Open Communities

Voting is one of the many tools in our tool belts to advance long-term housing solutions for our communities.

Open Communities & the National Low Income Housing Coalition invite you to take 5 minutes to do one of the following:

- Check your voter registration. Even if you are sure you are registered! Recent address changes or inactivity can cause you to be removed from the voter rolls.
- Register to vote.
- Pre-register if you are 15-17.
- Make a plan to vote early and in-person: TurboVote will give you information on upcoming voting locations and key deadlines.

Check & plan: https://ourhomes.turbovote.org/?r=OpenCommunities

Free Reverse Mortgage Workshop at City of Rolling Meadows's City Hall next week!

Are you 62 or older? Curious about aging in place and reverse mortgages? Come learn from our Manager of Senior Services and HUD certified Housing Counselor!

Open Communities is not associated with any banking institutions so we provide unbiased education about the choices you have. Sarah Buckley will explain who is eligible, the financial obligations, benefits, risks, and considerations.

Email [email protected] or call Jes at 224-341-6081 if you have any access needs.

Thank you Housing Action Illinois for hosting another powerful Housing Matters conference!

Our team speaks to hundreds of community members a month who are struggling to keep their homes, pay rent, navigate housing discrimination, age in place, support themselves and families... it's a long list.

Lots of the time, they've done "all the right things" but still can't make ends meet.

Open Communities will continue to help people the best we can with the resources at our disposal. Our Housing Counselors will continue to use the tools we have to help homeowners avoid foreclosure. Our Fair Housing team works daily to confront housing discrimination in all forms.

Simultaneously, we will also continue to partner with partners like National Low Income Housing Coalition, Connections for the Homeless, local townships and municipalities, and so many Fair Housing organizations across the country to address the structural issues causing challenges for way too many people.

Let us not forget how many of us are working day in and day out to keep and create welcoming communities in our own ways, both directly with people and at the systemic level.

⚠️ Time sensitive! ⚠️

The Housing Authority of Cook County (HACC) will be re-opening its site-based waitlist for seniors for one-bedroom and two-bedroom units for Carefree Village located at 15005 S. Cicero Avenue, Oak Forest, IL 60452.

To be eligible, applicants MUST be at least 55 years of age and meet income requirements.

Applications will only be available beginning on Wednesday, September 30, 2026 at 10:00am and will close on Friday, October 2, 2026 at 3:00pm.

Open Communities is not connected to the voucher program or any part of the application process; we are just sharing a resource for people who may be interested.

Carefree Village – HACC Located in Oak Forest, Carefree Village offers adults 55+ affordable, comfortable living in a welcoming independent living community. Residents enjoy convenient access to shopping, dining, parks, healthcare, and local attractions throughout the south suburbs in a peaceful, community-focused setting.

This is what we call feeding 2 birds with 1 seed 🍞🏡

Come visit us at the Niles Township Food Pantry on October 1 or October 7! Grab some pantry items, get your housing questions answered & learn about resources.

Email [email protected] if you have any access needs.

Have an immigration question or need help with a tricky case? Join Indo-American Center for their free Immigration Law Open Houses on October 8 or October 29.

Thinking about buying a home? Want to know how to access downpayment assistance programs? Curious about all the steps and people involved?

We're hosting a free virtual workshop from 9:30am to 1:30pm on Saturday, October 17!

Registration is required: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-to-become-a-homeowner-virtual-workshop-tickets-2002235782123?aff=erelpanelorg

📝 Vamos a presentar el mismo taller en español en nuestra oficina en Evanston el sábado 5 de diciembre.

248 votes! Thank you! Thank you to everyone who voted for Open Communities in the Jackie Mack & More-Jameson Sotheby's International Realty Commission Mission Awards and shared the opportunity with your friends, families, neighbors, and networks!

While we didn’t receive an award this year, 248 people showed up for Open Communities, and that means so much to us.

Every vote, post, share, email, and conversation helped introduce more people to Open Communities and our work to ensure everyone has access to safe, stable housing.

You helped spread our mission, and grow our community of supporters.

Thank you for showing up for Open Communities! 💙💚

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month!
¡Feliz Mes de la Herencia Hispana!

My work at Open Communities goes far beyond celebrating Hispanic Heritage for a single month. To me, it represents an ongoing commitment to our community throughout the year.

I feel honored and privileged to be able to serve people who need our services and who often feel more comfortable expressing themselves in Spanish. Because it's not just about the language we speak; it's about really seeing people, listening to their stories, and trying to understand them from their essence, their experiences, and their needs.

At the same time, it is beautiful to see how in many parts of the country Hispanic Heritage Month becomes an opportunity to raise the visibility of our Hispanic community, honor our contributions, and recognize that we are a fundamental part of the history, present, and future of our country.

This year, more than ever, I want to raise my voice and tell my community: Let us not lose faith or hope. Together we are stronger.

- Mayra Moreno

🎊

¡Feliz Mes de la Herencia Hispana!
Happy Hispanic Heritage Month!

Mi trabajo en Open Communities va mucho más allá de celebrar la Herencia Hispana durante un solo mes. Para mí, representa un compromiso continuo con nuestra comunidad durante todo el año.

Me siento honrada y privilegiada de poder servir a las personas que necesitan nuestros servicios y que muchas veces se sienten más cómodas expresándose en español. Porque no se trata solamente del idioma que hablamos; se trata de realmente ver a las personas, escuchar sus historias y tratar de entenderlas desde su esencia, sus experiencias y sus necesidades.

Al mismo tiempo, es hermoso ver cómo en muchas partes del país el Mes de la Herencia Hispana se convierte en una oportunidad para elevar la visibilidad de nuestra comunidad hispana, honrar nuestras contribuciones y reconocer que somos una parte fundamental de la historia, del presente y del futuro de nuestro país.

Este año, más que nunca, quiero alzar mi voz y decirle a mi comunidad: No perdamos la fe ni la esperanza. Juntos somos más fuertes.

- Mayra Moreno

The first of 3 Financially Empowered workshops is coming up on Wednesday, September 23 from 6:00pm to 7:30pm at Robert Crown.

Free registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/financially-empowered-part-1-of-3-life-insurance-awareness-month-tickets-2000185544808

Evanston Public Library to Host "Financially Empowered" Series
Session 1: Life Insurance: More than a Death Benefit
Wednesday, September 23, 6-7:30 p.m.
Robert Crown Community Center, 1801 Main Street

The Evanston Public Library, in collaboration with New York Life, is hosting a series of programs focused on financial wellness. The first session, on September 23, will help participants understand how life insurance protects loved ones and supports financial goals.

You'll Learn:
🗒️Why life insurance is a critical part of your financial plan
🗒️Term vs. permanent life insurance - what's the difference?
🗒️How much coverage may be right for you
🗒️Common misconceptions and important facts