Housing Opportunities and Maintenance for the Elderly

Called to get a new toilet for my dad who is 82 years of age because the floor is deteriorating due to leaky pipe on toilet and was told by Mike that he only has three people working and they could do nothing to help. That's it! So do you pick and choose who you assist? Not a good look!!

I am a Young Professionals Board (YPB) member of HOME and I must say that I have enjoyed every minute of my time spent as a part of this nonprofit. The work that we do to serve our Chicago senior citizens and how we execute the goals that we strategically decide upon throughout the year is excellent. There is a very warm atmosphere amount all the HOME YPB members, staff, volunteers, and employees that really fuels our passion to serve our residents and grow this nonprofit to its full potential. I am happy, thankful, and proud to be a part of HOME and encourage anyone to find out more information about how you can get involved by visiting their website at http://www.homeseniors.org

H.O.M.E. is a small non-profit with a big heart and more importantly large impact on the community that it services. With intergenerational subsidized housing at the core of it's services, HOME literally provides older adults in Chicagoland with a place to live as well as support many others with services they need to stay in their homes. HOME helps keep the city of Chicago great and I am fortunate to a part of HOME's community.

This is my second year with H.O.M.E. as a handyman's assistant. I was placed here by the Ignatian Volunteer Corps. I help the handymen make repairs for poor and elderly homeowners. We do things like restore heating and make electrical and plumbing repairs. Although the work is difficult, I experience great satisfaction in knowing that I have helped restore some level of comfort and dignity to the homeowner. I plan to continue here as long as I am able.

Our campus ministry (Agape/Ecclesia) serves with H.O.M.E. each week. The students from Loyola help lead a bible study, clean, and share meals with the residences. Our congregation has greatly been enriched by sharing fellowship with the residents of H.O.M.E. The staff is professional and truly care for the residents and the volunteers. It is an encouragement to see organizations that are committed to caring for the elderly and meeting the needs of so many in Chicago.

I've set up volunteer days with our company for the past four years with HOME, and we've both had fun as a group and felt like we made a positive impact in the community. Mike Laz at the organization is easy to work with, he meets us on site, introduces us to the client, and gets us acquainted with the work.

Great opportunity for company team building or just gathering a group of folks for a half day volunteer event.

We've done both painting and winterizing windows.

We have served with HOME for over 10 years, on a yearly service trip to Chicago from Minneapolis. Our high school students and volunteers love getting to meet and hear the stories of the people whose homes they get to winterize. It's a blessing for these students to interact with these dear folks!

I have been on the board for several years and am impressed by what our "clients" feel for the care they are getting from H.O.M.E.

H.O.M.E is definitely filling a void by giving low income Seniors a life worth living

I have been volunteering in H.O.M.E.'s Pat Crowley House in Rodger's Park twice a month for about a year now, and all I can say is that I would wish to be nowhere else. I can see through the passion and care, as well as careful expertise, put into the daily operations by everyone within the house that this is truly a special place. I have come to love all of the residents and staff I have been working with, and I know that I am so grateful that such an organization exists to help those in such need.

I have been involved with H.O.M.E. since it was merely a spark of an idea to Michael Salmon, then a member The Little Brothers of the Poor [an organization that my father helped bring to Chicago from France]. He clearly saw a need for a service that did exactly what the acronym of its name means: to provide Housing Opportunities and Maintenance for the Elderly. The organization that Michael and his wife Lilo brought into being, with the generous support of the Little Brothers, has grown wonderfully in the subsequent years through the efforts of hundreds of volunteers, dedicated staff an generous donors. Very much following in the spirit of the Little Brothers' motto (flowers before bread), the people of H.O.M.E. provide dignity and compassion along with finding housing, dealing with the CHA, finding furniture, painting, shopping AND friendship for myriad elderly in Chicago. They serve as a model community in the successful practice of intergenerational living in the Nathalie Salmon House in Rogers Park that is nearing its 20th anniversary.

H.O.M.E. does what no other nonprofit in Chicago does -- it goes into THE POOREST neighborhoods of the city to help the lowest income seniors with transportation and home repairs so that they can stay healthy and continue living safety in the community. EVEN BETTER, H.O.M.E. provides intergenerational, subsidized housing so that isolated seniors can live out their lives in a family setting, getting both any assistance they may need and also the warmth and companionship of people of all ages. Every dollar donated goes a LONG, LONG way.

H.O.M.E. provides essentials housing services to older adults in the Chicagoland area. As a former staff member there, I met so many individuals and families with stories to share of where they had been and where they might have been if H.O.M.E. hadn't come into their lives. H.O.M.E.'s intergenerational living model, in which younger adults live and help to prepare meals and assist older adults living in the same building is truly inspirational and enriching. Unfortunately, due to it's small size and the tremendous need of their clientele, H.O.M.E. tends to give far more than they receive and as such, are fiercely in need of support. If you're seeking to support a small organization with enormous heart, look to H.O.M.E.

I am currently interning with H.O.M.E. and feel truly privileged to play a role in this organization. They are a truly unique non-profit making a difference in the lives of low-income seniors in the city of Chicago. My experience with the staff has been a joy.

A volunteer I'm driving the elderly to doctor's appt.,atores and hospital's. I am a handyman when needed for jobes around HOME. I hear people sa how glad they were that they decided to come to H.O.M.E.. Everyone cares, the intergenerational living with others dose not bother them and it makes life interesting.

I have been a volunteer at HOME for about a year now. I have worked in the field of homes and services for the aging for more than 13 years. HOME serves older adults on the south and west sides of Chicago who are most often experiencing the highest level of financial distress and are in significant need of support through affordable housing, home maintenance services,and assistance with moving. When I visited one of our apartment buildings I was moved by the residents I met and impressed with the staff. I am proud to be a supporter of HOME as it is truly worthy of philanthropic support.

I have known residents, staff, volunteers who have been involved with HOME. All are impressed with the concept of intergenerational living and of the quality of care offered to those who are elderly. My mother was involved in the founding of HOME and always supported it during her lifetime. I continue to do so through volunteer work.

I was honored to be associated with HOME for three years. The organization, the leadership and most importantly, the dedicated staff, is dedicated to bringing the highest degree of services to the our most needy seniors. It is a great organizaton.

H.O.M.E. is the only agency in the City of Chicago that is dedicated to providing programing to assist the inner-city elderly to "Age with Dignity". H.O.M.E.'s program and dedicated staff help seniors remain independent and active members of their community. Citywide support services include: Upkeep and Repair Services, Free Shopping tranportation services, intergenerational housing and volunteer services. As the population continues to age, the needs of this population will continue to grow.