Transitional Housing - ICNA Relief Chicago Meets A Dire Need

Br. Misbahuddin (Center) at an Appreciation Luncheon organized by ICNA Relief for its Volunteers.

“There was a sister who had been living in her car, with her baby, for two weeks when we came to know of her situation through others. She didn’t even approach us herself,” says Br.Mohammed Misbahuddin of Glendale Heights. As a former Muslim Society Inc. (MSI) Board Member, he has been involved in Zakat distribution for the past 20 years. “This was one case that really made me think about the need for a long term solution. There are a lot of Muslim families who hesitate to approach Masjids,” he says. “They feel their situation will be exposed. These services have to be separate so people feel comfortable." 

A Collaborative Beginning

In May 2015, ICNA Relief Chicago will rent its first transitional housing apartment in Glendale Heights. This will build on ICNA Relief ‘s transitional housing initiatives currently underway in Chicago. “ICNA Relief representatives met with Glendale Heights Village officials who suggested we identify a 4-6 multi-family housing apartment unit, for transitional housing. In the mean time, the Village has give us permission to rent apartments for that, so long as we have permission from the respective associations. There is a dire need and, mashallah, we are on track to meeting it, God willing,” says Dr. Saima Azfar, Director, ICNA Relief Chicago.

“In the last 7 months, we have served two families comprising divorcees with children for six months each, housing them in an apartment rented as transitional housing in Chicago. Alhumdolillah, we also provided rental assistance for eleven families for one to six months each. This was made possible thanks to the collaboration of 10 mosques including MSI, ICW, ICN, Alhuda, ICCD, MCC, MEC, IFS, IFN and ISNS, ” says Dr. Azfar.  

Advocating for Long-term Solutions 

"We get at least two calls a month from women and families, including refugees, who are facing eviction or seeking shelter. In the winter, the demand is even higher. Other masjids may get more calls from others,” says Br. Misbahuddin.

Currently, area masjids such as MSI, Masjid Al Huda, Islamic Center of Naperville (ICN), Islamic Center of Des Plaines (ICCD) and Islamic Foundation Mosque (IFS), share information related to temporary housing requests and pool zakat to collectively pay for accommodation at a local long-term motel or towards rent for an apartment. “A lot of times, we receive cases of eviction - people who've lost their jobs. We pay electricity and heating directly to ComEd and Nicor. We give rental assistance directly to the landlord,” says Br. Misbah.  

Advocating for long-term solutions he says,“We need something of our own where we can situate these families for two-three months. Provide shelter but also help them find a job and offer counseling. ICNA Relief offers that,” says Br. Misbah. “Instead of duplicating efforts, local masjids can pitch in and help the ICNA Relief Transitional Housing project be successful.”

For further details, please contact me Dr. Saima Azfar, Director ICNA Relief Chicago;(630)-506-2312; sazfar@icnarelief.org