The Interfaith Housing Center has been north suburban Chicago's premier advocate for fair and affordable housing since 1972. We foster open communities. It's the right thing to do. And it makes our communities better places to live.
Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing: It's the LawDownload Attorney Michael Allen's PowerPoint presentation at Interfaith's April 2010 Fair Housing Reunion and view a video of his presentation, delivered days later at Emory University.
New! Sept. 16: United We Learn Video on School Disparities ** Segregated housing inevitably leads to segregated public schools, and separate is not equal.United We Learn, a north suburban, broad-based grassroots campaign which Interfaith helped organize in 2008 in the wake of a Chicago Public School boycott at New Trier High School, has a powerful new documentary film, of student, teacher, and parent voices from Chicago and north suburban high schools. This screening of "The Education They Deserve", free of charge, will take place on Thurs., Sept. 16, 7 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at McCormick Tribune Center, Northwestern University. Underwritten by a grant from the Sally Mead Hands Foundation to Interfaith, as fiscal agent for United We Learn. RSVP: unitedwelearn@gmail.com.
Crowd Celebrates 2010 Housing Justice Honorees ** 135 people joined Interfaith in honoring Northbrook residents Nancy and Lee Goodman as the winners of its second annual Rayna & Marvin Miller Housing Justice Award. This was the centerpiece of Interfaith's "There's No Place Like Home" reception at The Art Center in Highland Park on May 13, 2010. Interfaith also honored Highland Park residents Louise Pearson and Jack Henkin with a Housing Action Award. Check out Interfaith's Facebook page to see more photos!
Evanston Foreclosure Prevention Partnership **The Interfaith Housing Center now has office hours at the Evanston Civic Center to counsel Evanston individual residents concerned about affording their mortgages in addition to full-time hours at Interfaith's Winnetka headquarters. To make an appointment, contact (847) 501-5760 ext. 404, or e-mail: jasmine@interfaithhousingcenter.org. Housing counseling staff speak Polish, Russian, and Spanish in addition to English. Interfaith is a HUD-certified housing counseling agency. All services are free of charge and confidential.
In preparing to make an appointment with Interfaith, our housing counselors need you to COPY your mortgage documents. CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF THE DOCUMENTS YOU NEED TO PROVIDE US. Our staff will review your case and paperwork, inform you of your options, and offer appropriate help.
The video was debuted September 18, 2008 in honor of Interfaith's 35 years (and counting) of accomplishment. It profiles those assisted by Interfaith's fair housing, Homesharing, foreclosure prevention, and community organizing and advocacy work, with reflections by a founder, Jean R. Cleland.
Advocacy & Education: Through grassroots organizing, by acting as a resource to local leaders, in hosting workshops and forums, in public advocacy, Interfaith lends support for concerted fair and affordable housing efforts.
Our membership includes scores of local residents and more than 60 civic organizations and congregations. We encourage everyone's involvement, regardless of religious affiliation.
** We thank all our public and private donors for their strongly felt support for housing justice. We invite you to read our FY 2009 Annual Report for details about our work on behalf of hundreds of families. Please consider a tax-deductible donation so Interfaith can continue to collaborate with others, confront social justice issues as they pertain to housing, and provide programs which support a diverse community! Many thanks to you!
More Ways to Get Involved!
COMMITTED VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Volunteer for Interfaith!
Volunteer as a
Fair Housing Tester. Interfaith needs individuals to pose as home seekers. The data testers provide helps Interfaith ensure a non-discriminatory housing market. Interfaith pays volunteers a modest stipend for this important work. To sign up for training, contact Viki, (847) 501-2029, ext. 408, or e-mail: viki@interfaithhousingcenter.org.
GET POLITICALLY ACTIVE:JOIN A COMMISSION! We Want You! to volunteer. Every northern suburb is looking for dedicated residents to sit on commissions that promote diversity and fair, accessible, and affordable housing. This page makes it easy for you to apply directly to your suburb.
Ask Us About Our Fair Housing Exhibit!
** Learn about the historic struggle for housing justice in Chicago's northern suburbs. Interfaith, together with Shorefront Legacy Center, an Evanston-based archive of African-American history in the area, developed this exhibit which has toured multiple communities, banks, and schools. The "History of Equal Housing" series of panels was developed under a grant from HUD's Fair Housing Initiatives Program. Click here for a slide show presentation version of this traveling exhibit. To borrow this exhibit, please contact Andrea (847) 501-5760, or e-mail: andrea@interfaithhousingcenter.org
