By Melissa Birks
A Chicago non-profit that offers interim housing and care for indigent adults has a more secure future, thanks to lawyers at Freeborn & Peters.
For the past 16 years, Interfaith House rented a former nursing home at 3456 W. Franklin Boulevard. Homeless adults who have been discharged from area hospitals are referred to the 64-bed facility, where they live temporarily while they get help finding jobs and permanent housing. Clients typically stay for anywhere from 90 to 100 days.
Helen N. Baker, a Freeborn partner and member of the Interfaith board for six years, said Interfaith always hoped to buy the building, which dates to around the ’50s or ’60s.
“This gives us as an organization much greater economic security, the opportunity to make some needed repairs, a more solid financial footing,” she said.
Buying the building was a “gradual progression” through the past four years or so, Baker said, leading up to about a year of active negotiations. The sale closed on Dec. 17 of last year.
As an employment attorney, Baker turned to others at Freeborn who practice in real estate transactions, including name partner Jordan Peters, to navigate the deal.
“The important message is how my firm has been so eager to help in this matter,” Baker said. “No partner or attorney I’ve spoken to has expressed reluctance to get involved. They’ve all been enthused, and as a result, Interfaith House is in a better position to service Chicago and to help ill, homeless people remain off the streets.”
Around the Water Cooler 