North West Housing Partnership helps revive neighborhoods
For the past four years, North West Housing Partnership has improved suburban neighborhoods through the nonprofit's Single Family Rehabilitation Program.
NWHP purchases foreclosed or short sale properties and then rehabs and sells them to qualified homebuyers.
Homes are purchased in select suburban communities around the Chicagoland area. As part of the program, potential homebuyers receive assistance with mortgage prequalification and housing counseling. Upon completion, a certificate is awarded; $10,000 down payment or closing cost assistance is also available in certain communities.
"Residents in the neighborhoods where we have rehabbed homes have come up to us to thank us. Many of the houses we purchase have been vacant for extended periods of time or the property is generally unkempt," said Robyn Sandys, NWHP executive director.
"We not only improve and upgrade the appearance, we also update the systems inside the home (HVAC, electrical and plumbing) to a quality standard."
The goal, Sandys said, is to rehab and affordably sell homes, while improving neighborhoods one house at a time.
"We don't get into the high end market. We are working to keep residential homes affordable for individuals and families who want to be homeowners. This is an important part of NWHP's mission," Sandys said.
The three overall goals of the Single Family Rehabilitation Program are to provide affordable housing for individuals and families, to help get distressed residential properties off the real estate market in order to improve neighborhoods, and to sustain NWHP operations through home sales.
As many as 12 properties could be purchased on a yearly basis by NWHP through the program, and homes usually take six months to rehab from the date of purchase to when they are sold.
There is a partnership with the West Cook Housing Collaborative and IFF for homes purchased in the Western suburbs of Oak Park, Forest Park, Berwyn, Bellwood and Maywood. This program offers a $10,000 closing cost or down payment assistance program for qualified buyers. NWHP will notify buyers in other communities it serves of similar programs when they are available.
General contractors, who play an integral role in rehabbing the homes, are currently being sought to assist in this program.
NWHP offers several other programs for homebuyers and homeowners, including free, monthly homebuyer workshops. The next workshop will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 21, at its Schaumburg location. Preregistration is required.
For information, contact Paula Bush at paulbush@nwhp.net or call (847) 969-0561. To learn more about the many programs provided by NWHP, visit www.nwhp.net/nwhp-programs.
About North West Housing Partnership: North West Housing Partnership is a regional nonprofit organization that promotes public and private partnerships through a fiscally responsible and multifaceted approach. These partnerships create and preserve cost-effective, quality diverse housing for low to moderate income residents and workers through housing development and renovation, education and advocacy.
NWHP's program service area includes: Des Plaines, Hoffman Estates and Schaumburg for a home repair program for qualified homeowners; Bellwood, Berwyn, Maywood, Oak Park and Forest Park for the Single Family Rehabilitation Program, in addition to the Northwest suburbs, and senior rental housing throughout the Chicago area.
Handyman services are available to residents in Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Mount Prospect, Palatine and Rolling Meadows.
Visit www.NWHP.net to learn more.
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