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10 New Affordable Homes Coming to Roseland

One Community Update
August 13, 2025

Source: The Chicago Crusader

A major step toward revitalizing Chicago’s Roseland neighborhood took place on Friday, August 1, as the Hope Center Foundation and the Cook County Land Bank Authority broke ground on 10 new affordable homes as part of the citywide Reclaiming Chicago initiative. The event marked a continuation of the groups’ efforts to increase homeownership and stabilize historically disinvested Black communities on the South Side.

The groundbreaking took place at 122 E. 118th Street, near the site where 11 new homes have already been built and sold. The new development will be constructed within the same six-block area, a strategic concentration designed to maximize impact by promoting safety, neighborhood stability, and wealth-building opportunities for local families.

The project is part of the broader Reclaiming Chicago initiative, an ambitious effort led by the civic coalition United Power for Action and Justice to construct 2,000 affordable homes across Chicago—1,000 on the South Side and 1,000 on the West Side. The Hope Center Foundation and Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives (CNI) are co-developers on the project and active members of the coalition. The homes in Roseland represent the second phase of the campaign, which to date has completed 59 homes. This new phase includes a total of 71 homes in Roseland, Back of the Yards, and North Lawndale.

The 10 new homes in Roseland will each span 1,600 square feet and include three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and parking. Each home is priced at $230,000 and will include $50,000 in down payment assistance to make them accessible to first-time homebuyers. The homes are being built by Toro Construction Group and are expected to be completed by January 2026.

The Cook County Land Bank Authority (CCLBA), which is providing the vacant land for construction, has played a critical role in reclaiming abandoned properties and returning them to productive use. Of the 50 new homes planned by the Hope Center Foundation in Roseland, 44 will be built on land acquired through CCLBA.

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CEO

Alan Jaffa

Alan Jaffa is the Chief Executive Officer for Safeguard Properties, steering the company as the mortgage field services industry leader. He also serves on the board of advisors for SCG Partners, a middle-market private equity fund focused on diversifying and expanding Safeguard Properties’ business model into complimentary markets.

Alan joined Safeguard in 1995, learning the business from the ground up. He was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2002, and was named CEO in May 2010. His hands-on experience has given him unique insights as a leader to innovate, improve and strengthen Safeguard’s processes to assure that the company adheres to the highest standards of quality and customer service.

Under Alan’s leadership, Safeguard has grown significantly with strategies that have included new and expanded services, technology investments that deliver higher quality and greater efficiency to clients, and strategic acquisitions. He takes a team approach to process improvement, involving staff at all levels of the organization to address issues, brainstorm solutions, and identify new and better ways to serve clients.

In 2008, Alan was recognized by Crain’s Cleveland Business in its annual “40-Under-40” profile of young leaders. He also was named a NEO Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® Award finalist in 2013.

Esq., General Counsel and EVP

Linda Erkkila

Linda Erkkila is the General Counsel and Executive Vice President for Safeguard Properties, with oversight of legal, human resources, training, and compliance. Linda’s broad scope of oversight covers regulatory issues that impact Safeguard’s operations, risk mitigation, strategic planning, human resources and training initiatives, compliance, insurance, litigation and claims management, and counsel related to mergers, acquisition and joint ventures.

Linda assures that Safeguard’s strategic initiatives align with its resources, leverage opportunities across the company, and contemplate compliance mandates. She has practiced law for 25 years and her experience, both as outside and in-house counsel, covers a wide range of corporate matters, including regulatory disclosure, corporate governance compliance, risk assessment, compensation and benefits, litigation management, and mergers and acquisitions.

Linda earned her JD at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. She holds a degree in economics from Miami University and an MBA. Linda was previously named as both a “Woman of Influence” by HousingWire and as a “Leading Lady” by MReport.

COO

Michael Greenbaum

Michael Greenbaum is the Chief Operating Officer of Safeguard Properties, where he has played a pivotal role since joining the company in July 2010. Initially brought on as Vice President of REO, Mike’s exceptional leadership and strategic vision quickly propelled him to Vice President of Operations in 2013, and ultimately to COO in 2015. Over his 14-year tenure at Safeguard, Mike has been instrumental in driving change and fostering innovation within the Property Preservation sector, consistently delivering excellence and becoming a trusted partner to clients and investors.

A distinguished graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Mike earned a degree in Quantitative Economics. Following his graduation, he served in the U.S. Army’s Ordnance Branch, where he specialized in supply chain management. Before his tenure at Safeguard, Mike honed his expertise by managing global supply chains for 13 years, leveraging his military and civilian experience to lead with precision and efficacy.

CFO

Joe Iafigliola

Joe Iafigliola is the Chief Financial Officer for Safeguard Properties. Joe is responsible for the Control, Quality Assurance, Business Development, Marketing, Accounting, and Information Security departments. At the core of his responsibilities is the drive to ensure that Safeguard’s focus remains rooted in Customer Service = Resolution. Through his executive leadership role, he actively supports SGPNOW.com, an on-demand service geared towards real estate and property management professionals as well as individual home owners in need of inspection and property preservation services. Joe is also an integral force behind Compliance Connections, a branch of Safeguard Properties that allows code enforcement professionals to report violations at properties that can then be addressed by the Safeguard vendor network. Compliance Connections also researches and shares vacant property ordinance information with Safeguard clients.

Joe has an MBA from The Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University, is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA), and holds a bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University’s Honors Accounting program.

Business Development

Carrie Tackett

Business Development Safeguard Properties