Value proposition

Unlocking housing justice in Chicago's northern suburbs

Open Communities (OC) is a civil rights organization that works to eradicate housing discrimination and unjust practices that perpetuate segregation and inequity. We foster thriving, inclusive communities through fair housing enforcement, housing counseling, education, outreach, and advocacy.

Where you live matters. Where you live determines how you live. Where you live even determines how long you live. Open Communities knows that where a person lives determines everything; access to jobs, health, transportation, recreation, green space, and high-performing schools. Homeownership contributes to generational wealth, and having a stable place to live improves health outcomes, life expectancy, and quality of life. In order to increase accessibility, systemic housing discrimination needs to be dismantled on every level.​

Open Communities makes our area more welcoming for all by investigating and enforcing fair housing practices, preventing eviction and foreclosure through free housing counseling, and fighting housing discrimination through education and advocacy. Our goal is to advance the economic empowerment of those most marginalized while holding communities and institutions accountable for discriminatory policies.

Fair Housing Discrimination Complaint Investigation, Foreclosure Prevention Housing Counseling, Landlord/Tenant Advice, Community Organizing, Affordable Housing Advocacy, Immigrant Leadership Development, and Education Justice