Organizations Seek New Housing for 36 Rogers Park Residents Displaced in Fire

Organizations are working to find new housing for the 36 Rogers Park residents who lost their homes in an apartment fire Dec. 7. 

A large fire left a three-story apartment building at 6540 N. Glenwood uninhabitable Dec. 7, The Phoenix reported. Neighbors and former residents who evacuated clutching their pets saw billowing flames as firefighters rescued at least three people, who refused medical treatment. 

Chicago Fire Department spokesperson Larry Langford said CFD found the fire was caused by human action and referred the case to the Chicago Police Department (CPD) to investigate. 

CPD said the fire has been classified as non-criminal, but there are no further updates in the case. 

Leslie Perkins, the chief of staff for 49th Ward Alderwoman Maria Hadden, said the office connected the 36 individuals impacted by the fire to various programs for assistance finding new housing, including Heartland Alliance and Housing Opportunities for Women (HOW). 

Heartland Alliance Spokesperson Jane Bodmer said “a handful” of the residents impacted by the fire are participants of the organization’s NEON Youth program, a subsidized housing initiative for people aged 18 to 24. 

Bodmer said Heartland Alliance coordinated temporary housing for these individuals while they work to secure permanent placements. 

“To further support participants who were affected by the fire, we have provided storage units, transportation passes, and giftcards to help purchase food and other necessities,” Bodmer said. 

HOW didn’t respond to requests for comment. 

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