Chicago (November 17, 2015) – Waterton today announced that co-founder Peter Vilim has been named president of the Board of Directors for All Chicago, Making Homelessness History, a not-for-profit organization that seeks to end homelessness in the city of Chicago.
Established in 2012, All Chicago was formed through a collaborative partnership of the Emergency Fund, the Chicago Alliance to End Homelessness and The Learning Center to become a leading source of homelessness prevention. A board member since 2013, Vilim became acquainted with the organization through his and Waterton’s affiliation with The Cara Program, a separate employment development organization founded by noted philanthropist Tom Owens, also a key supporter of the Emergency Fund.
“As co-founder of Waterton, which owns and manages nearly 20,000 apartments across the country, I’ve built my career around providing quality housing for residents of our communities, so I understand the pride that comes with having a place to call ‘home,’” said Vilim. “Yet on any given night in Chicago, nearly 6,800 people don’t know where they’re going to sleep, and tens of thousands more live in fear of losing their homes. For them, the services and resources provided by All Chicago are a lifeline, and I am proud to support the organization on both a corporate and personal level as we work together to provide stable, secure housing for those struggling with financial hardship.”
As part of his original board position with All Chicago, Vilim also sat on the Board of Directors of the Chicago Continuum of Care, a local planning body that coordinates housing and services for homeless families and individuals. All Chicago provides critical administrative support for the Continuum, acting as the single collaborative applicant for all HUD grants. In 2014, the organization secured $59.6 million in HUD funding for 165 homeless services programs throughout Chicago.
“Serving on the boards of both All Chicago and the Chicago Continuum of Care has given me a deep understanding of many of the programs that touch homeless services in the city of Chicago,” said Vilim, who also sits on the Finance Committee of the Continuum board. “By knowing which programs and organizations are most effective, I can help direct resources accordingly.”
In addition to his expanded role with All Chicago, Vilim has also been appointed to the Board of Directors for the Housing Partnership Equity Trust (HPET), a national affordable housing REIT launched in 2013. He serves on the Finance Committee of the HPET board as well.
An active philanthropist, Vilim also sits on the Program Committee of Inspiration Corporation, another employment training service organization. In addition, he is a program partner with Bridge Communities, a transitional housing provider in DuPage County, where, through Waterton, he has helped provide funding for 28 supportive housing units in the Bridge portfolio. Since founding Waterton in 1995, Vilim has spearheaded the company’s support of housing agencies both inside and outside the Continuum, including Thresholds, Sarah’s Circle, Common Pantry, Franciscan Outreach Ministries and Heartland Alliance.
About Waterton
Waterton is a real estate investor and operator with a focus on U.S. multifamily and hospitality properties. Founded in 1995 by David Schwartz and Peter Vilim, Waterton executes value-add strategies and manages a national portfolio of multifamily and hospitality properties on behalf of institutional investors, family offices and financial institutions.
Waterton has an expertise in selecting and managing attractive risk-adjusted real estate investments located in major markets around the United States. Since its formation, the company has invested over $5.3 billion in real estate assets. Waterton is privately held by its co-founders and is headquartered in Chicago with regional offices throughout the United States. Currently, Waterton’s portfolio includes over $4.0 billion in real estate assets, including approximately 20,000 multifamily units and 13 hotels. Visit Waterton’s new website: www.waterton.com.
