Take Root Chicago

Take Root Chicago is a consortium of community organizations, neighborhoods groups, HUD-certified housing counseling agencies, realtors, and lenders working to promote sustainable homeownership in Chicago. Take Root Chicago members offer free or low-cost services that can help you buy, keep, or fix a home.

BUY

Before looking at property listings or reaching out to a realtor or a lender, Take Root Chicago recommends that you begin with homebuyer education provided by a HUD-approved housing counseling agency, such as the Chicago Urban League’s Housing & Financial Empowerment Center. Homeownership specialists provide free and/or low-cost, reliable and confidential assistance that will help you determine your readiness and make sure you start the path to homeownership on the right foot.

KEEP

Are you worried about getting behind on your mortgage? Have you already missed a mortgage payment? Take Root Chicago members provide free and confidential resources to help you stay in your home and avoid foreclosure.

Bank Foreclosure is a legal process by which a lender takes ownership of the mortgaged property and sells it to pay a defaulting borrower’s debt. Foreclosure can be devastating to your finances and your credit, and it can make it more difficult and more expensive to borrow in the future. Homeownership specialists at the Chicago Urban League or other nonprofit organizations can help you understand your options, and determine what next steps are right for you.

FIX

Are you looking for ways to improve your home or make repairs? Are you trying to keep up with basic home maintenance such as weatherization, plumbing maintenance, furnace checks or cleaning gutters, windows and chimneys? Our specialists can connect you to financing resources to help you keep your home in good shape over time.