Vincentians Construct Affordable Home In Chicago

WEST CHICAGO—Members of the Joliet diocesan council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul watched and applauded as Bishop Stanley G. Schlarman cut the ceremonial ribbon, marking the opening of the new affordable housing development for senior citizens in DuPage County.

Bishop Schlarman congratulated the society for their efforts in the creation of the new facility.

Situated in residential West Chicago, the 16,000-square-foot, two-story apartment complex features 17 one-bedroom apartment units as well as a parlor for residents along with a community craft room, laundry room and kitchen, said John Beaty, president of the Joliet diocesan council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. “We’ve spared no expense” to make the building safe, he added, talking about onsite security controls and systems in every apartment for instant communication with emergency services.

Addressing the people gathered for the dedication ceremony, Beaty praised the members of the society’s building committee as well as representatives from the city, state and county for their assistance. Obtaining the financial backing for the enterprise took nearly a decade, he said, noting that the society raised one-third of the funds for the $2.5 million project and garnered the remainder from representatives from DuPage County and the state of Illinois.

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