Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights launched an employer-assisted housing program that will help employees buy homes in the northwest suburbs, closer to their jobs.
Employees of Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights will soon have powerful new reasons to be pleased with their jobs.
When that company's employer-assisted housing program gets off the ground later this year, they will have the opportunity to apply for a $5,000 grant to help them buy homes close to their jobs.
"We're very excited about our new program that will help our employees buy homes in the northwest suburbs," said Mark Lusson, Northwest Community Healthcare vice president. "It's good for the hospital to have our employees close by, and we know homeownership is a benefit employees want." Northwest Community Healthcare rolled out the program after working with the Metropolitan Planning Council and the North West Housing Partnership for several months on its design.
Lusson added that helping employees live closer to work would benefit everyone — shorter commutes mean less tardiness and absenteeism for the hospital, and less unnecessary time away from their families for employees. The hospital's patients benefit as well: it is helpful to have workers nearby in cases of emergency.
Any employee who has been with Northwest Community Hospital for at least a year, works full-time and earns less than $70,500 (based on the Chicago region's area median income for a household of four) can submit an eligibility application. This year the hospital has allocated funds to provide up to 10 people with up to $5,000 each for down payment assistance. In addition to financial assistance, Lusson said, the North West Housing Partnership, an area housing organization, will provide financial and homebuyer counseling, assisting hospital employees along the way to achieving homeownership.
"We can help you clean up your credit, if that's what you need," said Donna Thomas, executive director of the North West Housing Partnership. "Or we can help you work on budgeting to save more money for down payment. And, if you just need help finding the right home, we can offer some tips on how to make sure you get what you want."
Samantha DeKoven from the Metropolitan Planning Council congratulated Mark on his new program and shared the Council's enthusiasm about this new program. She also explained that the State of Illinois has made available matching funds which can potentially double the hospital's down payment assistance, providing a hospital employee up to $10,000 toward down payment.
For more information on employer-assisted housing programs visit www.metroplanning.org, or contact Samantha DeKoven, housing associate, Metropolitan Planning Council, at 312-863-6021 or sdekoven@metroplanning.org.