VISION & APPROACH

Building thriving communities

Our vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. But to us at Habitat Chicago, a collection of "everyones" is called a neighborhood, so we lean into what we call our neighborhood approach. A neighborhood approach provides impact beyond just one household in a newly constructed, affordable house. A neighborhood approach connects neighbors, champions the beautification of blocks, and elevates the appeal of the entire community. In turn, these improvements strengthen the housing market, attracting further investment in community assets such as parks, banks, and grocery stores. And the more neighborhoods thrive, the more Chicago thrives.

Our guiding principles

We put residents first. 

We collaborate with residents to ensure our work aligns with the dreams they have for their community.

 

We think in assets, not deficits. 

Every neighborhood we work in presents its own opportunities. Starting with these assets, we amplify them through complementary physical and social developments.

 

We locate the perfect partners.

Due to the complexity of neighborhood health, we seek out other organizations who can help us meet needs holistically.

 

We embrace planning.

Significant change requires significant planning, so we embrace multi-party, multi-year efforts that will benefit more people in the Chicago area.

 

We invest in homeownership.

The ability to own a home changes families, neighborhoods, and even generations. We are expanding our services so that more families will experience long-term success.