The Oak Inn

Every person deserves a safe place to heal, rebuild, and move forward. That belief is at the heart of our year-long renovation to transform an aging hotel into The Oak Inn, a permanent home for Housing Forward's Interim Housing and RISE Center Medical Respite Programs.

Watch this space for updates on this exciting project!

A Transformative Renovation

The project will re-imagine the 100-year-old former Write Inn Hotel, expanding access to shelter, recuperative care, and supportive services. When completed, the 27,000 square-foot building will feature:

62 private rooms, each with a bathroom, kitchenette, and personal storage, 22 of which will be fully ADA-accessible
Expanded clinical and case management offices, a welcoming community room, outdoor patio, kitchen
Building exterior and infrastructure upgrades: modernized and energy-efficient HVAC, electrical, windows and plumbing systems and more.

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Latest News

Agency News

Wednesday Journal: Housing Forward launches $18M renovation of Write Inn

Posted October 15, 2026Agency News

The past six years have been anything but routine for Housing Forward. Founded in 1992, Housing Forward’s mission is to transition people from housing crisis to housing stability. The organization was...

Housing Forward Breaks Ground on The Oak Inn: A Permanent Home for Healing, Stability, and New Beginnings

Posted October 15, 2026Agency News

Former Write Inn Hotel will be transformed into a modern facility providing shelter, recuperative care, and supportive services for people experiencing homelessness.

Interested in learning about the Forward Campaign and fundraising efforts for The Oak Inn?

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“The Oak Inn represents more than a renovated building- it is an investment in human dignity and a place where people can heal after illness and regain stability.”

Lynda Schueler, Chief Executive Officer

"We’re thrilled to celebrate the transformation of the Oak Inn into modern living quarters for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Through this investment, Housing Forward will continue providing transitional support with wraparound care to empower residents to move toward long-term stability. This redevelopment serves as a model for compassionate, results-driven housing in helping our most vulnerable.”

Kristin Faust, IhdA Executive Director

"At the West Cook YMCA, our promise is to strengthen our community by ensuring everyone has the opportunity to live a safe, healthy, and fulfilling life. We are honored to partner with Housing Forward to provide a welcoming place for residents during the renovation of The Oak Inn. Together, we are doing more than providing temporary shelter, we are building a stronger, healthier community where every individual has the opportunity to put down roots and move forward with hope.”

Heather Perkins, YMCA Chief Executive Officer

Interim Housing

Interim Housing is a type of non-congregate shelter that offers a stable environmental and comprehensive support services that help unhoused individuals successfully transition to long-term housing stability.

We are investing in a service that we know works. Between September 2020 and July 2026, the Interim Housing Program assisted 498 individuals with 102,388 nights of housing.

RISE Center Medical Respite

The RISE Center Medical Respite Program is provided in partnership with Cook County Health. Medical Respite ensures unhoused people who have experienced a medical event have a safe, stable place to recuperate. Between December 2020 and July 2026, the RISE Center has assisted 389 people with 33,800 nights of recuperative care.

Learn more about the RISE Center