Housing Forward aims to prevent homelessness whenever possible, respond to housing crises when they do occur and stabilize people with supportive services and housing. It offers a full range of programs and services that include:

• Emergency financial assistance
• Emergency shelter
• Interim and transitional housing
• Respite services for a medical or behavioral health event
• Wraparound services, including employment, family support, community health nursing, behavioral health and legal clinic
• Rental support
• Permanent supportive housing
• Housing navigation services and more

Housing Forward serves 26 communities in west suburban Cook County: Bellwood, Berkeley, Berwyn, Broadview, Brookfield, Cicero, Elmwood Park, Forest Park, Forest View, Franklin Park, Harwood Heights, Hillside, Lyons, Maywood, Melrose Park, Norridge, North Riverside, Northlake, Oak Park, River Forest, River Grove, Riverside, Schiller Park, Stickney, Stone Park and Westchester.

For more information, call the Housing Forward Office at (708) 338-1724 or visit the Housing Forward About Us page.

Going to college is an exciting time filled with new friends and experiences. When you have congenital heart disease (CHD), it can be overwhelming or tempting to put your care on the back burner. It’s very important that you stay in care and are as prepared as possible.

The Adult Congenital Heart Association provides this resource with tips to help you maintain good health while you further your education.

The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) provides free consulting services for all employees, regardless of the condition. Services include one-on-one consultation about all aspects of job accommodations, including the accommodation process, accommodation ideas, product vendors, referral to other resources and Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance assistance.

Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are conditions that are present at birth and can affect the structure of a baby’s heart and the way it works. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides fact sheets, articles, patient stories and more to help you understand CHDs and their affect across the lifespan.

The American Heart Association provides information and resources on congenital heart disease (CHDs). It includes details on common types of heart defects, understanding risks, symptoms, the diagnostic process, care and treatment, personal stories, and tools and resources for families.

The page also includes an animated video from the American Heart Association and the Children’s Heart Foundation to help parents navigate difficult conversations with siblings (and other young family members) of children with CHDs. The video aims to help siblings and young people better understand how they can support a loved one living with congenital heart disease.

Children with congenital heart defects and disease (CHD) will need lifelong care from congenital heart experts. The Adult Congenital Heart Association provides this brochure to help parents of children born with CHDs support their child’s lifelong heart health.

“When Your Child Has a Heart Defect” brochure in English 

Cuando su Niño(a) Tiene Un Defecto de Corazón

Mended Little Hearts and St. Jude Medical partnered to create this digital resource guide for parents and caregivers of children with congenital heart disease or defects (CHD).

Medical professionals and parents worked together on this guide to provide accurate and honest information that addresses the tough feelings, questions and concerns parents and caregivers may have.

Go to The Mended Hearts, Inc. HeartGuides page and scroll down to see the Mended Little HeartGuide in English and Spanish.

A number of heart conditions can affect children. Some are structural abnormalities they are born with. Others deal with the electrical system that controls the heartbeat.

HealthyChildren.org, the official parenting site of the American Academy of Pediatrics, provides numerous articles and information about heart conditions, including common heart defects in children, the challenges faced by parents of children with congenital heart disease, dental care for children with heart conditions and more.

The American Heart Association’s Support Network, in partnership with The Children’s Heart Foundation, provides a Congenital Heart Defect (CHD) Support Network for parents of young children diagnosed with CHDs or adults living with a CHD.

The Center of Concern is a non-profit social service agency providing housing solutions, support services and counselors for individuals with disabilities, older adults and others in need in Cook County, enabling them to live safely and independently.

If you have any questions, please call the Center of Concern at (847) 823-0453 or email concern@centerofconcern.org.