Affordable Housing in Arlington Square

Arlington Square, an affordable housing complex, is set to rise in Arlington Heights.

Developed by the nonprofit A Community of Friends, it will have 47 units for homeless individuals living with mental illness, as well as disabled veterans and people living with HIV/AIDS.

It is located at 1553 S. Arlington Avenue and slated for completion in March 2017.

“At a time where there is a heightened urgency to address the homelessness crisis that permeates our communities, we need to lift up the solutions,” Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas said during the groundbreaking ceremony. “And the solution is high quality housing with wrap-around services.”

Tenants can stay either in a 400-sq. ft. studio apartment or in a 500-sq. ft. one-bedroom apartment, all equipped with energy efficient appliances, and dining and bedroom furniture.

The four-story contemporary-style building will also have a community room, a television/lounge area, fitness center, picnic and barbecue area, laundry rooms, and a lushly landscaped courtyard.

Aside from those amenities, tenants can take advantage of supportive services, free of charge. They will have a case manager, services coordinator, life skills classes and group activities.

Supervisor Ridley-Thomas stressed the need to continue taking people off the streets and into housing. Since taking office, he has supported the creation of 2,000 affordable housing units in the Second District alone, and 900 more units are in development.

He said the Board of Supervisors is committed to better leveraging County resources in the fight against homelessness.

“We’ve opened 1,600 winter shelter beds early to prepare for El Nino, and called for $15 million to rapidly rehouse over 500 adults and 275 homeless families,” Supervisor Ridley-Thomas said. “We’re also rolling out four ‘street engagement teams’ to house 200 individuals now living on Skid Row, and continuing to support the Housing for Health program, which takes frequent users of the County’s health facilities and places them into permanent housing.”