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Interfaith House Stands On Solid Foundation With the Support of Freeborn

Interfaith House has purchased the building it has occupied for the past 16 years, located at 3456 W. Franklin Boulevard, in Chicago.  The former nursing home serves as a 64-bed site for interim housing and care for indigent adults after their release from local hospitals.  Freeborn & Peters’ pro bono team assisted Interfaith House in completing the transaction. 

Helen N. Baker, a Partner in Freeborn's Corporate and Litigation Practice Groups, who also serves as Board President of Interfaith House, points to the purchase as a milestone for the organization.  “I am so grateful that my colleagues at Freeborn & Peters have been enthusiastic supporters of Interfaith House for many years, from employee contributions on Friday “jeans charity days” to the firm’s support of the annual fundraiser, and that my partners have been eager to contribute their legal skills to make this happen,” said Ms. Baker.  Aside from Ms. Baker, the Freeborn legal team for the transaction included Partners Jordan H. Peters, Mitchell A. Carrel, Robert M. Baratta, Jr. and paralegal, Kimberly L. Zahour.   

Interfaith House provides a healing environment and resources to help ill and injured homeless adults restore their health, rebuild their lives and regain self sufficiency.  When its residents are ready to return to independent living, Interfaith House’s housing advocates assist them to find permanent housing opportunities.  Since opening its doors in 1994, Interfaith House has served more than 6,000 homeless men and women.   

“Interfaith House is as unique as it is necessary,” said Alderman Walter Burnett, Jr., of Chicago’s 27th Ward.  “By providing essential housing and health services, hundreds of homeless adults find a way to permanently end their homelessness.  They address a gap in homeless services that formerly caused many hundreds of individuals suffering from chronic health concerns to continuously cycle in and out of homelessness.  Now, thanks to Interfaith House and their inventive, proven successful programming, these individuals can leave homelessness behind for good.”   

The purchase of the facility strengthens the organization’s financial picture, and thus future stability, during a time when many not-for-profit organizations are cutting back or even shutting their doors.  Alderman Burnett, for one, wholeheartedly supports the strengthening of Interfaith House’s future.  “The 27th Ward, as well as all Wards in Chicago, are positively affected by Interfaith House.  The rates of hospital emergency room usage decrease by all who enter Interfaith House programming.  Their inventive wrap-around services are designed to keep their clients both independently housed and engaged with medical professionals, Interfaith House provides a proven system for ending homeless recidivism among the ill and injured homeless of Chicago.”