RENEW COMMUNITIES NFP

MATTHEW HOMES - RENEW IS A NONPROFIT CORPORATION SEEKING TO PROMOTE AND ACCELERATE REVITALIZATION IN THE CITY OF NORTH CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, THROUGH ITS ATTAINABLE HOUSING PROGRAM, CALLED MATTHEW HOMES. RENEW'S GOAL IS TO INCREASE ATTAINABLE HOME OWNERSHIP FOR 300 FAMILIES AND ENCOURAGE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY. TO DATE, RENEW HAS FACILITATED THE PURCHASE AND COMPLETION OF MORE THAN TWO DOZEN MATTHEW HOMES AND WORK IS UNDERWAY ON 13 MORE (3 RENOVATIONS AND 10 NEW BUILDS). RENEW HAS ALSO BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY TO PUT IN PLACE PROCESSES AND AN OPERATING STRUCTURE THAT WILL SUPPORT A SIGNIFICANT ACCELERATION OF OUR MATTHEW HOMES PROGRAM OVER THE NEXT 3 YEARS, ALLOWING THE ORGANIZATION TO RAMP UP PROPERTY ACQUISITIONS, RENOVATIONS AND NEW CONSTRUCTION. RENEW'S NEWLY BUILT HOMES HAVE BEEN DESIGNED BY LEADING EXPERTS AND FEATURE FULL BASEMENTS, 3 BEDROOMS, 2 FULL BATHROOMS AND A 2 CAR GARAGE. RENEW HAS A SIGNIFICANT MATTHEW HOMES OUTREACH PROGRAM, ATTRACTING QUALITY AND EXPERT VOLUNTEERS FROM THE COMMUNITY, AREA CHURCHES AND BUSINESSES. THE MATTHEW HOMES TEAM ALSO WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE CITY OF NORTH CHICAGO STAFF, LOCAL CONTRACTORS AND THIRD-PARTY HOUSING ORGANIZATIONS IN THE ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT OF VIABLE PROPERTIES. RENEW CONTINUES TO DEVELOP PARTNERSHIPS TO ASSIST IN WORKER SKILL DEVELOPMENT FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS INTERESTED IN CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYMENT. RENEW'S PARTNERSHIP WITH A NON-PROFIT LICENSED HOME LENDING ORGANIZATION MAKES HOME OWNERSHIP ATTAINABLE BY PROVIDING COMPETITIVE LENDING TERMS FOR BORROWERS WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE HAVE LIMITED FINANCING OPTIONS.RENEW BELIEVES THAT PROVIDING FAMILIES WITH ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOMES COMBINED WITH A QUALITY SCHOOL SYSTEM IS INTEGRAL TO RETAINING AND ATTRACTING ENGAGED FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY. THEREFORE, LEADERS OF RENEW'S MATTHEW HOMES PROGRAM IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, WHO IS ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN DEVELOPING QUALITY PROGRAMS, ATTRACTING GREAT TEACHERS AND STAFF AND WORKING TO INSPIRE STUDENTS AND BUILD STRONG COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS.