North West Housing Partnership Celebrates 25 Years Supporting the American Dream

North West Housing Partnership, otherwise known as NWHP, was founded in 1990 with an initial focus on providing affordable rental housing for low to moderate income senior citizens.

The organization has since grown to also provide HUD certified home buyer workshops, home repair and handyman services, and the rehab and sale of foreclosed homes in an effort to revive neighborhoods and open up home ownership opportunities for low to moderate income individuals.

When the organization was formed in 1990, its efforts resulted in the development of 400 units in housing developments located in Elk Grove Village, Elgin, Bartlett and Maywood, Illinois. A brand new development in Sugar Grove has a planned opening in 2016, where 60 rental units will be available for seniors, 54 of which will be for seniors with lower incomes.

Since 2003, NWHP has offered home repair programs for single-family, owner occupied residences in Schaumburg, Hoffman Estates and Des Plaines. The program provides up to $25,000 in funds as a second mortgage, and nearly 80 homeowners have received assistance since it launched.

Additionally, a handyman program started a year ago is available for residents of Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Mount Prospect, Palatine and Rolling Meadows who are 65 year of age or older, or 18 and older and disabled. This program is in partnership with the North West Suburban Housing Collaborative.

In 2005, NWHP continued to broaden its scope, and became a HUD approved Housing Counseling Agency. Since then workshops that offer education on the home buying process have been provided for more than 1,500 people. Those who complete them receive a certificate that enables them to qualify for State and federally funded down payment assistance programs.

Over the last few years, NWHP again widened its offerings to include the rehabbing and sale of foreclosed homes, in an effort to revive distressed neighborhoods. This effort is in part provided in collaboration with the West Cook Housing Collaborative and the Illinois Finance Fund (IFF). In many cases, $10,000 in down payment or closing cost assistance is provided when home buyers are at 80% or below the median income for Chicagoland.

For more information on the many programs offered by North West Housing Partnership, visit their website at www.NWHP.net or call 847-969-0561.