Humble Design Service Day
We are continuously grateful for our transformative partnership with Humble Design Chicago, a local organization which creates “home” for families transitioning from homelessness by providing free design and furnishing services. This month, our staff and tenants participated in a volunteer day of service to furnish the home of a longtime LUCHA client who recently welcomed a […]
Yoga Class with Resident Services
LUCHA continues to expand its range of programming for its affordable housing tenants and community members! Always innovating, our staff hosted a yoga and mindfulness workshop at our SRO building in partnership with Lowell Elementary School. It has been documented that mindfulness techniques help practitioners of all ages and capacities better cope with stress and encourage […]
LUCHA’s Passive House is Certified!
LUCHA’s Passive House has officially been certified by the Passive House Institute US! Our Tierra Linda development features the first affordable, multi-family Passive House in the state and bridges green technology and housing affordability for low-income families. Located along the 606 Trail, Tierra Linda and its Passive House represent LUCHA’s commitment to mindful, sustainable community development and increasing neighborhood access to residents […]
Foreclosure Prevention Program (Round 6) Award
LUCHA has once again been awarded under the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA)’sForeclosure Prevention Program! The Foreclosure Prevention Program is in its sixth round and provides funding to support housing counseling and foreclosure prevention outreach. While it might appear that there is a reduced need to fund foreclosure mitigation services due to the continued recovery of […]
Logan Square Racial Equity Impact Assessment
In 2018, LUCHA partnered with the Logan Square Neighborhood Association (LSNA) and Chicago United for Equity (CUE) to conduct a Racial Equity Impact Assessment (REIA) of the Chicago Department of Transportation’s (CDOT) proposed Complete Streets project for North Milwaukee Avenue from Logan Square to Belmont. An REIA is a nationally-tested, community-driven process that identifies which groups are most likely to benefit […]
Honoring National Fair Housing Month
Closing out National Fair Housing Month, LUCHA hosted partners in housing advocacy and legal services at the National Public Housing Museum. As part of the affair, Executive Director Juan Carlos Linares accepted an award presentation per the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development‘s Fair Housing Initiatives Program, through which LUCHA has been granted $125,000 to further fair housing […]
Mayor-Elect Lightfoot’s Housing Transition Committee
Recognized for his organizational leadership and his efforts as an affordable housing advocate, LUCHA’s Executive Director, Juan Carlos Linares, is currently serving on Mayor-Elect Lightfoot’s Housing Transition Committee. As Committee Co-Chair, Juan Carlos is promoting LUCHA’s mission to advance housing as a human right to help shape the Mayor-Elect’s housing priorities, forthcoming policies and resource […]
Logan Square Stormwater Planter Project
LUCHA is seeking a qualified landscape construction firm to provide green stormwater infrastructure construction services. Please visit our website for more information and to apply!
Logan Square Public Art Project
LUCHA and LSNA seek artists, designers, architects for a site-responsive, community engaged public art project in Logan Square. Artists who are residents of the Logan Square community are encouraged to apply. Artists will receive a stipend of $4,000 to complete the project design, with $5,000 budgeted for materials and project installation, including fabrication costs. Please […]
Dill Pickle Food Co-op Partnership
Last year, LUCHA, the Logan Square Neighborhood Association (LSNA) and the Dill Pickle Food Co-op partnered with local residents and talented artists to install a public mural as part of Elevated Chicago, the local expression of the nationwide SPARCC initiative. In continuation of this work, LUCHA and partners have released a call for proposals to complete another public art project […]
Continued Investment of the JCUA
In February, we celebrated the continued investment of the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs (JCUA) in support of the rehabilitation for LUCHA’s single-room occupancy (SRO) building, Humboldt Park Residence (HPR). The project has taken another step toward fruition! On March 12th, LUCHA and partners presented to the Community Development Commission (CDC), which unanimously approved the projects’ use of […]
UnidosUS 2019 Change Makers Summit
