West Englewood apartment building rehabbed to house people with HIV/AIDS
West Englewood apartment building rehabbed to house people with HIV/AIDS Chicago Sun-Times
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A Renovated Apartment Building in West Englewood to House Families Living with HIV
A renovated apartment building in West Englewood opened on Tuesday, providing housing for 13 families living with HIV. The apartment building, Englewood Family Homes, is owned by the Chicago House and Social Services Agency. This agency will not only provide housing but also programming for the families.
Elected officials and community members tour the renovated Englewood Family Homes on West 63rd Street on Tuesday. Chicago House is aiming to receive a certificate of occupancy from the city in July.
Peyton Reich/Sun-Times
Providing Comprehensive Support for Families
The Chicago House and Social Services Agency offers families living with HIV assistance with housing, employment, and health. This includes career exploration, skills development, and free rapid HIV, syphilis, and Hepatitis-C screenings. The agency aims to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being, by eliminating the spread of new HIV infections and providing housing for those in need. Their mission is to empower individuals living with or vulnerable to HIV/AIDS to lead healthy and dignified lives through housing and client-centered support services. Additionally, the agency provides support to LGBTQ+, poor, and unhoused individuals in areas such as health, employment, and through their TransLife Care Program.
Funding and Partnerships
The Englewood Family Homes project has been in progress since the fall of 2019 and was made possible through funding from the Illinois Housing Development Authority, Chicago Department of Housing, and the J.B. and M.K. Pritzker Foundation. Ongoing support for the project will be provided by the Chicago Housing Authority and the AIDS Foundation of Chicago.
Renovated Housing Units
The Chicago House rehabbed the housing units in Englewood Family Homes, creating nine two-bedroom units and four three-bedroom units. Each unit is equipped with a kitchen, bathroom, living room, and dining room.
Chicago House created nine two-bedroom units and four three-bedroom units, each with a kitchen, bathroom, living room, and dining room.
Peyton Reich/Sun-Times
Additional Facilities and Community Support
In addition to housing, the building will also provide office space for a team managing nearly 500 residential spaces for people living with HIV and experiencing homelessness. The basement will be used for community activities, and the fenced-in backyard has playground equipment for children.
Addressing High Rates of HIV Infection in Englewood
The Englewood community continues to face high rates of HIV infection and new cases compared to the city’s overall average. Howard Brown Health is currently treating 1,262 people living with HIV at its Englewood location. Englewood Family Homes will serve as a valuable resource for residents seeking to limit the spread of HIV/AIDS and provide support for those who have been infected.
Partnerships and Approvals
The Chicago House is awaiting further approval from the city Department of Buildings before filling the spaces in Englewood Family Homes. The agency hopes to receive a certificate of occupancy by July. Interested residents must apply through the Chicago Housing Authority once the approval is granted. Families will be required to contribute 30 percent of their income towards housing costs, or if they have no income, the cost will be covered by Chicago House.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | Target 3.3: By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases, and other communicable diseases | Indicator not mentioned in the article |
| SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe, and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums | Indicator not mentioned in the article |
| SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships | Indicator not mentioned in the article |
Explanation:
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- The article discusses the housing and programming provided by the Chicago House and Social Services Agency for families living with HIV. This aligns with SDG 3, which aims to ensure good health and well-being for all.
- The specific target under SDG 3 that can be identified is Target 3.3, which aims to end the epidemics of AIDS and combat other communicable diseases.
- No specific indicators are mentioned or implied in the article to measure progress towards Target 3.3.
- The article discusses the renovation of an apartment building in West Englewood to provide housing for families living with HIV. This aligns with SDG 11, which aims to ensure access to adequate, safe, and affordable housing.
- The specific target under SDG 11 that can be identified is Target 11.1, which aims to ensure access for all to adequate, safe, and affordable housing and upgrade slums.
- No specific indicators are mentioned or implied in the article to measure progress towards Target 11.1.
- The article mentions the partnerships between the Chicago House and Social Services Agency, Illinois Housing Development Authority, Chicago Department of Housing, J.B. and M.K. Pritzker Foundation, Chicago Housing Authority, and the AIDS Foundation of Chicago. This aligns with SDG 17, which aims to promote effective partnerships for sustainable development.
- The specific target under SDG 17 that can be identified is Target 17.17, which aims to encourage and promote effective partnerships between different sectors.
- No specific indicators are mentioned or implied in the article to measure progress towards Target 17.17.
Source: chicago.suntimes.com
