Introducing The Neighborhood Bridge
The Neighborhood Bridge volunteers tour the St. Catherine-St. Lucy Rectory.
About a year ago, Father Carl Morello, pastor of the Oak Park Catholic parishes, put together a team of parishioners to study the feasibility of creating a Human Services Center in the former St. Catherine-St. Lucy (SCSL) rectory. Much has happened since then!
Some 20 public forums have taken place at various houses of worship in Oak Park, River Forest, and Forest Park. The team has grown to include volunteers with expertise in development, governance, finance, marketing, and communications. The project is now an official nonprofit called the Neighborhood Bridge.
Phase 1 of the plan is to raise an initial $100,000 to renovate the lower level of the rectory and hire an Executive Director to launch services by August 2024. Phase II will be to raise an additional $1 million to renovate the entire building and make it ADA-compliant.
The location of the SCSL rectory at Austin and Washington Boulevards, with easy access to public transportation, makes it an ideal location for a Human Services Center. In our surveys, families at SCSL and in Austin told us the lack of access to primary and mental health care, financial counseling, housing support, and job training is a source of stress and challenge. Human services providers have indicated that providing their services in this location will increase access to residents in the area. They also welcome the opportunity to collaborate on-site with other nonprofits.
Once the building is fully renovated, we will have rooms for individual counseling, group space, and support office infrastructure such as WIFI, a printer, a copier, and so on. Some providers will be on-site a day or two each week. Participants can also be referred to providers at off-site locations. The center will offer a simple and easy way for families to be connected to the right organization to meet their needs.
Interested in volunteering with The Neighborhood Bridge? Complete the volunteer form here.
Interested in donating to our nonprofit? Get more information here.