Welcoming Our Neighbor:

Building Community and Creating Opportunity

Welcoming Our Neighbor links families who are moving out of housing projects and into Opportunity area communities with churches in their new communities.

The program is a partnership between Protestants for the Common Good and the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Office for Peace and Justice. Welcoming Our Neighbor is intended to help relocating families to become a part of their new community. Churches introduce the families to their new neighborhoods, and help answer questions, access services, and meet basic material needs (although it is not recommended that churches provide direct financial assistance). Most importantly, perhaps, church members serve as social and personal connections for families who, in many cases, were forced to abandon their own networks when they moved out of the housing projects and into opportunity areas.

Since the program’s inception in May 2003, we have linked over 50 relocating families with churches in 20+ Chicago neighborhoods and 30+ suburbs.

If you think you or your congregation might like to participate in Welcoming Our Neighbor, contact Kara Breems at 312.223.9544 x232 for more information.

Click here for a Bulletin Announcement you can use/adapt to recruit volunteers in your congregation.