D OMINICAN V OLUNTEERS USA
- APPLICATION TO THE CHICAGO ALUMNI COMMUNITY -
An Intentional Community sponsored by Dominican Volunteers USA and St. Pius V Church
Thank you for your interest in joining the Chicago Alumni Community. The Chicago Alumni
Community is an intentional community in residence at 1914 S Ashland Avenue, 2nd floor, Chicago,
IL 60608, being founded August 1, 2012. It was created through a collaboration between
Dominican Volunteers USA (whose offices are on the 1st floor) and St. Pius V Church (whose pastors live on the 3rd floor). What it becomes will largely be guided by the founding members who live there in 2012 through facilitation with DVUSA and St. Pius V, but the intention is to establish a way for Former Dominican Volunteers (FDVs) to stay connected to the lifestyle and values they shared during their service year(s), to stay connected to each other, and to stay connected to the Dominican Family and DVUSA too! If there is a year when FDVs are not available to fill the 4-person community, DVUSA would welcome others who have an experience or interest in intentional community as well!
By saying the community is “intentional” is to say that those who will live there agree to live by mutually shared values including the Four Pillars of the Dominican Order: Prayer, Study, Common
Life, and Ministry. Though simple living is not a formal pillar of the Dominican Order, St. Dominic was an inspiration because he integrated what he preached with how he lived. The community will be one motivated by this principle as well.
How these Pillars are incorporated will largely be determined in an organic process the first month and first year. However, as a basic framework the community can expect to share a couple meals and prayer times together each week—perhaps with greater intensity during Advent and Lent.
They will pool their funds for household expenses including food, following Catholic Social Teaching principles in their purchase choices. The group will pursue knowledge together through group study, maybe a monthly Documentary Day or lecture at the Dominican University Siena Center, or perhaps a book club to read social justice reflections. DVUSA will be available to invite speakers to the community for dinner who have great knowledge and life experience in social activism, theology, and more.
Here are the nuts and bolts:
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The placement agreement would be from August 1st, 2012 to July 31st, 2013 (negotiable).
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Cost would be $650/person/month. $450 of this is for rent/utilities, and the $200 goes to a community account for household expenses including food for three meals/day, cleaning supplies, Internet (wifi), and other miscellaneous expenses (e.g., light bulb, laundry detergent, compost bin, etc.).
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A security deposit of $400/person is due at the signing of the placement agreement.
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The 2nd-story walk-up apartment has 4 bedrooms—one private bedroom per person. It also has one full bathroom, with a full bathroom on the 1st floor available for emergencies.
There is a full kitchen, a dining room, a living room with TV/DVD player, and a prayer space

D OMINICAN V OLUNTEERS USA for reflection in an open floor plan. The entire unit is furnished with beds, couches, pots/pans, curtains, tables, chairs, etc. A washer and dryer are available for free in the basement.
 The apartment is 3 blocks away from the CTA Pink Line 18th St. stop. The CTA #9 bus picks up on Ashland Avenue in front of the house. The $650/month contribution does NOT include transportation money.
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No parking spaces are provided. Parking is available on the street without a parking pass.
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Only individuals without dependents are permitted to apply. No pets are permitted.
Here is how to apply:
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Call 708-524-5985 and ask for Erica or Mike at DVUSA to schedule a time to see the unit and see if it’s a good space for you.

Submit this application to info@dvusa.org
as soon as possible with a check for $75 made out to “DVUSA” for the application fee (address below). If selected for placement in the house, this fee will be applied towards the security deposit. If not selected to live in the house, this fee will be reimbursed. If selected to live in the house but you turn down the offer, this fee will not be reimbursed.
How are the members of the community selected?
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As this house is a community extension of the DVUSA faith-based service program, the following is the priority order for placement of those who apply: o Current Dominican Volunteers about to end their service year; o Former Dominican Volunteers; o Dominican Young Adults and alumni of other 1-2 year service programs; o Other referrals that seek to live in intentional community and share the values described above, with preference for prior experience in intentional community
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Current and FDVs have until June 22nd to apply to maintain their priority status. After that date, all may apply but decisions are made on a first come, first serve basis.
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DVUSA reserves the right to not offer placement to any applicant that does not meet minimum eligibility criteria standard in any rental application process, including but not limited to inadequate credit history, significant criminal history, lack of income, etc. DVUSA additionally reserves the right to not offer placement to any applicant that fails to agree to live by the shared values of the DVUSA program, St. Pius V Catholic Church, and the Chicago
Alumni Community as this community is an extension of the DVUSA faith-based service program.
Thank you again for your interest, and we encourage you to reflect and pray if this is the right place for you. Feel free to call Erica and Mike at 708-524-5985 (or email info@dvusa.org
) with any questions. And in the Dominican tradition, may God Creator bless you, God Redeemer heal you, and God the Holy Spirit fill you with light!

