Chicago Native housing project aims to center culture and community

Chicago nonprofits have broken ground on a Native-focused affordable housing project in the city’s Irving Park neighborhood, according to The DePaulia.

The seven-story building, called Jigzibik, will include 45 fully affordable housing units and space for community services. The name means “at the river’s edge” and reflects the building’s location along the Chicago River. The project is co-developed by Visionary Ventures, a Native-led nonprofit, and Full Circle Communities. Funding includes support from the Chicago Department of Housing, permanent supportive housing funds and low-income housing tax credits, according to The DePaulia.

“We knew we needed housing for our community. We’ve been promised housing for over 50 years,” Shelly Tucciarelli, executive director of Visionary Ventures and a tribal member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, was quoted as saying.

Construction began July 11, 2025, and is expected to be completed in fall 2026.