and Counseling, Financial Education, Foreclosure Prevention, Rental Counseling and Assistance

Natasha Escobedo, CPA Natasha is our agency’s full-time Accounting Manager. She oversees all of the OPRHC finances.

Jerry Ehernberger, Senior Residential Coordinator Jerry has been with OPRHC for more than 15 years. He specializes in data collection and client advising.

1041 South Boulevard, Oak Park, IL 60302 • 708-848-7150 5934 W. Lake St., Chicago, IL 60644 • 773-887-5187 • www.oprhc.org Hours vary by location and season, please call ahead before you plan your visit!

The Oak Park Regional Housing Center is a 501c3 nonprofit, HUD approved agency. OPRHC is the home of: the Live in Oak Park Program, providing rental matching to affirmatively further fair housing; and the West Cook Homeownership Program, providing homebuyer education, all areas of housing counseling, and a financial education initiative to help people enhance their financial skills and create positive banking relationships The opinions and views presented in this section are not the opinions or views of any of our sponsors or funders.

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We l c o m e t o O u r H o u s e | O a k Pa r k R e g i o n a l H o u s i n g C e n t e r

February 17, 2021

Reducing the Cost ofthe Homeownership Reducing Cost

of Homeownership Huntington is passionate about the growth of our communities as well as doing the right thing. This is why we are limiting our lender closing costs

Huntington is passionate about1 for the borrowers growth of our communities as well as a home in a low- to purchasing or refi nancing to $500 2 our lender closing costs doing the right thing. This is why we are limiting moderate-income area . to $5001 for borrowers purchasing or refinancing a home in a low- to 2 . REVERSE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION moderate-income areaSEE SEE REVERSE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Meet our staff:

SPREAD FACTS, NOT FLU. GET YOUR SHOT. SPREADFACTSNOTFLU.COM NOTFLU.COM

Wilane Boone,

Anita Bailey,

Senior Counselor, Financial Coach

Counselor, Rental and Housing

Reducing the Cost of Homeownership Kamau “Maui” Jones,

Community Engagement about the growth Specialist

Jacqueline Mota, Communications Coordinator

Huntington is passionate of our communities as well as doing the right thing. This is why we are limiting our lender closing costs to $5001 for borrowers purchasing or refinancing a home in a low- to moderate-income area2.

Sharon

SEE REVERSE FOR ADDITIONALEckhoff INFORMATION , Intake Manager Sharon has been with OPRHC in multiple capacities over the past 12 years. Currently she oversees all reception area and intake processes.

Karen Barragen, Intake Coordinator Karen works alongside Sharon answering phones, following up with clients, etc.

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We l c o m e t o O u r H o u s e | O a k Pa r k R e g i o n a l H o u s i n g C e n t e r

February 17, 2021

Special Advertising Section

How the OPRHC has Helped Client: Marcia The Oak Regional Housing Center is a life-saver for single moms. Shortly after my son was born, I found out the condo I was renting would be going on the market. A friend recommended OPRHC. A Guide provided me with listings to match exactly what I was looking for and I found my new place the same week.

It saved me time apartment hunting with a newborn and allowed me to stay close to the downtown Oak Park area I love. I can’t wait to move in to our new place. A million thanks!

Client: Javairia When Javairia came to the Oak Park Regional Housing Center for the first time, she was in desperate need of help. She loved her current apartment, but her lease was set to expire in just over a month and she was not able to renew it. To make matters worse, the pandemic was only making it more difficult to find a new apartment.

She was living in South Oak Park, knew she wanted to stay in the Village and was looking for quality assistance that wouldn’t cost her much. When she reached out to the Live in Oak Park program, she was relieved to learn that she was going to receive free assistance. She started touring studio apartments with Gretchen, the Housing Center’s Guide, who introduced Javairia to different neighborhoods of Oak Park and explained the benefits of each of them. Within the week, Javairia found a great new studio apartment in a neighborhood she found charming and felt safe in, and she was able to avoid the stress she expected from having to find a new home on short notice.

LENDER CLOSING COSTS Any Huntington mortgage product can qualify for this offer, but standard borrower qualifications, financing guidelines, and property type eligibility guidelines will apply.

Reducing the cost of homeownership is one way we are making a difference in our communities.

Ready to learn more? Let's talk.

Ahkeem Henderson Mortgage Loan Officer NMLS# 224387 5310 W Cermak Rd Cicero, IL 60804 o: (708) 466-2017 e: ahkeem.k.henderson@huntington.com www-auth.hban.us/mortgage/henderson-ahkeem 1

Applies to Huntington closing costs. Customer must still pay certain customary expenses at closing, such as charges by other parties, including but not limited to those for property taxes, transfer taxes, property insurance, flood insurance, mortgage insurance, owner’s title insurance, guarantee fees, bond fees, state revenue stamps, city revenue stamps, seller concessions or cash back to the borrower. Example loan payment calculation: $150,000 loan amount at a fixed rate of 4.99% (5.081% APR) with 0.00 rate buy-down points, 360-month term, 80% loan to value, and customer-paid closing costs of $500 results in $804.32 P&I monthly payment (payment amount does not include amounts for escrow of taxes or insurance so actual payment obligation will be greater).

