Home Repairs - The Volunteer Network

Although the Volunteer Network is known for building new homes, Neighborhood Revitalization (NRP), a program of the Chicago Area Volunteer Network, addresses the need for more adequate housing and healthier living conditions through home repair and community engagement. Neighborhood Revitalization (NRP) programs include A Brush with Kindness (ABWK) and Critical Home Repair (CHR). NRP helps ensure that families are living in safe and maintained homes.

Through our home repair program, the Chicago Volunteer Network works to revitalize neighborhoods, eliminate sub-standard housing, improve energy efficiency, protect the homeowners financial investment, restore pride of ownership and keep low-income homeowners in their houses.

We accept applications and reach out to neighborhood organizations to identify low-income, hardworking families whose homes are in need of repair, typically seniors, disabled, veterans, and single-parent families.

We partner with the City of Chicago and a mix of generous organizations to raise the funds to provide help with home repairs for low income families. We also provide opportunities for caring volunteer groups to assist homeowners in completing repair.

WHY IT MATTERS

Critical home repairs benefit the family living in the home, the neighborhood where they live, and our entire community.

Home repair is important to homeowners because it

Ensures families are living in safe and well maintained homes.
Prevents families from being displaced from their homes and forced into transitional housing or shelters.
Protects families' financial investments.
Restores the homeowners' dignity and pride of homeownership.

Home repair is important to communities because it

Revitalizes neighborhoods.
Preserves the history and culture of neighborhoods while implementing sustainable improvements.
Inspires neighborhood inhabitants to reinvest in their communities.
Protects Chicago's stock affordable housing.

To qualify for the Chicago Volunteer Network's home repair program, you must meet certain qualifications:

The home must be an owner-occupied, single-family house and is your primary residence.
The home must be located within the fully annexed, corporate city limits of Chicago.
You must have homeowner's insurance and keep the property insured against loss or damage. This requirement may be waived for applicants earning 30% or below Median Family Income.
The necessary repairs must fit within the scope of service offered by the Volunteer Network.
Your total household income must be 60% or below Median Family income.
You have not received assistance from any other city-funded repair program within the past 3 years.
You must be current on all property taxes and debt to the City of Chicago OR have an active repayment plan OR proof of deferral.
You must be current on all mortgage payments without being at risk of bankruptcy or foreclosure.

For more information about our Home Repair Program, please contact the Homeowner Relations Department at (618) 465-4545.

FAMILY SIZE	MINIMUM INCOME	MAXIMUM INCOME
1	$18,800	$32,250
2	$18,800	$36,850
3	$20,750	$41,450
4	$24,250	$46,080
5	$28,400	$49,750
6	$32,500	$53,450
7	$36,750	$57,150
8	$40,900	$60,850

The table above outlines the minimum and maximum income qualifications according to your household size.