For 35 years, the Oak Park Regional Housing Center has been a national leader in encouraging and promoting open and inclusive communities. Our programs have promoted Oak Park as a diverse community of opportunity that has made it a popular destination for people of all races. But Oak Park is situated in a perpetually segregated region. Thus, we attempt to increase diversity in other communities as well as Oak Park.
We created a distinct and separately funded Apartments West program as a voluntary and supplemental program the Housing Center provides, only after a client has been provided Oak Park listings and has not been able to find an apartment in Oak Park. In every case, clients choose to use Apartments West or not. The Housing Center never makes the decision.
Initially, we only offered this program to our African-American clients because fair housing enforcement data showed that African-Americans are the most likely to face discrimination. Because the Housing Center strives to overcome discrimination and segregation, we intended to ensure that African-Americans who wanted to move to other communities could overcome discriminatory tactics.
Now we offer Apartments West to all clients who cannot find an apartment in Oak Park. In each case, we encourage affirmative moves in other communities for clients who choose to use Apartments West in addition to our Oak Park service. Integration must occur in both a local and regional context if Oak Park is to sustain its diverse character.
We will continue to market Oak Park to people of all races, promote our community as open and inclusive, and provide Oak Park apartment listings to all of our clients, regardless of race. Our efforts will continue to strengthen our community and sustain our core value of a diverse community.
Glenn E. Brewer
President, on behalf of the OPRHC Board of Directors