Claretian Associates | HAC | Community Development

2026 Claretian Associates | HAC | Community Development

The Affordable Housing and Community Development VISTA will serve with Claretian Associates in Chicago, IL, from September . Claretian Associates is part of Housing Action Corps, an Ameri Corps VISTA program managed by Housing Action Illinois since 2010. Housing Action Corps members receive custom training, support, and networking opportunities in housing and community development, in addition to the traditional benefits of Ameri Corps VISTA.

Learn more: housingactionil.org/americorps. Claretian Associates is a community development corporation that serves the community of South Chicago and surrounding areas by focusing on the three pillars of housing, convening and violence prevention. Claretian Associates’ carries out its mission with a rich and collaborative tradition of responding to the needs of South Chicago and its surrounding communities by providing affordable housing and vital services that benefit the safety and wellbeing of our residents and families.

The Affordable Housing & Community Development VISTA will serve alongside the real estate development team and Corridor Manager to support housing development projects, collect and analyze neighborhood data, conduct outreach efforts, and strengthen community engagement initiatives. The member will contribute to projects that increase access to safe and affordable housing while supporting long-term neighborhood revitalization and economic opportunity for residents living below or near the poverty line.

The ideal candidate is passionate about affordable housing and community development and eager to support neighborhood revitalization efforts in South Chicago. They are organized, adaptable, and collaborative, with strong communication and problem-solving skills. Candidates interested in urban planning, nonprofit work, economic development, or public service will gain valuable hands-on experience while helping expand access to safe and affordable housing.

• Build capacity of Claretian Associates’ housing development team and decrease the amount of time it takes to bring 206 new and rehabbed housing units online for occupancy. Shorter development times mean faster occupancy for vulnerable families in need of safe and affordable housing.
• Strengthen the organization’s impact on the community by collaborating with the Corridor Manager in collecting and analyzing data that is vital to the work of Claretian Associates.
• Seek to address the critical lack of safe, outdoor third spaces by improving park management operations at People’s Park, a neighborhood park co-owned by Claretian Associates and Neighbor Space.

• Relocation Allowance
• Choice of Education Award or End of Service Stipend
• $50 Phone Bill
• CTA and/or Metra Pass
• Living Allowance
• Health Coverage*
• Training
• Childcare assistance if eligible

• Permits attendance at school during off hours
• Permits working at another job during off hours

• Community Outreach
• Community and Economic Development
• Neighborhood Revitalization
• Housing

• Computers/Technology
• Communications
• Leadership
• Architectural Planning
• Non-Profit Management
• Writing/Editing
• Community Organization
• Urban Planning
• Team Work

2026 Claretian Associates | HAC | Community Development