As an affiliate member of UnidosUS (formerly known as National Council of La Raza), LUCHA’s housing counseling and education staff attended the 2019 Change Makers Summit in Washington, DC last week. Topics addressed include pressing policy issues impacting our communities and ways to make our communities stronger through civic action. The summit presented an opportunity for us and our […]
NAHREP Chicago ELEVATE Event
Last month, LUCHA’s housing counseling and education staff participated in the National Association for Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHPREP) Chicago ELEVATE event. The event highlighted our collective commitment to building generational wealth through homeownership, prioritizing investment without displacement, and created a space for community partners to focus on issues impacting Latinx residents. We are so grateful to be […]
Illinois Access to Justice Program Act
While communities of color in our nation are reeling from systemic racism manifesting in the forms of mass deportation and mass incarceration, they continue to demonstrate amazing resilience and talent. Join LUCHA in supporting the Illinois Access to Justice Program Act, which would implement a statewide program known as the Illinois Access to Justice and Opportunity […]
“All Aboard” Elevated Chicago Symposium
LUCHA’s very own Juan Carlos Linares and Jennie Fronczak were featured as panelists at Elevated Chicago’s second symposium, All Aboard: People, Places and Process for Equitable Transit-Oriented Development, sponsored by Enterprise Community Partners and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. The gathering welcomed more than 200 guests including civic and nonprofit leaders, community builders, policy makers and funders to discuss the importance […]
JCUA awards LUCHA Community Ventures Program Loan
The Jewish Council on Urban Affairs (JCUA) has awarded LUCHA a Community Ventures Program loan to cover a portion of the rehabilitation costs for LUCHA’s single-room occupancy (SRO) building, Humboldt Park Residence (HPR). The rehabilitation will preserve 65 units and provide significant upgrades including private bathrooms, air conditioning, energy-efficient windows, and shared common space for […]
LUCHA Reviews Strategies with CFSI and CCL
Always innovating, LUCHA is one of four organizations chosen by the Center for Financial Services Innovation (CFSI) to participate in a 12-month program that offers the benefits of financial technology solutions to clients in Chicago. The program, supported by the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and the Chase Foundation, will increase access to financial services […]
ED Juan Carlos Linares is appointed a Board Member at Metropolitan Planning Council
LUCHA’s Executive Director, Juan Carlos Linares, has been appointed to the Board of Governors of the Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC), an organization that works with leaders across government, business, non-profit and other sectors to advance public policies and best practices that build toward a more equitable, sustainable Chicago. An active partner of MPC via Elevated […]
LUCHA meets IPP in Brazil
LUCHA’s Executive Director, Juan Carlos Linares, recently paid a visit to the Pereira Passos Institute (IPP) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The IPP serves as the city’s research body and manages city data to inform equitable public policy development and urban interventions. Andrea Pulici, the Technical Coordinator of Special Projects at the IPP, presented on […]
2019 Group Education Activities Kickoff
LUCHA’s Housing Opportunities Center has kicked off its 2019 group education activities! This is your year – join us for a group education workshop and build toward your dream of homeownership. For FREE registration, click here. Upcoming workshop dates: Saturday, February 9th, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Saturday, February 23rd, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm For […]
One Chicago For All Alliance Mayoral Forum
As a long-standing community-based organization, LUCHA embraces its role as a champion for equitable solutions to address issues adversely impacting community residents. In preparation for the upcoming Mayoral Election, LUCHA staff and residents attended the One Chicago for All Alliance Mayoral Forum at the UIC Forum on January 12th to advocate for affordable, safe, and […]
Celebrating Three Kings Day
In celebration of Three Kings’ Day, LUCHA closed out the holiday season by hosting its Resident Services Program partners at Nellie’s Restaurant. Nested in the heart of Chicago’s vibrant Puerto Rican community, we came together over classic Nellie’s breakfast fare – like the much-revered pastelón and avena de coco – to uplift the importance of supportive services […]
Happy Holidays!
We gathered to celebrate the holiday season on Tuesday with our residents. From our home to yours, we wish you all the joy your hearts can hold and every success in the coming year!
Welcome, Dineyshka!