D OMINICAN V OLUNTEERS USA
- APPLICATION TO THE CHICAGO ALUMNI COMMUNITY -
An Intentional Community sponsored by Dominican Volunteers USA and St. Pius V Church
Neatly complete all information below. All applicants must be over the age of 18.
Applicant’s full name____________________________________________________________ Phone #_________________________DOB_______________
Social Security #__________________________________________Drivers License #_______________________________State_________Exp.________
Current Address____________________________________________________City______________________________State___________Zip______________
Current Landlords Name ___________________________________________________ Landlords Phone #_______________________________
How long at this address_____________________________________________Reason for leaving______________________________________________
Previous Address_________________________________________________City________________________________State___________Zip______________
Previous Landlords Name_________________________________________________ Phone #___________________________________________
How long at this address____________________________________________Reason for leaving______________________________________________
Present Employer_______________________________________________Position____________________________Mo. Income_____________________
Phone #________________________________________________How long at job____________Other income/source____________________________
Employers Address________________________________________________________________City___________________________________State________
Auto Yr__________Make________________________Model___________________________________State/License Plate #________________________
Have you ever been party to an eviction? [ ] Yes [ ] No Comment_________________________________________________________________
Personal References
Name___________________________________________________Yrs. Known___________Relationship____________________Phone #______________
Name___________________________________________________Yrs. Known___________Relationship____________________Phone #______________
Name___________________________________________________Yrs. Known___________Relationship____________________Phone #______________
Is your decision to live here contingent on any other factors (mutual application with friend, securing employment, etc.)?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Are you any of the following (check all that apply):
[ ] Current Dominican Volunteer [ ] Former Dominican Volunteer [ ] Dominican Young Adult
[ ] Alumni of another service program (If so, what program? __________________________________________ )

D OMINICAN V OLUNTEERS USA
- APPLICATION TO THE CHICAGO ALUMNI COMMUNITY -
An Intentional Community sponsored by Dominican Volunteers USA and St. Pius V Church
For applicants who are not current or former Dominican Volunteers: Have you ever lived in intentional community before?
If so, please describe through what program, the location, and the time frame below. Please make sure one of your personal references above is a person from your intentional community living experience.
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For applicants who are not current or former Dominican Volunteers: Why do you want to live in this community?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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An application fee of $75 by check or cash or paypal ( www.dvusa.org
) is due at the time of submission of this application in order to be considered for placement. If selected for placement, this application fee will be applied to the security deposit of $400 due at the signing of the placement agreement. If not selected for placement, this fee will be reimbursed to you. If selected for placement but the offer of placement is rejected by you, this fee will not be reimbursed.
I CERTIFY that answers given herein are true and complete to the best of my knowledge. I authorize investigation of all statements contained in this application for participant screening as may be necessary in arriving at a participant decision,
I understand that DVUSA may terminate any placement agreement entered into for any misrepresentations made above. I have read the above description of the DVUSA intentional living program and understand placement in the house requires participation in the activities and lifestyle of the program. I understand that the DVUSA may terminate any placement agreement entered into for failure to participate in the intentional living program as described above.
Signature___________________________________________________________________________________________________Date_________________________
Please schedule a visit and interview with DVUSA staff by calling 708-524-5985. Email this application to info@dvusa.org
or mail it to DVUSA, 1914 S Ashland Ave., Chicago, IL 60608. Mail, submit, or drop off your application fee of $75 to the same address to be considered.
FOR DVUSA OFFICE USE ONLY
Date application submitted:__________________________________________Date application fee received:__________________________
Former Dominican Volunteer? [ ] Yes [ ] No Selected for Placement? [ ] Yes [ ] No
Date placement offered:______________________________________________ Placement [ ] Accepted [ ] Rejected