2024 YMCA Impact: Irving Park YMCA Resident Lounge

In 2022, the City of Chicago adopted an ordinance requiring permanent air conditioning equipment in indoor common gathering areas of specified residential buildings with more than one hundred units. These areas were made to function as cooling centers, free of charge, for residents when the outdoor heat index exceeds 80°F. 

Seeing this as an opportunity for positive change, the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago installed a state-of-the-art cooling center for the residents of the Irving Park YMCA’s Single Resident Occupancy (SRO) housing in addition to adding essential amenities to enhance their quality of life. 

Thanks to generous funding from the State of Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), the Resident Lounge project has greatly expanded the Y’s ability to provide supportive housing for low-income adult men facing homelessness or the risk of becoming homeless. Many of these individuals also deal with challenges like substance abuse and mental health issues, which contribute to their marginalization. 

The renovation transformed an 11’ x 25’ space into a cooling center and added a kitchenette and laundry facilities to meet residents’ needs. With Illinois DCEO and additional YMCA funding, the project also included new furnishings and appliances. 

Residents are already benefiting from the lounge, praising it as a clean, welcoming space where they can cool off, prepare meals, and do laundry. “I really like the new digs for the residents. It's clean, fresh, bright, and popular. The fridge and sink are great for making this a place to sit down and eat, like a cafeteria. Thank you for this really great resource,” said one Irving Park Y SRO resident.  

The YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago extends its thanks to its supportive project partners and is excited to advance its vision of serving as a trusted convener, connector, and catalyst for all communities.