Housing for domestic violence survivors breaks ground in North Center. The Council approved the City's $11.4 million 50-0

Brinshore and Apna Ghar are turning a 1920s bank at 3959 N. Lincoln Ave. into affordable apartments with on-site services. Two City loans passed in May without a dissenting vote.

By Chicago PoliticsUpdated Nov 3, 2026

Construction has started on an affordable apartment building for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence at 3959 N. Lincoln Ave. in North Center, Block Club Chicago reported Monday. Developer Brinshore Development and the nonprofit Apna Ghar are converting a 1920s bank building and adding onto its former parking lot.

Why it matters: survivors leaving abuse often have nowhere to go. Block Club cited The Network, a coalition of advocacy groups, which counted 130 days in 2024 when no domestic violence shelter bed was available in Chicago. Ald. Matt Martin (47th) said at last Friday's groundbreaking that the project is the first of its kind in Chicago, and Block Club described it as the second long-term affordable development of its kind in Illinois. Martin said "it can't be the last," according to Block Club.

The project

According to Block Club:

Long-term affordable apartments with on-site child care, mental health resources, job help and legal help, which Apna Ghar's executive director said the group will provide.
About $60 million in total cost, per the developer, with $11.4 million from the City's Department of Housing, tax credits through the Illinois Housing Development Authority and rental assistance from the Chicago Housing Authority.
Retail of about 3,100 square feet on the ground floor, a community room and a play space.
Construction expected to take about 20 months. The project took seven years to put together.

What our records add

The City Council approved the City's money 50 to 0 in May. The $11.4 million is two ordinances, both introduced by Mayor Brandon Johnson on April 15 and passed on May 20:

O2026-0024884 authorizes up to $11,007,814 in Multi-Family Program funds for the project's "4%" tax-credit portion.
O2026-0024885 authorizes up to $357,186 for its "9%" portion.

Together that is $11,365,000. The Finance Committee, chaired by Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd), recommended both by voice vote on May 18, and the full Council passed each with all 50 members voting yes at its May 20 meeting.

How each ward voted

50 yea · May 20, 2026 · Passed

Yea Nay

O2026-0024884: the roll call, the timeline and the documents

Both followed the usual path for City housing money: the Mayor introduced them, the Finance Committee reviewed them, and the full Council voted.

Domestic violence services are also on the Council's calendar. A hearing on how the Police Department's Office of Victim Services spends money meant for survivors, called by a resolution that questions investing there rather than in emergency housing and legal aid, fell one member short of a quorum on Oct. 1. It is rescheduled for Nov. 12, as we reported.

What's next

Tomorrow, Wed., Nov. 4, 9:30 a.m.: the Department of Housing is among the departments defending their 2027 budgets before the Committee on Budget and Government Operations (meeting page).
Thu., Nov. 12, 1 p.m.: the Committee on Police and Fire's rescheduled hearing on domestic violence funding.
Nearby: Block Club reported that the seller of the site, Moyer Properties, plans a separate 130-unit building at 3950 N. Damen Ave., with work expected to start in the spring.