Moving to Greater Chicago-Northwest Indiana
Finding Apartments and Rooms Virtually
Moving to a new city can be scary, intimidating, and all the nervous adjectives! We want to help you make that transition to a new city as easy as possible because we love our region!
While Chicagoland is famous for its downtown with its Magnificent Mile and Millennium Park, the true heart of the city is its many neighborhoods. Corps members live all over the region in our diverse group of communities. We’ve asked Corps members and staff to share why they love their neighborhood of residence so you can get to know more about areas that you could live in as you prepare to move to Greater Chicago-Northwest Indiana. Find the Greater Chicago-Northwest Indiana Neighborhood Guide below!
We also wanted to share external resources about moving and living here! There’s no one correct way to do it so read or watch as much as you’d like to best support your transition. First, we compiled a list of resources about being a Chicagoan. Second, some of the best media about Chicago comes from our local PBS Station. A PBS show, Chicago By ‘L’, shows the history and attractions of many of Chicago neighborhoods that are situated around our public transportation system. If you have the time we strongly suggest you check it out!
Roommate Survey
We know that many corps members live with other corps members throughout the 2 years in TFA. We use an optional TFA Roommate Interest Survey to help Corps Members find potential roommates based on their interests and lifestyle/living habits. We will release the Roommate Interest Survey in April 2025
Get help from a local alumni!
Read more from alum Nicholas Gonzalez about his support in your housing search:
“Congratulations on being the newest member of Teach for America in the Chicago/Northwest Indiana area. As a former Teach for America member (2016), I know the impact you will make in the communities you have been partnered with and like you I continue to teach in the Chicago area.
While teaching is my day job, I also work as a licensed Real Estate Broker in the Chicagoland area. I would like to offer my services to every member joining the corps this summer in Chicago. Whether your need is buying, renting, or investing, let’s chat and find out how I can help relieve some of the stress and anxiety you may be feeling as you embark on this new journey. Please feel free to contact me anytime at the contact information below.
I look forward to learning about your needs both in the Real Estate world and in the classroom.”
Nicholas Gonzalez
Cell: 702-708-5970
Office: 773-549-1855
Email: nicholas.gonzalez@bairdwarner.com
Pre-Service Sub-Leasing
For Corps Members who are moving to Chicago for Pre-Service and need to find temporary housing before signing a long-term lease, one option is to find a sublet apartment for June and July. Check out this guide on how to find a sublet in Chicago. We’ll include a question on the TFA Roommate Interest Survey about looking for roommates for a sub-let over the summer.
Living in Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana
Getting Around Chicago
Chicago is a massive city! Chicago Transit Authority is the 3nd largest public transportation system in the country! There are trains (known as the El for its elevated cars), buses, cabs, ride shares, biking, water taxis, so many! This is a quick guide on getting around Chicago in a variety of ways, including different parking apps you can use. While you can get most places by public transit in Chicago, often times the communities we serve are underserved by the city with resources. For this reason, we strongly recommend having a car to get to and from your school.
See more resources about transportation in Chicago below
What To Do In Chicago
There's literally so much to do it can never all be done. But that's not to say that people haven't tried. Timeout Chicago has put together a list of75 Things to Do in Chicago that gives a wide range of activities throughout different neighborhoods in the city. There are of course your favorite tourist stops, but it also includes local gems that you should check out. For some more obscure things to do, check out Atlas Obscura's All Places in Chicago list. It's quirky and fun! Finally, you get to live in Chicago during the best time of the year...SUMMER! The weather is gorgeous and everyone is outside. Check out some of Chicago's summer festivals to get a true taste of the city.
Where To Eat In Chicago
Chicago has some of the best food in the world. Period. The best places to eat are where you get to check out local cuisines and specialties. If you're a foodie, you'll love checking out some of Chicago's most popular food guides, such as Infatuation and Eater Chicago.
Learn About Chicago’s Past & Its Traditions
Listen to the local Chicago Podcast, Curious City, to learn more about Chicago’s past and some of its traditions. Episodes are 15 minutes or less and the perfect way to get to know the city!
Tools And Tips For Adulting—Chicago Edition
Employment Verification Letter
When applying for an apartment in our region you may need a letter from an employer verifying your salary in order to get approved for a lease. While you may not know the school you’ll be working at right away, Teach For America will provide an employment verification for each Corps Member to show the salary range they will be making for the 2025-2026 school year.
Please follow the instructions below to access your Employment Verification Letter.
We will post the 2025 Employment Verification form in late winter 2025
Use the Control+F function to search for your name. Make sure to note what specific page your letter is on. The document is also in alphabetical order.
Go to print the document and select “Print to PDF”. Select the specific page that your letter is on and then print.
Save the document on your own computer. It should save as 1 page that is customized for you.
Questions? Reach out to Steven Grosso!
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