North West Housing Partnership offers array of services
North West Housing Partnership, a Schaumburg-based nonprofit, administers a variety of programs that are centered around homeownership, in addition to maintenance and improvement programs for suburban Cook County residents. Four of the programs offered are listed and described below.
Resources for flood damaged homes from 2013 storms:
The Cook County Residential Resiliency Flood Program is available through NWHP. This program addresses homes that were flooded, and subsequently damaged, during the severe storms that occurred in April and May of 2013.
Through a partnership with the Bureau of Economic Development at the Cook County Department of Planning and Development, NWHP receives funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to assist homeowners impacted by flooding, and have also been able to support improvement projects that help to reduce future flooding.
NWHP administers this program in suburban Cook County communities that are located north of 39th Street in Chicago.
Handyman services for disabled individuals and senior citizens:
Handyman services are offered to disabled individuals 18 years of age and older and senior citizen homeowners ages 65 and older. This program provides services to enhance the quality of life for residents living in Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Mount Prospect, Palatine and Rolling Meadows.
The goal is to help individuals live safely and independently in their own homes by connecting them with experienced and insured handymen. These handymen conduct safety assessments and perform in-home repairs at a reduced cost of $10, $20 or $30, depending on the person's income, but there are no income qualifications to participate.
Home Improvement and Accessibility Program for seniors:
In partnership with the Illinois Housing Development Authority, NWHP also offers a forgivable grant to seniors of up to $25,000 that helps them to afford the costs associated with the Home Accessibility Program.
Low-income seniors can receive this assistance for improvements, including grab bars, chair lifts, handicap accessible showers, lowering of cabinets and countertops, widening doorways, adding ramps and walk-in showers and other renovations, on a case-by-case basis.
This program is aimed at improving safety and comfort for the elderly in their homes, while allowing them to continue to remain there. This also helps to prevent the unnecessary placement of senior citizens in nursing homes.
Free homebuyer seminars to education area residents:
Free homebuyer educational seminars are held on a monthly basis, for both first-time homebuyers as well as individuals who are interested in gathering resources and education to be as informed as possible.
The seminars feature information on how to buy a home; a recent expansion of a program includes down payment assistance of up to $2,000 from Wintrust Banks throughout the Chicago area (individuals are not required to have a mortgage through Wintrust).
Other information includes how to choose a Realtor and mortgage broker, as well as education from attorneys, home inspectors and other individuals whose expertise centers around home buying and maintenance.
"NWHP is proactively improving the quality of life for our clients," said Paula Bush, associate director of the organization. "We also empower them with knowledge to make informed home buying choices through housing counseling, and continue to develop programs that provide safe and affordable places to live."
To learn more about all of the programs and services offered through North West Housing Partnership, visit www.NWHP.net or call (847) 969-0561.
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