Dineyshka, a young mother of three, recently moved into our Passive House. She evacuated Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria and has been struggling to make a new life here, having doubled-up with family members in Joliet, then moving to Chicago with big hopes only to wind up on the streets with her children. Thanks to […]
To all of our partners: Thank You!
We are so grateful for our partners who have helped take our Housing Opportunities services to the next level this past year. The market and our current political climate continue to present challenges, but we are so proud of our clients who have overcome each barrier via their resilience and repaired their credit, increased their savings, […]
SPARCC Learning Convening
Juan Carlos Linares presented on a panel at the SPARCC learning convening focused on “Investment without Displacement: Solutions for Equitable, Healthy & Vibrant Communities” in Los Angeles this month. It was the only rainy week all year, but spirits were high as community organizations, industry experts, and leaders in government came together to develop relationships, […]
TOD Policy Expansion
As a steering committee member of Elevated Chicago, part of the national SPARCC initiative, we are proud to announce the expansion of the City of Chicago’s existing Transit Oriented Development (TOD) policy to more than 20 high-ridership bus routes along eight major corridors across the city, including Ashland Ave, Western Ave, and Chicago Ave. Thanks […]
Celebrating Thanksgiving Together
Each Thanksgiving, LUCHA’s Resident Services Program hosts a holiday dinner program at Humboldt Park Residence (HPR). With staff, local partners, and 30 LUCHA tenants in attendance, this year’s celebration was filled with joy, warmth and the delicious aroma of tenants’ and staff homemade cooking, including traditional Puerto Rican fare like pasteles and pollo guisado. In […]
2018 Greenbuild International Conference & Expo
LUCHA’s Director of Affordable Housing, Charlene Andreas, presented on best practices and led tours of our Tierra Linda Passive House, the first affordable, multi-family, certified Passive House in Illinois, at the the 2018 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo. Greenbuild convenes professionals in architecture, construction, engineering, planning, and interior design who depend on thoughtful and ethical solutions to promote […]
LUCHA is Re-approved for HUD certification
Consistent with our commitment to provide high quality services and the best client experience, we are happy to report that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has recommended an unconditional three year re-approval for LUCHA as a HUD-certified housing counseling agency! LUCHA first received HUD certification on April 4, 1999 and has […]
Mayoral Candidates forum on affordable housing
On Tuesday, December 11th, join Chicagoans from across the city who want to see the new Mayor take a strong central stand on ending the housing affordability crisis and promoting equitable patterns of development across Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods. Click here to register for the forum today!
Call to Action: Protect Immigrant Families!
The Trump administration has proposed a regulation that would force immigrant families to choose between permanent legal status and their ability to access basic needs like healthy food, safe housing, and health care. Take action here!
LUCHA Welcomes New Staff Attorney
Please join us in extending a warm welcome to LUCHA’s new Staff Attorney, Raisa Alicea! Raisa was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She obtained her Juris Doctor from DePaul University in May 2011, is admitted to practice law in Illinois and the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, and is a member of […]
LUCHA Welcomes Michelle Almanza, MSW
LUCHA is please to welcome Michelle Almanza as our Department of Programs MSW Practicum Student. In her role, Michelle will provide program support to our Resident and Community Services team and assist in the design and development of programs, projects, and activities. She will also be responsible for the implementation of programs and projects, represent […]
We are selected for: HAP
Via a competitive process, LUCHA was selected by Enterprise Community Partners as one of five CDCs across the nation to participate in a pilot program for the creation of a Health Action Plan (HAP) to accompany our Tierra Linda building development. The HAP is informed by quantitative data from public health databases as well as qualitative […]
Thank you for being with us!
Many thanks to everyone who joined us at the Passive House ribbon-cutting ceremony and subsequent community celebration at Simons Park to honor our Tierra Linda development. Relive the festivities via our photo album here, Moments like this inspire us to continue working towards the next ribbon-cutting! You can help us continue building healthy, sustainable, affordable housing by […]
Will & Transfer Workshop
In partnership with the Chicago Housing Authority, Chicago Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, and Boodell & Damaskis, LLC LUCHA will conduct a “Will & Transfer of Death Instruments” workshop for CHA Choose to Own Homeownership Program participants. The workshop will take place on Thursday, October 11th from 5:30pm – 7:00pm at 1152 N Christiana Avenue in […]
Are you registered to vote?
