Construction will officially begin on Wednesday, April 11, for an affordable housing project in Oak Park targeted towards low-income mothers.
Nonprofit organization New Moms will host a groundbreaking ceremony from 1-2 p.m. at the future location of the development, 206 Chicago Avenue.
The 21,700 square-foot building will include 18 apartments for permanent supportive housing, and program space for community education, parenting support, and offices. The total budget for the project is $7.25 million with $5.9 million coming from the Illinois Housing Development Authority and $1.35 generated through fundraising.
Demand for low-income housing in Cook County remains high, with nearly 190,000 fewer affordable homes available for families in need of them, according to a study by the Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul University.
“New Moms is one of the few organizations in the country that provides holistic support (family support, housing, and job training) specifically for young, at-risk mothers and their children, and expanding the availability of affordable housing for this population provides the stability necessary to interrupt the cycle of poverty for two generations,” according to New Moms.
Now in its 35th year of operation, New Moms holds the vision of empowering young moms to live with stability, health, and vision for a strong future through housing, job training, and family support.
No target completion date for the development has been released yet.
