Recruiting Our Veterans for Habitat for Humanity Partners

Of nearly 4 million U.S. veteran households, more than 1.5 million pay more than 50 percent of their income for housing, a severe cost burden, despite having access to VA loans and other assistance.

So that a local veteran family will be able to obtain simple, decent, and affordable housing, Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity, a Montgomery-based affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, is launching a search for a local veteran family to partner in a house project.

An information session for veterans and other prospective homeowners will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, March 30, at the FVHH office at Genesis Community Church, 1300 S. Broadway in Montgomery.

The Rev. Jeffrey Barrett, FVHH executive director and Genesis pastor, will discuss becoming a Habitat homeowner.

Information packets and applications will be available. Childcare will not be provided.

The information meeting will be conducted in English. Spanish translation may be requested by calling (630) 859-3333 by March 22.

Rev. Barrett said criteria for becoming a Habitat homeowner include a need for housing, ability to pay a no-interest mortgage, and willingness to invest sweat equity—volunteer labor—by working on a Habitat home, at events or at the Aurora ReStore.

According to Rev. Barrett, the Montgomery Habitat chapter is joining Veterans Build, Habitat for Humanity’s national initiative to provide housing solutions and volunteer and employment opportunities to U.S. veterans, military service members, and their families.

Veterans Build is a high profile, nationally branded, award-winning Habitat initiative. Results include:

HFH of Orange County, Calif., completed a 27-home development in 2010 in partnership with nine veteran and two-active duty military families.

More than 400 veteran partner families were served in 2011.

Twenty Habitat affiliates have enrolled since the Veterans Build public launch.

About Fox Valley Habitat

Founded in 1989 in Aurora, Fox Valley Habitat is a local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, Inc., a nonprofit housing ministry that partners with low-income families needing basic shelter. 

FVHH dedicated its 50th house in December in North Aurora.

The volunteer-rehabbed townhome was FVHH’s first project outside Aurora and Montgomery.

For more information, call 630-859-3333, email j.barrett@foxvalleyhabitat.org or visit foxvalleyhabitat.org.