Early voting for the November election is open! Citizens can register in-person at Secretary of State offices or election offices through October 9th, or online through October 21st. After that, there’s a grace period when people can register at designated polling places. You can find more information about voter registration here.
2018 Justice Award
We are honored to have been nominated by our partners, The Chicago Community Loan Fund, for the Opportunity Finance Network’s (OFN) annual Justice Grant Award. The award celebrates organizations with a mission focused on economic, political, or social justice. This year, OFN will recognize LUCHA as one of the Midwest’s premier housing advocates and the recipient […]
After Backpack-A-Thon
Cradles to Crayons held its 3rd Annual Backpack-A-Thon on August 16th. Every year, the Backpack-A-Thon brings together over 300 volunteers in a friendly, three-hour competition to fill 25,000 new backpacks with age-appropriate clothes and school supplies for underserved children. On August 25th, LUCHA distributed 250 of these backpacks to local families, including many of our […]
Let’s Celebrate!
On Thursday, September 27th, LUCHA is hosting a free community celebration to honor Tierra Linda! Join us at Simons Park (1640 N Drake, Chicago), across the street from the Passive House, for food, live entertainment, community-building, and more! Featuring the first affordable, multi-family Passive House in Illinois, Tierra Linda demonstrates that high quality housing and […]
LUCHA Goes FinTech
LUCHA is proud to partner with the Center for Financial Services Innovation (CFSI) and JPMorgan Chase on the Chicago Nonprofit Fintech Distribution Pilot Program. As one of three non-profits selected in the pilot, LUCHA will expand the options of financial technology (fintech) solutions offered to our clients over the twelve month period. The Program has […]
LUCHA & Elevated Chicago
As a member of Elevated Chicago’s steering committee, LUCHA co-leads the community table of stakeholders activating the area surrounding the Logan Square Blue Line Station. Elevated Chicago, an equitable transit-oriented development (eTOD) initiative working across seven Chicago communities, recently released its Workplan which is an ambitious set of actionable strategies for each of the seven elevated train […]
Partnerships
Can you believe summer is half over already? It’s time to start thinking about back-to-school preparations. To this end, Cradles to Crayons has been a phenomenal community partner. They supply kids–newborns to 12 years old–with clothes, toys, diapers, playpens, books and school supplies. Over the past few months, Cradles to Crayons has created 100 “Kidpacks” which […]
LUCHA @ Fiesta del Sol
LUCHA’s program staff had a great time in the Housing Resource Pavilion at Fiesta del Sol in Pilsen this weekend. In addition to sampling all the delicious food, we enjoyed connecting with current and future homeowners. We gave away vouchers for free credit reports and lots of piggy banks. If you missed us at the […]
Grand Open: Tierra Linda
SAVE THE DATE: Join us for a community celebration to honor Tierra Linda. We’ll provide food, music, a ribbon cutting ceremony, and games – all you need to bring are your family and neighbors! Tierra Linda is LUCHA’s first sustainability-oriented development, bridging affordable housing with green technology for low-income residents of the City of Chicago. […]
Keep Chicago Renting
Back in 2013, LUCHA participated in a citywide coalition which passed the Keep Chicago Renting Ordinance (KCRO) to protect renters impacted by the foreclosure crisis. In 2015, we came together again to increase protections to renters under KCRO. Since the foreclosure crisis, gentrification has been fueling mass evictions throughout Logan Square, Humboldt Park, and the northwest side. Recently, […]
Sandra Puebla, Resident Services VISTA
The Department of Programs is pleased to welcome Sandra Puebla as our new AmeriCorps VISTA – Resident Services Associate for our Resident Services Program. As a Resident Services Associate, Sandra will work with HPR tenants and develop, implement, and evaluate educative and engaging programs around health and wellness, community gardens, and other social activities. She will help conduct monthly barbecues and help strengthen the […]
