High schoolers move low-income residents in Schaumburg

Even after low-income residents of the Tree House Luxury Apartments in Schaumburg fearful of having to move elsewhere learned earlier this summer they could stay in the complex in rehabbed units, many still found the cost of making even such a small move daunting.

But when a high-school football player in West Chicago read about their concern in the newspaper, he knew he and his teammates could help.

Cody Baker, a 17-year-old junior at Immaculate Conception High School in Elmhurst, recognized the residents’ plight as a perfect service opportunity for the team.

During several of the hottest days of the summer, team members helped move five people out of their units, which will be remodeled, and into units already done.

They’re scheduled to move another person next weekend and yet another on Oct. 1.

Among those overwhelmed by the boys’ kindness was Barbara Bennett, a 13-year resident of the Tree House.

Thanks to the boys and their coach, Mike Calcagno, the entire cost of her move was just the $75 for a day’s use of a 14-foot U-Haul truck and the Gatorade and paper towels she provided.

She tried several times to buy the team lunch, but they would not accept.

“The coach said absolutely not,” Bennett said. “As I told Cody, when I was 17 I would never have thought to have done something like that.”

Calcagno said he thought he already knew the good side of all the boys on the team, but he was especially impressed by Baker’s leadership and all the players’ dedication.

“He is mature at times beyond his years,” Calcagno said of Baker. “It’s about doing what’s right. It’s nice to see the kids pitching in. I think it was an outstanding effort from everyone involved.”

Baker said he and his teammates didn’t think too badly of the 90-plus-degree weather they endured most days. Their discomfort made it all even more of a bonding opportunity.

But what their actions meant to the residents they were helping was not lost on them.

“The people there were so grateful,” Baker said. “A couple of people called my mom crying.”

Low-income residents of the apartment complex, who live there through the use of Housing Authority of Cook County vouchers, were informed in May that they would have to vacate their apartments at the end of their current leases so that a $20 million renovation at the complex could address their units as well.

Tree House Manager Kristen McAtee said the complex never wavered in its willingness to accept the vouchers. But the Housing Authority originally believed the higher rent of the renovated units would exceed the capacity of the vouchers.

During June, however, a new arrangement was worked out for the payment of the residents’ utilities that allowed the rent vouchers to continue to be used at the Tree House.