Archdiocese of Chicago increases housing aid for Latinos

Chicago, Ill., Nov 24, 2009 / 20:13 pm

Not long after criticism that the Archdiocese of Chicago hasn't reached out to Latinos, the archdiocese  has announced that it is investing in more affordable housing in parts of the city that have large Latino populations.

According to Chicago Public Radio, in a Monday press conference, the Archdiocese of Chicago announced that it would be investing in affordable housing in the southwest side of Chicago. Cardinal Francis George announced that the first $500,000 of the $2.8 million dollar loan fund project would be going to The Resurrection Project (TRP.)

TRP is a community organization which serves the Chicago neighborhoods of Back of the Yards, Little Village, and Pilsen by challenging people to act on their faith in order to create healthy communities.

As a result of the partnership between TRP and the archdiocese, working families will be given opportunities to find safe and affordable housing. TRP will use the money to help with the development, construction, marketing, and promotion of affordable housing units the project is building for low-to-moderate income families and individuals.

“There is a dramatic necessity in our city neighborhoods for this kind of development that has shown to be a critical component necessary to helping reduce poverty, homelessness and other forms of social disruption,” Cardinal George said at the press conference.

“We are very pleased that the archdiocese can partner with The Resurrection Project, which has realistically challenged people and institutions to act on their faith and values to help create healthy neighborhoods and communities. They have repeatedly shown credibility with the city, local neighborhoods, and the banking and investment communities to accomplish their mission and have demonstrated the capacity to make quality living options available in the Chicago areas which lack sufficient numbers of affordable homes,” he continued.