Living room scene graphic design. Man with brown hair, black shirt and orange apron cooking and a woman in a pink sweatsuit reading on a gray couch.

Let’s Open the Door, Chicago

Pop-up doors in Chicago

Everyone deserves a decent place to call home. For 50 years, Habitat has been turning that mission into reality by helping millions of people around the world build, improve or finance their homes.  

Today, we’re building on that momentum. 

We’re popping up in nine cities with an art installation of 10 doors, each featuring work from local artists and real homeowner stories. 

Together, they represent what’s possible with a safe, decent foundation. 

Building on our momentum.

Through hands-on builds, pop-up exhibits, compelling new research and powerful storytelling, we’re bringing housing to the center stage at a global scale. Learn more.

 

We popped up live in Chicago on May 30 and 31, 2026, at Queen’s Landing.

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Door mat that says, "Chicago is home" in front of an illustrated door with a toddler and his toys.
Wide shot of the digital doors exhibit with the Chicago skyline in the background.
The artist, a woman in a tan jacket and jeans posing next to an illustrated door with the green frame.
Two hands holding a mini print of a green door with a blue frame.
A door that says "Ford building together. Open the doors to resilience."
A teenager and woman in jeans and t-shirts posing on either side of a yellow door with information about how housing stability opens the door to wealth.
Little boy in a green shirt walking through a door with a green frame.
Mom and child viewing a mint green door with the Chicago skyline in the background.
A couple with their dog viewing a door with a pink frame.
Doormat that says, "Ford proudly opening doors with Habitat for Humanity since 2005."

Jacqueline Alcántara | Featured artist

Graphic art living room scene. A toddler in overalls with penguins on them next to a tan and white dog with toys in the background.
Black and white headshot of Jacqueline Alcantara.

Jacqueline Alcántara is a freelance illustrator and educator spending her days drawing, writing, walking her dogs and planning her next adventures. This is a teaser image of his door artwork.

Home means having a place that welcomes you in, inspires you to sit and draw, has a cozy spot for you to read, nourishes you with shared meals, and lets you collapse at the end of a long day.  

A home lets you procrastinate work by arranging and rearranging furniture. A home lets you experiment by painting walls and redecorating – always wondering what you want your home to say about you. 

A home reminds you of trips, people and fascinations through the doodads and photos on shelves and stuffed in drawers. A home holds memories of past friendships, relationships, roommates and versions of yourself.  

A home lets you dream about people and pets you hope will be a part of your life one day. A home is a bark and scratch at the door, good speakers and enough room to dance. A home means marking the passing years with baking another cake and having another family soul-train through the living room.  

A home means having a window to look out and watch the seasons change. Nighttime howls of coyotes on the tracks and people in the streets – break-ups or break-ins. A home means making space for those dreams realized. Converting a guest room into a studio into a nursery.  

A home means having a place to watch a baby grow and a family become a family. Finding toys, spatulas, and teeny-tiny socks everywhere. Finding surprises she left for you – a moldy lime and a long-lost credit card in your sock drawer.  

Home means having a floor to lie on, exhausted. Having a faint memory of using that couch to read. A home means having a safe, warm place to tuck in your babies at night, watch two minutes of TV in bed while you fall asleep, and realize how lucky you are.

Find Jacqueline on Instagram at @_Jacqueline_alcantara or visit her website.

Ford | Featured partner

An illustration of a dad playing with blocks on the floor of his home with his young son while a dog in the background looks on.
Ford building together logo

Ford is our featured sponsor and partner at our Chicago stop with their own door, representing what’s possible when families achieve housing stability.  

Together, Ford and Habitat for Humanity are building thriving communities that are more than homes. We’re creating pathways that help people move forward – into stability, opportunity and brighter futures. 

Our collaboration builds on a relationship that began in 2005, partnering with Habitat affiliates and local families to build the strength and stability needed to create more resilient communities. Learn more about this partnership.

Blue image with rows of blue doors superimposed on it.

Are we popping up in your city?

Learn about other pop-up locations and hear from homeowners about why home matters to them. Check out our other event stops!

Pop in!

Varias filas de puertas de dibujos animados en distintos colores.

Every gift opens a door

It starts with you. Your donation, even just $10, can open the door to a safe and decent home for many families.

Donate now

Explore Let’s Open the Door

  • A child's legs run out past an open white front door toward his mother who is standing and smiling in the front yard.

    Let's Open the Door

    Over the past fifty years, we have helped more than 65 million people around the world build, improve or finance places to call home. Now, we’re building on that momentum.

    Learn more

See Habitat’s impact in Chicago

Learn more

Get involved

Give, volunteer, speak up, get involved. 
Let’s open the door to brighter futures.  

  • A group of volunteers work together to lift up the frame of a house while more volunteers stand on top of the roof pulling the frame up.

    Volunteer

    Volunteer with Habitat in your community and around the world. With our help, families can achieve the strength, stability and independence they need to build a better life.

    Learn more
  • A blonde woman with her back to the camera faces the Capitol building Washington D.C. and holds a blue sign and an orange sign advocating for housing.

    Advocate

    Learn more about what advocacy is, why advocacy is important and the ways you can join Habitat for Humanity in advocating for safe, affordable housing.

    Read more
  • A group of volunteers celebrate in front of a newly built pink Habitat house by throwing confetti in the air.

    Donate

    Learn about ways you can support Habitat’s work — make a one-time donation, donate monthly, donate stock, donate a car, donate stuff and more.

    Learn more