Alexandra Carl, Law Project Intern
LUCHA is pleased to welcome Alexandra Carl as our Law Project Legal Intern. As the Law Project’s Legal Intern, Alexandra will work with our Law Project Manager, Ana Margarita Irizarry, to address various legal issues facing our clients, including evictions, foreclosures, and homelessness, as well as first-time home buying, real estate closings, and landlord/tenant issues. Alexandra is a native of Carbondale, Illinois […]
Housing Summit 2018
As a leading member of the Puerto Rican Agenda’s Housing Committee, LUCHA, along with Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation, Hispanic Housing Development Corporation, and the Puerto Rican Cultural Center, convened a Housing Summit this month to facilitate discussion and propel the Latino community towards preserving and strengthening housing in our neighborhoods. “I think the housing summit was great in bringing […]
Tierra Linda Tour
LUCHA’s Tierra Linda project reached several key milestones this month. 75% of the project is now complete and 8 of the the 12 buildings – 27 of 36 units – have certificates of occupancy. In fact, 16 units are already occupied by tenants and their families! The the triple-paned windows recently arrived for our 6-unit Passive House, the first of its kind […]
LUCHA kicks off the summer with PlayStreets
On Saturday, June 23rd, LUCHA hosted the 1st of 5 Playstreets celebrations on the 1400 block of N. Artesian Ave. At a Playstreets celebration, the streets are closed off for fun and healthy activities and provide safe places for residents to be outdoors during the summer. Having teamed up with Gads Hill Center, volunteers and staff helped organize […]
National Homeownership Month
As June is National Homeownership Month, we want to thank the lenders, realtors, and banks, who partner with us so we may equip each of the households we serve with a comprehensive network of support as they navigate the ever evolving housing market in a challenging political climate. Check out the video below to see how […]
Resident Services’ welcomes & says ‘goodbye’ to Interns Sandra & Andy
With the warm weather and summer upon us, many non-profits find themselves in a time of transition as interns and volunteers are coming and going between school and travel. LUCHA is no exception. Under the supervision of Emma Epstein, LUCHA’s Supportive Service Counselor, interns serve by assisting with programming, building existing capacity to better serve […]
Executive Director Juan Carlos Linares reflects, post-EcoDistricts Incubator
EcoDistricts works to create just, resilient and sustainable cities, from the neighborhood up. What stood to you about their work and in what ways does that relate to our SPARCC Initiative? JCL – “I think this work fits in perfectly with our SPARCC Initiative, in that our work has really been focused on racial equity, […]
From Hardship to Homecoming: Starting over in Chicago after Hurricane Maria
When Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico in mid-September of 2017, chaos erupted throughout the island as structural damage, loss of clean water and electricity, and delayed disaster relief left many to fend for themselves. For Nashville and her family, Hurricane Maria meant the loss of the home Alexander, her husband, had built for her and […]
Becoming a Homeowner: A Decade in the Making
When Debra Lee first heard about LUCHA, she was initially skeptical that an organization could help her, a single mother, get rid of her debt and one day own her own home. Nearly 11 years after she first attended a First Time Homebuying Workshop, Debra’s life is a testament to the transformative power of perseverance […]
Health & Wellness Fellow Rachael Wilson travels to Planning Conference in New Orleans
Last week, I attended the American Planning Association Conference in New Orleans. I got to reconnect with former classmates from UIUC’s Master of Urban Planning, and I attended many inspiring and informative sessions, and connected with peers from across the country. Below are some highlights of my trip: The most impactful experience for me was attending […]
Fair Housing Act – 50 Years Later – Partner Breakfast Highlights Law Project & SPARCC Initiative
