James Williams Jr. and his wife got married last year, and within 12 months had the keys to their first home — something he never imagined was possible.
“My mother and father never owned a home, so I had no reference,” Williams said. “It was something I could never dream of.”
The effort was part of the community-led Reclaiming Chicago campaign, which has drawn $40 million from the city of Chicago, the state and private lenders with the goal of building 2,000 homes on the South and West sides. It’s led by the civic coalition United Power for Action and Justice.