My Edgewater Story by Dawn Olderr Montalvo

Dawn Olderr Montalvo

I first came to Edgewater in 1984, with my soon-to-be husband.  Having been priced out of the rental market in Lakeview, we were searching for a location that was convenient to downtown, affordable and still had a young vibe. Being near the lake was an added benefit. We stayed a year while we planned our wedding and eventually bought a home in what was then up-and-coming Bucktown.

I would not return until 2019, after a series of unfortunate events. The events began in 2013, as an illness had set me and two of my three children on a trajectory that left us virtually homeless. We depended on the kindness of friends and relatives to keep us out of shelters and off the street.

During that time, my children graduated high school and one of them finished college. My youngest is still working toward his degree. My boys had managed to survive and support themselves, but I was still on waitlists throughout the city for subsidized housing. Many apartment buildings have waitlists that are 20 years long.

In my search for a potential home, there was a listing for HOME, Housing Opportunities and Maintenance for the Elderly. I called anticipating the answer I had received hundreds of times: “We have no openings, our waitlist is closed,” or “We can put you on our waitlist, but it could be years before you receive a call back.” In this case, a bright, young voice answered the phone and told me there was an opening at the agency’s Pat Crowley House in Edgewater.

I scheduled a visit and brought one of my sons along for input. As we toured the location, I was impressed with the comfortable, homey feel. As we sat in the living room’s overstuffed chairs, discussing my future, I felt hopeful. HOME’s Good Life program is touted as intergenerational supportive living for those age 55 and above.

It’s a converted six-flat, and residents are provided with a room, meals and some basic household chores and, most importantly, a community of friends who look out for one another. Residents are expected to be independent with a modicum of support.

The Good Life motto is “Privacy when you want it, assistance when you need it.” But the selling point for me was the young family who occupied one of the apartments and participated in activities with the seniors. Their preschool age son was the focal point of every interaction with residents, and he loved having the attention of doting, surrogate grandparents.

Like any family, Pat Crowley House residents have their gripes and grumbles. But, on the occasion when someone is sick, there is someone to bring them their meals in bed or a hand to hold at 2 a.m. when an ambulance needs to be called.

I was at Pat Crowley House during the worst days of the pandemic. I must admit that I’m not sure I could have made it through as easily without the friendships I made there. After three years, my name eventually came up on a list for my own apartment. I was torn as I missed cooking for myself and liked the idea of being more independent but didn’t want to lose the friendships I had made.

Luckily, my new apartment was still in Edgewater, so I’ve been able to keep in contact with my friends, have gone back to visit as well as inviting them to my new home.

As my name came up on various waitlists, I was offered many more apartments. One was in a tony Gold Coast building. But Edgewater is my home now, and I don’t intend on ever leaving.