LUCHA’s board treasurer, Muhammad Gigani, graciously hosted a breakfast to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act. We gathered partners in advocacy from across the city to reflect on the collective progress we have made thus far, including our Law Project and SPARCC Initiative, and to encourage one another as we plan for the next 50 years. […]
Springtime! Seedlings planted for community garden with Lowell Elementary students
As the weather warms up and the sun begins to shine, our focus turns to all things green and growing. LUCHA hosted students from Lowell elementary school to plant seeds in egg cartons. Residents, students, and staff planted tomato, string bean, cucumber, and pepper seeds together then cleaned out the garden beds. We’re crossing our fingers […]
Home Repairs help 25-year resident remain in Humboldt Park
When Blanca Rodriguez moved to Humboldt Park 25 years ago, her home was strong and sturdy. Over time, drafty ceilings, faulty doors, and damaged floors all took their toll on her family’s quality of life. “These problems I had with my house affected my life. For a while I worked; I held a daycare for […]
Project Jumpstart Client receives home makeover via Humble Design
This month, LUCHA partnered with Humble Design Chicago, a non-profit organization that helps families transition to stable housing by providing furnishing and design services that transform simple living spaces into welcoming homes. LUCHA Supportive Services Counselor Emma Epstein, whose role includes providing counseling and rental assistance to those affected by domestic and sexual violence, helped a client transition from an […]
LUCHA Celebrates 1st Move-In’s at Tierra Linda
After months of construction, LUCHA is excited to formally announce the completion of Tierra Linda’s first site and welcome its first tenants! Tierra Linda is a sustainability-oriented affordable development, bridging affordable housing with green technology. With staff on hand to welcome three families into their new apartments, the March move-in day was special for several reasons: it celebrated the increase […]
Housing Counseling Updates: March 2018
LUCHA Welcomes New Housing Counselor LUCHA is excited to welcome Leticia Vargas, Housing Counselor as the newest member of our staff. Vargas joins the staff at LUCHA’s Freddie Mac Borrower Help Center and will assist clients achieve financial sustainability and purchase their first homes by providing high-quality education and financial counseling. Prior to starting at […]
Fighting Climate Change through Affordable Housing
Executive Director Juan Carlos Linares recently spoke about LUCHA’s latest affordable housing development Tierra Linda with Yale Climate Connections, a nonpartisan, multimedia service that offers programming focused on issues of climate change. When a sleek, eco-friendly housing development pops up in an urban neighborhood, the natural inclination is to assume that the cost of living […]
Housing Justice
In 2017, LUCHA convened like-minded community organizations to draft the Pilot Act for the Preservation of Affordable Housing, also known as the 606 Residential Area Preservation Ordinance, in order to stabilize the rapidly gentrifying Humboldt Park and Logan Square neighborhoods and keep long-term homeowners and renters in their homes. The Ordinance imposes higher demolition and development fees on developers who want […]
LUCHA collaborates with Freddie Mac; integrates Earn Up tool into Housing Counseling
In collaboration with Freddie Mac, LUCHA integrated the Earn Up platform into our individualized housing counseling to help clients effectively manage their debt. By allowing people to manage all of their loans in one place, including mortgages; student, personal, and auto loans; and credit cards; Earn Up helps participants improve their overall financial health. Interested in learning more […]
LUCHA is Growing!
Join LUCHA in welcoming the newest member of our team, Eduardo Sanchez! Eduardo brings expertise in maintenance, construction, and welding. In addition to ongoing maintenance on each of LUCHA’s 153 affordable housing units, the maintenance team performs repairs to the homes of seniors in our community. Sponsored by the City of Chicago, the Small […]
Drowning in debt? Need to fix your credit? Want to start saving?
