SERVICE RESOURCES DIRECTORY

LUCHA is a community housing development organization and HUD-approved housing counseling agency. Services include individual counseling as well as free public workshops and education courses in first-time homeownership, foreclosure prevention, and financial empowerment. These workshops and courses focus on financial decision making, financial stability, and innovative approaches to debt payment and savings.

Offers free legal services in non-criminal matters to residents of metropolitan Chicago.

Offers legal services as part of the University of Chicago's law school.

Marquette Bank offers free public seminars on financial education that address personal finance, homebuyer education, retirement planning, identity theft, estate planning, and college saving plans. Marquette Bank also offers its Affordable Housing Foundation Grant for first-time homebuyers to assist with down payments and closing costs. The 1st Home Illinois Program and Downpayment Plus Program are offered through Marquette Bank and provide financial assistance for down payments and closing costs. 

Throughout their eight community centers, Metropolitan Family Services offers free in-person debt and financial counseling as well as job training and placement services. Their Legal Aid Society provides free and low-cost legal representation and assistance to income-qualifying residents.

NHS is a non-profit mortgage lender that offers financial assistance to new homebuyers and homeowners for the purchasing, refinancing, or rehabbing of a home. Programs include grants as well as down payment and/or closing cost assistance.

NHS also offers low-interest, fixed-rate home improvement loans through their Neighborhood Lending Services. Approved projects will be assigned an NHS Construction Specialist to help guide residents through the construction process.

The North Chicago Housing Authority offers assistance to low- and moderate-income families who are seeking affordable housing opportunities. Programs include public housing buildings and Housing Choice Vouchers. 

The Northside CDC is a HUD-certified non-profit organization that preserves affordable housing and economic opportunities on the North side of Chicago. The organization provides homeownership counseling in the following areas: first time homeownership, condominium ownership, mortgage readiness, foreclosure prevention, downpayment assistance, financial literacy, and credit counseling. 

This national nonprofit uses volunteer power to provide free home repairs, modifications, and improvements for income-qualifying homeowners. Interested homeowners must submit applications during select times of the year and project focus areas within Chicago change each year. National Rebuilding Day focuses on home repairs, Give Back Day brings community partners together to repair and improve schools, community centers, and other non-profit and community facilities, and Safe at Home provides minor home repairs and modifications for older adults. 

The Kroc Center is one of the largest community centers in Illinois, with aquatics facilities, sports leagues, an Academy of the Arts, family life and education programming, an inter-generational church, and senior programming. The Kroc Senior Center organizes classes and social activities, field trips, workshops, and special events for older adults. Seniors meet at the Kroc Center on the 3rd Thursday of each month to discuss relevant topics and share information about resources, benefits, and events going on.