The Pat Crowley House is a Special Place, Just Ask Myra and Rufus the Turtle

From the outside the Pat Crowley House looks like your standard Chicago apartment building nestled away on a quiet street, but the minute you enter the doors of this unassuming Edgewater building, you immediately get the sense that this place is really special.

The Pat Crowley House is the birthplace of H.O.M.E.'s intergenerational housing model. It’s been a refuge, home, and source lasting friendships for low-income seniors, young adults of all backgrounds, and families with children since 1983.

One of those seniors is Myra.

Myra moved into the Pat Crowley House 11 years ago to be closer to her family on the north side. PCH checked all of Myra’s boxes. It was a small community in a beautiful neighborhood. "I got lucky when I moved in here," she said, and "everywhere else had a waitlist at the time." When asked to describe her experience at PCH in three words or phrases, Myra said "Peaceful, a learning experience, a chance to explore"

Myra has always looked out for other residents, offering hot cups of tea and helping out wherever she can. She is also out and about and attends group outings and Community Nights.

"Myra basically runs this place" the Good Life Coordinator at PCH jokes. “She's so engrained in our community - she even gave me the heads up about street cleaning days when I first started."

It’s no surprise then that one day Myra decided to take on caring for the PCH pets: Rufus the Turtle, and the fish, named Fishies. Rufus originally belonged to a family that lived in the third floor apartment, but when they moved out they didn’t want to move Rufus too far so they moved his tank into the common room on the first floor, and that has been his home ever since.

Every morning Myra likes to sit in the common room, look out the window at the tree-lined street, read some articles online, and head over to feed Rufus and hang out with him for a little bit. Myra explained that she welcomed the opportunity to care for Rufus – and not just because someone’s got to do it. It’s who she is.

Myra stepping up to take care of Rufus the turtle is just one of the many ways the residents of Pat Crowley House take care of one another.

Asked what her favorite part of living at PCH is, Myra replied "all of the different personalities that live here." It truly is a one-of-a kind community!

Later this month H.O.M.E. is participating in Give65, a 65-hour online giving event exclusively focused on seniors. Our goal for Give65 is to raise $15,000 for Pat Crowley House renovations and accessibility improvements!

As a bonus we are eligible for a $5,000 maximum dollar-for-dollar match from the Home Instead Senior Care Foundation AND competing for an additional $10,000 award, so your support will go even further!

Our success depends on working together as a H.O.M.E. team! You can start scheduling your gifts for Give65 today! Will you consider making a special gift for Give65?

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