7000 W. 111th Street
Suite 101, Worth, IL 60482
Contact: Jeff Simms
Phone: (708) 430-0428
Fax: (708) 430-0502

About this Region

The Soutwest Region of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago stretches from Evergreen Park and the Beverly neighborhood in the east to Lemont in the west and from Bedford Park south to Orland Hills. Catholic Charities provides comprehensive services to the needy and disadvantaged in the area, including: emergency food and utility assistance, counseling, employment services, parenting and childcare, food supplements, and housing. All our programs are designed to work with the strengths of our clients to aid them in becoming self-sufficient again. Working together, we can create a brighter future. If you need assistance or would like to get involved, contact the Regional Office at (708) 430-0428.

Opening of St. Francis Residence in Palos Park

On August 7, 2009, Catholic Charities dedicated its latest affordable senior apartment building, St. Francis of Assisi Residence. This building is just the latest step taken by Catholic Charities to fight poverty among older populations in Cook County. The new building, located at 12218 South Will-Cook Road on the Holy Family Villa Campus, contains 81 one-bedroom apartments for seniors and is Catholic Charities' 17th such residence. It is the first affordable senior residence built in the southwest suburbs.

The lack of affordable housing is a significant factor causing poverty among seniors. The problem begins with limited income for seniors. Forty percent of Americans will experience a year below the poverty line at some point between the ages of 60 and 90. More over, housing costs often drain a disproportionate amount of the income of seniors. Seventy percent of the area's rent burdened population is seniors, and it is estimated that 44 percent of elderly homeowners and renters pay more than 50 percent of their incomes for housing costs. The overall effect is that housing costs are one of the largest contributing factors to the existence of poverty among the elderly.

St. Francis of Assisi Residence was built mostly with funding from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Section 202 Program, which provides funds for affordable housing development for low-income elderly people. Projects funded by HUD Section 202 provide a Service Coordinator who assists residents in accessing the services they need in order to remain independent. These include state-funded services such as homemakers, home-delivered meals, and transportation.

To be eligible to live in the building, residents have to be 62 years of age or older, be a one person household, and must have less than $26,400 of yearly income. Applicants also undergo a criminal background check and credit check. No household placed in any of the affordable housing developments is required to pay more than 30% of their income toward rent and utilities.

Catholic Charities is proud of this new project aiding our senior population in the suburbs. If you or someone you know is interested in living at St. Francis of Assisi Residence, please call (312) 655-7440.

Download our Summer 2009 Newsletter

Regional Service Sites

View Larger Map