10 Ways You Helped Make an Impact in 2015!

Happy New Year! October 1st launched a new fiscal year for H.O.M.E. and we said goodbye to 2015.

The work we did last year would not have been possible without the help of our network of donors, volunteers, and partner. Your time, treasure, and talent meant a great deal to us! We would not be able to do the work we do without your philanthropy.

Here are 10 ways your support of H.O.M.E. helped make an impact.

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1. You helped seniors move to their new homes
   • Since the Program was relaunched in April of 2014, the Moving Program has assisted 66 seniors move 
2. You helped keep seniors’ homes safe
   • Our Upkeep & Repair Program performed 698 repairs, of which 324 were emergency repairs, in 166 low-income senior households
3. You supported an intergenerational community
   • Our Intergenerational Housing Program provided affordable housing to 80 residents between the ages of 9 months to 91 years old. Over 250 volunteers helped do spring cleaning, run activities, and provide homecooked meals on weekends.
4. You sent Bruce and Ethan to their first Cubs Game
   • Our executive Director Bruce and youngest resident Ethan attended their first Chicago Cubs game with a group of Good Life Senior Living Residents. This year we provided a number of outings for our seniors, including: Bahai Temple in Wilmette, Chicago History Museum, Target, Museum of Science and Industry.
5. You helped us purchase two new vans
   • In November, H.O.M.E. was awarded a $20,000 matching gift from a foundation to launch a vehicle replacement plan. As part of a five-year plan and because of the generosity of the Service Club of Chicago, new donors, and donors like you who committed to give above their annual gifts, the first year of the matching challenge was fulfilled and we were able to purchase a new van for our Upkeep & Repair Program and the Pat Crowley House!
6. You supported a Marathon Runner
   • Bruce’s nephew, Andrew, ran the Chicago Marathon and raised money for H.O.M.E. Not only did Andrew exceed his fundraising goal of $4,500, he inspired a community of supporters!
7. You helped seniors access pharmacies and grocery stores
   • The Shopping Bus Program provided 3,156 shopping trips to grocery stores and pharmacies for seniors living in isolation or food deserts
8. You helped us go green
   • With the help of Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County Incorporated (CEDA) we have made some eco-friendly improvements to our buildings. They have helped us by:

• Replacing the two existing boilers with 94% efficient boilers
• Replacing the air conditioning system at Nathalie Salmon House
• Installing a new on-demand hot water heater
• Providing two new refrigerators and three new freezers, all of which are energy efficient
• Furnishing and install new smoke detectors and CO detectors

9. You helped encourage our seniors to get active
   • As part of our celebration of Older Americans Month, H.O.M.E. residents celebrated spring at a social at Nathalie Salmon House, complete with games, snacks, music, and dancing. In March, our housing staff implemented a weekly 30-minute class that takes place in the community rooms on the first floor of the Nathalie Salmon House.
10. You helped us provide training for incoming geriatric professionals

• In the field of aging services, the need for developing skills of emerging leaders is particularly essential. H.O.M.E. helps cultivate that expertise by hosting first-year graduate social work interns from the University of Chicago's School of Social Service Administration. These interns work with the residents of our Good Life Senior  Residences at Nathalie Salmon House and Pat Crowley House in both one-to-one and group settings, providing counseling, case management,  and activities. In addition, students from Loyola’s Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing and University of Illinois at Chicago School of Medicine work with our residents as part of their clinical experience. 

Thank you again for your support in 2015! We couldn't have done it without you.

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The work we do here at H.O.M.E. would not be possible without the help of donors like you! We hope you will continue to support us in 2016. Every donation will support H.O.M.E.’s activities to help low-income seniors in Chicago remain safe, healthy, and independent.

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