For more than two decades, Esperanza Health Centers, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and long-time UnidosUS affiliate, has been a cornerstone of Chicago’s Southwest Side Latino community. Serving over 50,000 patients annually, Esperanza provides high-quality primary care and behavioral health services, regardless of immigration, insurance status, or ability to pay. They operate five medical facilities, including their recently opened state-of-the-art Brighton Park campus, which boasts three dozen exam rooms, a laboratory, and a pioneering geriatric health center— all designed to meet the evolving needs of the community.

Recognizing Esperanza’s vital role, RDF has for years been a dedicated partner in their growth journey. But it was in 2023 that this powerful partnership culminated with RDF’s largest investment to date: $22 million in New Markets Tax Credit financing, made possible through collaboration with CommonSpirit Health. The investment effectively doubled the size of the Brighton Park campus buildings, where Esperanza will now be able to serve more than 20,000 patients annually.

“RDF has been absolutely crucial to Esperanza’s development over the years. They are not just another bank or finance partner,” said Dan Fulwiler, Esperanza Health Center’s President and CEO. “They go the extra mile to make sure we can get good rates and construct a comprehensive program that’s really going to work for us.”

Opened in February 2024, the Brighton Park campus is unique in that it goes beyond healthcare. It offers a safe haven for the community, complete with a café, a plaza, and dedicated spaces for music, arts and crafts, and yoga. Additionally, the site features a residency program training doctors in culturally competent care for underserved communities and will host a program designed to help seniors age in place.

For Luis Gutierrez and his family, Esperanza has always been more than a clinic. It’s a health home, something that became especially evident during the pandemic. “They took the time to sit down with my family members, talk to them, answer all those questions, and make sure they had the best care possible,” Gutierrez recalls. “With Esperanza being in my community, it’s really made it feel that it’s not just my doctor, it’s actually my home.”

The Esperanza investment marked the launch of RDF’s Comunidad Sana Fund, which intends to direct $100 million in capital as well as other support resources to community health centers across the country.