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...A hand-up to home ownership! |
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ABOUT US Will County Habitat for Humanity
Since
its incorporation in 1988, Habitat for Humanity has built 53 houses in our
community - 20 houses in Joliet and 32 houses in Lockport Township. The
houses are on scattered sites. This affordable housing program qualifies
families earning 30 to 50 percent of the median income for our area.
Selected families must have good credit because Habitat for Humanity not only
builds a house with them, Habitat also loans the family the money to purchase
the house. No profit is added to the house price and the loan has zero
interest. Families must demonstrate need for the Habitat housing during
their selection process. The Family Partnership In addition to being financially capable to pay back a mortgage, selected Habitat families commit to work a minimum of 350 hours of sweat equity helping to build their own home and other Habitat families’ homes. Families also attend mandatory seminars on budgeting and home maintenance as part of their preparation for homeownership. At times the building process, doing sweat equity and moving into and adjusting to their new house can be daunting for a family so Habitat for Humanity relies upon its family advocate volunteers to walk beside their particular family as a friend and a resource until the family has been living in their house for a year – longer, if mutually agreed upon The
Community Partnership
Besides
volunteerism, partnership is at the core of
the Habitat for Humanity program. The Habitat program is not just for the
betterment of families, it also betters the community. The building and
trades classes at Lockport Township High School have constructed 10 Habitat
houses in Fairmont in as many years. Two classes of students per school
day each work an hour and a half learning about the trades by working in a
real laboratory setting. Joliet Junior College HVAC students and
electrical classes work on Habitat for Humanity sites as well. WILCO
Career Center began a partnership in the 2006-2007 school year. These
are win-win situations where the students receive real hands-on instruction
and Habitat gets a house constructed. The partnership of Habitat for
Humanity with the County of Will and the City of Joliet has provided much
needed HOME dollars in support of the house building. These HOME
dollars coupled with a house sponsorship of $65,000 and hours of volunteer
time assure that families are selected and supported, land is acquired,
building materials are purchased (or donated) and the structure is
completed. Volunteers come from corporations, churches and interested
individuals. The same is true of dollars and gifts-in-kind. One
of the most exciting partnerships in recent times was the 2004 partnership
with Kensington Homes and Lakewood Homes. Both of these homebuilders
funded and built side-by-side Habitat houses in Lockport on Rev. Walton
Drive. You
Can Help
The organization currently sustains the funding and building of 4 to 6 houses per year for families in Will County. (A tithe to Habitat for Humanity International makes possible building an additional 4 or 5 houses a year in Lesotho, Africa). Some 150 to 200 families register their need for the Habitat program each year. Four to six families are qualified. Will County Habitat for Humanity constantly seeks the ability to partner with more families in need to build additional Habitat houses. Volunteers are the life force of building this simple, decent affordable housing. Contact us today! Will County Habitat for Humanity Suite 2W |
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