Housing Forward Breaks Ground on The Oak Inn

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

OAK PARK, Ill. (August 10, 2026) – Every person deserves a safe place to heal, rebuild, and move forward. Today, Housing Forward is taking a major step toward that vision with a transformative renovation of The Oak Inn — the permanent home for its Interim Housing and RISE Center Medical Respite programs.

A year-long transformative renovation of the former Write Inn Hotel will expand access to shelter, recuperative care, and supportive services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness in west suburban Cook County. When completed, the 27,000 square-foot facility will feature 60 private rooms, each with a bathroom, kitchenette, and personal storage, providing temporary residents with comfort, privacy and dignity. Twenty-two rooms will be fully ADA-accessible, ensuring the building can serve people of all abilities. The renovation will also include expanded clinical and case management offices, welcoming community gathering spaces, an outdoor patio, and modernized building systems to support long-term sustainability.

The building’s new name, The Oak Inn, reflects both the strength and resilience of the people Housing Forward serves and the deep roots the 100-year-old building and Housing Forward have in the community. The building symbolizes stability, growth, and the opportunity to flourish.

“For nearly six years, our Interim Housing and Medical Respite programs have helped people stabilize, recover, and take the next steps toward permanent housing,” said Lynda Schueler, Chief Executive Officer of Housing Forward. “The Oak Inn represents far more than a renovated building- it is an investment in human dignity and a place where people can heal after illness and regain stability.” 

Housing Forward began leasing the property in September 2020 during the pandemic. “We recognized an opportunity to rethink the PADS shelter model by replacing rotating, temporary-style sleeping arrangements with private accommodations that promote safety, healing, and stability,” said Schueler. In November 2023, with support from Cook County ARPA funding, the organization purchased the building, securing a permanent home for two innovative programs that continue to transform lives: Today, the property includes:

• Interim Housing, which provides individuals and families experiencing homelessness with private accommodations and comprehensive support services while they work toward permanent housing; and
• The RISE Center Medical Respite, operated in partnership with Cook County Health, which offers short-term care for individuals discharged from inpatient hospitalization.

Together, the programs have served more than 770 people since 2020, with 83 percent of people remaining stably housed after leaving the programs. 

Hemmingway's Bistro, located on the first floor of the building, will remain open during construction. Residents staying at the property will be relocated to the West Cook YMCA, where they will continue to have private accommodations, meals, and access to case management and supportive services without disruption. 

“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,” says West Cook YMCA Chief Executive Officer, Heather Perkins. “The Oak Inn is a powerful reflection of that shared commitment. Strong communities such as ours are deeply rooted in compassion, resilience, and the belief that every person deserves the opportunity to grow and thrive.”

“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.”

The project is supported through a combination of public and private funding. Housing Forward gratefully acknowledges the support of the Illinois Housing Development Authority, Cook County Bureau of Economic Development, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Senate President Don Harmon, Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch, the Village of Oak Park, the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, and the many generous donors whose commitment is helping make this transformational project possible.

Founded by local congregations and community members to provide emergency shelter, Housing Forward’s approach has evolved to support individuals from the onset of a housing or financial crisis through to long-term stability. For more than 30 years, the organization has worked toward a future where homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring. The Oak Inn represents a major step toward that vision, creating a permanent, purpose-built space where individuals can stabilize and move forward into long-term housing.

Learn more about The Oak Inn and the future of Housing Forward here.