Resources
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There are many dimensions to healthy communities, including housing, jobs, schools, retail, and safety. Because of this, revitalizing neighborhoods can only be successful when people from all walks of life work together to reach common goals. GSDC's success during the past 30 years can be directly attributed to the strong partnerships and relationships it has formed. Although it's impossible to list every organization, business, and resident that has contributed invaluable assistance to GSDC's efforts, this page lists many community resources you might also find helpful. If you have questions or need help accessing assistance, please don't hesitate to contact us.Commercial Accion Chicago is a small business lender dedicated to providing financing and business education for Chicagoland's entrepreneurs. Since opening in 1994, we have disbursed over 12.5 million dollars in small business loans to over 950 locally-owned businesses. Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce offers free technical assistance through monthly open discussions and Q&A sessions on marketing strategies, tax preparation, and networking. Chicago Community Ventures works with established small businesses in the Chicagoland area that have strong potential for revenue generation and job creation. We specialize in assisting businesses in low and moderate income communities and businesses owned by minorities or women. City of Chicago - Small Business Assistance Center offers a web-based tool that provides answers for common business questions, as well as other valuable resources. U.S. Small Business Administration is an independent agency of the federal government formed to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small businesses. West Lawn Chamber of Commerce offers information about our community, its businesses, schools, churches, and government offices. Women's Business Development Center offers a full-service approach to launching emerging businesses and strengthening existing businesses owned by women. Housing The Chicago Rehab Network (CRN) works to further the development and preservation of safe affordable housing in Chicago and throughout the state of Illinois. If you're looking for affordable housing in a specific neighborhood please contact us and we can refer you to a CRN member who serves that community. Chicago Department of Housing creates affordable and accessible home ownership opportunities and rental options for singles, working families, seniors, first-time home buyers, renters, and owners in need of home repairs, rehab or tax relief. Chicago Public Schools - Teachers Housing serves new teachers, student teachers, and established CPS teachers looking for premier Chicago housing at affordable prices. City News (Community Information Technology & Neighborhood Early Warning System) offers information about specific properties, as well as many other community indicators. Fannie Mae Calculator will help you figure out how much house can you afford. The Historic Chicago Bungalow Initiative provides education, marketing and financing to ensure Chicago Bungalow owners and communities receive needed resources. Greater Chicago Housing and Community Development is a good site to visit if you're looking for data and information about the housing environment in Chicago and other communities throughout the region. Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago is a nonprofit organization that works to rebuild low- and moderate-income neighborhoods in the City of Chicago. Southwest Home Equity Assurance insures residential property values for an extended period of time. The Home Equity Program is financed by a special levy on single through six-unit residential properties within the Home Equity District. The Storehouse sells building materials to community-based groups, churches, low-income individuals, and organizations for a nominal amount. The Storehouse is open to members only (individuals must be sponsored by an organization). Contact GSDC for an application or call the Storehouse for a sponsoring organization near you. Industrial Chicago Department of Community Development promotes economic development in Chicago by helping new and existing business owners grow and create new jobs for city residents. Southwest Industrial Corridors provides a list of Chicago's southwest industrial corridors, including a description of boundaries. Senior Living Blair Minton Associate, Inc. offers housing and services management focused on providing dignified and quality care to all segments of the population, especially older adults. Chicago Department of Aging supports seniors who want to live in their communities, ensures quality for seniors residing in institutions, and ensures full access to information that helps seniors participate in public policy. Housing Opportunities and Maintenance for the Elderly (H.O.M.E.) is committed to improving the quality of life for Chicago's low-income elderly. H.O.M.E. programs include the only free citywide moving and relocation services for the elderly, a furniture donation program, free shopping transportation services, and upkeep and repair services for elderly homeowners. Neighborhood Resources Ada S. McKinley Community Services, Inc. offers programs in child and foster care, adoption, education/college preparation and placement, mental health, vocational training, job development and placement, and residential living arrangements. Chicago Food Depository is a great resource if you need assistance with feeding your family. Also visit this site to find out what you can do to help! Healthy Chicago Lawn Coalition is a coalition of community residents, local service providers, agencies, organizations, and business representatives interested in the public health of the Chicago Lawn Community (including Ashburn, Gage Park, West Englewood and West Lawn). Holy Cross Hospital is a not-for-profit neighborhood health system serving residents of Chicago's southwest neighborhoods and suburbs. Inner-city Muslim Action Network (IMAN) is a nonprofit organization that focuses on community building in the inner-city through the empowerment of its people. Instituto del Progreso Latino (IPL) Instituto del Progreso Latino (IPL) provides educational programs that help adults and their families develop to their fullest potential and workforce services for job seekers. Instituto provides services to all races. Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago provides free legal aid to individuals, works with government officials to improve public policies and community groups on community problems, and provides legal education and self-help materials. Metropolitan Family Services encourages family strengths and invests in a comprehensive range of programs and services that help families through difficult times. Metropolitan Tenants Organization is a coalition of community organizations and individuals that operate a tenant's rights hotline, train community-based organizations, organize buildings, and advocate for affordable housing. New Communities Program (NCP) is an ambitious program that supports comprehensive community development in 16 Chicago neighborhoods in Chicago's South, Southwest, West and Northwest sides. Each effort is led by a neighborhood-based lead agency that coordinates programs among other local organizations and citywide support groups. New Hope Lutheran Ministries Rev. Paul & Judy Anderson, New Hope Ministries, 6416 S. Washtenaw Ave., Chicago, IL 60629 Phone: (773) 776-7816.The Office of Health Care Access provides information about Illinois' public health care programs, services and publications and serves as a resource for consumer health care issues. Saint Nicholas of Tolentine Catholic Church 3917 W. 62rd St. Chicago, IL 60629 Phone: (773)735-1121.Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP) works to build a broad-based organization of churches, schools, mosques and other institutions in Southwest Chicago, which will enable families to exercise common values, determine their own future and connect with each other to improve life in their neighborhoods. SWOP is an active member of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR). To learn more about this coalition, visit http://www.icirr.org/ Southwest Youth Collaborative is a community-based network of youth and community development organizations working together in five diverse neighborhoods on the southwest side of Chicago: Chicago Lawn, West Lawn, West Englewood, Gage Park, and West Elsdon. Each year, SWYC enrolls approximately 800 youth in after-school and summer programs at four sites: SWYC Community Center at 6400 S. Kedzie, Greater Lawn Community Youth Network at 3500 W. 63rd Place, Hubbard High School at 6200 S. Hamlin and Gage Park High School at 5630 S. Rockwell. Thresholds Psychiatric Rehabilitation Centers create the opportunity for people with mental illness to live with dignity and independence. The agency, with its thirty service locations and more than 75 housing developments in the Chicagoland area, is a recognized success with several programs world-wide that have replicated Thresholds' model. Public Safety Chicago's Non-Emergency Help Line - Dial 311 Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) has been recognized as one of the most ambitious community policing initiatives in the United States. This partnership brings the police, the community, and other City agencies together to identify and solve neighborhood crime problems, rather than simply react to their symptoms after the fact. Chicago Police Department - 8th District Schools and Colleges Chicago's southwest side is home to many fine public and private schools, as well as Richard J. Daley College. Richard J. Daley College (City Colleges of Chicago) Parks & Recreation Chicago Park District - Gage Park Chicago Park District - Marquette Park Banks & Lenders Local Professionals Gintaras Cepenas, Attorney West Lawn Realty Other Resources |