Armed with a vision of reducing vacant lots, reactivating abandoned residential structures and taking on some high commercial vacancy, developer VOA Illinois created a grand plan to make a difference in one urban Chicago neighborhood. Hope Manor Village is comprised of 36 new scattered site infill homes built on 16 lots that VOA purchased from the city for $1 each. Residences are affordable to households earning 15-60 percent of Area Median Income and rental assistance with the Chicago Low‐Income Housing Trust Fund MAUI Program provides subsidies for 10 units. Hope Manor Village replaces abandoned and foreclosed homes with high-quality affordable rental opportunities for Englewood residents and individuals and families (veteran preference). This development focuses on revitalizing both the infrastructure and aesthetics of the 10 surrounding blocks of Hope Manor II. Completed in 2021, 16 vacant lots are now home to 36 apartment units in a series of 2- and 3-flat buildings. Nine units are designed to support physically disabled and/or other special needs and will target the Veteran population. Residents have access to services including case management, counseling, peer support groups, financial literacy classes, health and wellness support, employment support and crisis intervention support.
This community was spearheaded by the Volunteers of America Illinois and Volunteers of America National Services. NEF invested just over $10 million of LIHTC equity into the development.
Hope Manor Village was the overall winner in Affordable Housing Finance’s annual Readers’ Choice Awards for the nation’s top developments of 2020 and 2021.
