At the heart of all programming provided by Community Partners for Affordable Housing (CPAH) is their commitment to providing safe, secure housing to individuals and families in Lake and Northern Cook Counties. Through a combination of new construction and rehabilitation, CPAH works to create stable homes that allow people to thrive. Their efforts span from owner-occupied home repairs addressing safety and accessibility to large-scale developments of affordable rental units. In addition, CPAH also has a Community Land Trust (CLT) program. CPAH’s owner-occupied CLT homes are permanently affordable, keeping homes affordable for future generations.
For Bobby, an AmeriCorps VISTA member serving with CPAH, the work is more than just professional development—it’s personal. With a background in logistics and corporate training, Bobby shifted career direction to CPAH out of a desire to contribute meaningfully to people’s lives. Now deeply involved in operations, data systems, and program support for the nonprofit, Bobby has gained a new understanding of the systemic challenges facing those in need of housing. His reflections on home—as a place of safety, self-determination, and dignity—align closely with CPAH’s mission. “Helping people acquire places where they can thrive—that’s what it’s about,” he says.
Photo provided by CPAH, featuring a mom and daughter who are smiling because they realized their dream of owning a home by purchasing a CPAH Community Land Trust affordable home in Wilmette, IL.
Bobby’s supervisor, Brad Dennison, President of Affordable Housing Corporation (the construction arm of CPAH), brings a similar sense of purpose to the work. From his beginnings in for-profit housing, Brad gravitated toward service-based approaches that prioritize tenant well-being and stability. CPAH has expanded into new construction projects, including plans to develop 40 affordable housing units annually. AmeriCorps VISTAs such as Bobby have played a key role in this growth, contributing to data infrastructure, project management systems, and capacity building efforts that support CPAH’s evolving needs. Brad sees their work as foundational to community health: “Home is your safe place—when people have that, they can focus on the rest of their lives.”
Both Brad and Bobby emphasize a simple but vital truth: many in the community cannot afford safe, decent housing. CPAH helps over 1,000 households a year, and yet the need is growing. Brad notes, “We are very grateful to our Housing Action Corps VISTA. Having Bobby support our efforts is making a big difference, and will enable us to help even more people!”