Before Rufus moved into Los Vecinos Apartments, a Single-Room Occupancy (SRO) rental development on Chicago's west side, he had no home. Finding shelter wherever he could, Rufus had to contend with harsh elements, violence, and unsanitary surroundings. In addition, he suffered from substance abuse and a medical condition, both of which complicated his efforts to improve his situation. Since moving into Los Vecinos in the fall of 2003, Rufus's life has changed dramatically. As a result of assistance from Heartland Housing, Inc. (the Los Vecinos project developer) and Heartland Human Care Services (the associated supportive service provider), Rufus has his own SRO apartment complete with kitchen and bath, access to on-site services that help him stay drug-free, and the camaraderie of a caring community. Most importantly, as Rufus explained, Los Vecinos has given him "a new lease on life, and hope." Los Vecinos Apartments, a 62-unit facility primarily serving former homeless individuals, is the result of strong community collaboration. In addition to the City of Chicago and state funding, Bridgeview Bank -- a FHLB Chicago member -- provided the project with a $500,000 Affordable Housing Program (AHP) subsidy to support development costs. Today, Rufus sees the opportunity to live at Los Vecinos as "a gift from God" and believes it will lead to a brighter future. "Life is a journey," he explains. "This is not my final destination." As Heartland Housing's Director of Propery Management explained and Rufus's experience confirms, "The key to stabilizing an individual is housing.... You need a stable place to stabilize a life."