Contact Alan Goldberg at (773) 276-5338 ext. 223 or agoldberg@lucha.org today to schedule a private consultation. Through Project Reinvest: Financial Capability (PRFC), LUCHA provides financial capability counseling and coaching to help participants stabilize their finances, rebuild credit, and establish savings. This program is available to individuals seeking financial capability services, regardless of their housing status. […]
2 New Partnerships to greatly enhance LUCHA’s Home Repairs
LUCHA is excited to highlight two partnerships that will enhance our Home Repair work which furthers neighborhood stability by helping families live safely and continue to thrive in their homes. Last June, Associated Bank, a long-standing partner, made an initial investment of $250,000 to fund accessibility repairs to seniors’ homes, repairs on foreclosed homes to maintain the stock of affordable […]
Impact of Tax Bill on Affordable Housing; Executive Director Juan Carlos Linares reflects
“As we hit the ground running in 2018, we must consider the impact of the Tax Bill passed last month by Republicans. The last overhaul of the federal tax code in 1986 created a tax credit meant to encourage the private sector to invest in affordable housing…. …we expect that this tax cut will exacerbate […]
Project Jumpstart makes launches new Financial Empowerment Cohort for 2018
LUCHA’s Project Jumpstart is launching a new Financial Empowerment Cohort for survivors of domestic violence. This collaborative initiative focuses on budgeting, saving, and building credit. Participants will meet bi-monthly as a cohort and engage in individually in one-on-one financial counseling with LUCHA’s housing counselors to work towards financial independence. The Cohort fosters a safe space where survivors […]
LUCHA welcomes new Director of Programs Isaias Solis
On January 8th, LUCHA welcomed Isaias Solis as the Director of Programs – a newly formulated position designed to help coordinate and strengthen LUCHA’s programming. We sat down with Isaias to learn about his transition to the Windy City and this new role. What were you doing prior to working at LUCHA? Where are you […]
LUCHA among leaders at city-wide eTOD Symposium
Civic and community leaders across Chicago convened for A Catalytic Moment: The Transformative Power of Transit-Oriented Development – a Symposium focused on racial equity and Transit Oriented Development. Juan Carlos Linares, our Executive Director, presented on LUCHA’s leadership in a collaborative effort to find creative solutions in the built environment that produce positive outcomes for racial equity, […]
LUCHA Reaches Out to Hurricane Maria Evacuees
In the wake of the devastation to the island of Puerto Rico this fall, communities around the United States have mobilized in response to Hurricane Maria and many, including Chicago, have begun welcoming evacuees to recover, rebuild, and, for many, start a new life. The Humboldt Park Fieldhouse has been designated as the official Hurricane […]
LUCHA welcomes new Senior Property Manager Aviance Dorsey
LUCHA is excited to announce our new Senior Property Manager, Aviance Dorsey. Having grown up in the Humboldt Park neighborhood and owning a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from Northeastern Illinois University, Dorsey brings with her a wealth of community knowledge and is well versed in thriving within demanding environments. With nearly 20 years of experience […]
HCA Director Juliana Gonzalez-Crussi Says ‘Goodbye’
Gonzalez-Crussi, serving as the Director of Housing Counseling and Advocacy since June of 2014, recently accepted the position of Executive Director at the Center for Changing Lives and has transitioning out of her role at LUCHA. Upon departure, she shared these thoughts for her fellow staff members and the LUCHA community. Dear Colleagues, I’d like […]
LUCHA welcomes new Board Member & Development Associate
Trevor Tejada-Gervais – Organizing Director Trevor Tejada-Gervais recently joined the Board of Directors at LUCHA with a decorated career at such a young age. Having previously served as the Southern Arizona Field Director and Central Las Vegas Get Out The Vote Director for President Obama’s reelection campaign and as the White House Intergovernmental Affairs intern in 2013, Tejada-Gervais […]
Tierra Linda Building Updates
LUCHA’s Tierra Linda Project, Illinois’ first multi-family Passive House, is leading the way in sustainable, affordable development. Check out the latest from one of the sites at 1421 N. Artesian Ave! Construction crews recently used a large crane to lower walls into place on top of the foundation. Look through the photos here!
Time Flies When You’re Having Fun!
35 years ago, neighbors who believed that fair and affordable housing was worth fighting for organized in Humboldt Park and LUCHA has been championing housing needs for community residents ever since. Throughout the 1980s, LUCHA developed more than 100 units of affordable rental housingscattered across Humboldt Park and the surrounding neighborhoods on the Northwest side of […]
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