2 The property must be located in one of Huntington’s assessment areas and designated as a low- or moderate-income census tract by the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council.

All loans are subject to application and credit approval, satisfactory appraisal, and title insurance. Terms, conditions, and loan programs are subject to change without notice. Other terms, conditions, and restrictions may apply.

The Huntington National Bank is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC. a®, Huntington® and aHuntington.® are federally registered service marks of Huntington Bancshares Incorporated. Welcome.℠ is a service mark of Huntington Bancshares Incorporated. ©2021 Huntington Bancshares Incorporated. NMLS ID #402436 (01/20)

It is all about the intention

“T

hat is just how Oak Park is.

Diversity is a way of being here.

It’s who we are as a community.”

My friend said this after I expressed my admiration for the continued work of the Oak Park Regional Housing Center. I was taken aback by her comment, as I know this is not just how Oak Park is. Who we are as a community has always been reliant upon people who work tirelessly to create diversity as a way of being. Since the 1970s, the Oak Park Regional Housing center has been largely responsible for proactive strategies and programs that undo discriminatory practices and actively resist the ongoing cycle of segregation.

A long-term supporter of the Housing Center, my friend identifies as a progressive.

I share these details about her to highlight a common dilemma; Whether on film or in Not-For-Profit organizations, superheroes always struggle to gain recognition, even from the people who appreciate and benefit from the results of their superheroism.

Until we understand that segregation is created and undone by continual, intentional policies and decisions, this invisibility problem will remain. Well before COVID-19 caused service delivery interruptions, we failed to honor the Housing Center staff, volunteers and stakeholders for the difference they make in our communities every single day.

Their intentional, well-executed undoing is what makes Oak Park “who we are as a community”, and this undoing is far from finished. Diversity, inclusion and equity within our communities did not, does not, and will not ever happen “naturally”. This is why I think my friend’s declaration tells an incomplete story, a common mistake of privilege. We simply do not see the people who create and implement policies

Tracey Wik, OPRHC past Board President and current Board Member which enhance our quality of life daily because they are hiding in plain sight.

The monumental struggle to maintain a new and improved status quo is rarely recognized or appreciated.

Even stay-at-home orders did not thwart staff from their important mission.

Led by the talented and indefatigable Executive Director Athena Williams, the organization was unstoppable. Seeing their work as more vital than ever, the staff enthusiastically executed strategic plans developed pre-Covid-19. These efforts paid off – more than 1000 new renters moved to Oak Park, sustaining integration through the Neighbors knowing Neighbors Program and “Affirmative Moves*”. In addition, Ms. Williams hired new talent to fill key positions, including grant manager, community engagement specialist and finance director. She worked tirelessly to procure resources which enabled each and every staff member to do their work remotely and safely.

Like other superheroes whose true identities are unknown, Housing Center staff and volunteers quietly went about their day-to-day business, positively influencing people’s lives one decision at a time. These efforts deserve more than a shout out – these community members have earned far more than our gratitude.

While recognition is important to continue staff engagement, what would have the greatest impact is to continue to do our part with financial contributions, participatory citizenship and more. What difference can you make to continue this important work? * Affirmative moves occur when a person moves to a building where their race is underrepresented.

Tracey Wik, OPRHC past Board President and current Board Member

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We l c o m e t o O u r H o u s e | O a k Pa r k R e g i o n a l H o u s i n g C e n t e r

February 17, 2021

Oak Park Regional Housing Center...By the Numbers!

The OPRHC and its two programs: Live in Oak Park and the West Cook Homeownership Center, have worked diligently throughout 2020 to meet our

community’s evolving housing needs.

While 2020 presented many challenges, we met them head-on with determination and compassion to ensure the necessary

housing services and resources to all the communities we serve.

1041 South Boulevard, Oak Park, IL 60302 • 708-848-7150 5934 W. Lake St., Chicago, IL 60644 • 773-887-5187 • www.oprhc.org Hours vary by location and season, please call ahead before you plan your visit!

The Oak Park Regional Housing Center is a 501c3 nonprofit, HUD approved agency. OPRHC is the home of: the Live in Oak Park Program, providing rental matching to affirmatively further fair housing; and the West Cook Homeownership Program, providing homebuyer education, all areas of housing counseling, and a financial education initiative to help people enhance their financial skills and create positive banking relationships The opinions and views presented in this section are not the opinions or views of any of our sponsors or funders.

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