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Community Corner

DuPage Habitat for Humanity Double Home Dedication

DuPage Habitat Celebrates Pioneer Prairie Completion With a Double Home Dedication

WHEATON, IL – This Christmas, two families will receive gifts too big to fit under the tree.  The Wells and Gibson families will cut the ribbons on and receive keys to their new homes in the Pioneer Prairie community in West Chicago.  DuPage Habitat for Humanity will draw a busy year to a celebratory close with a double home dedication for the families at 2 p.m. on Sunday, December 4. DuPage Habitat is the local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, an ecumenical Christian housing ministry dedicated to helping limited-income families achieve the dream of homeownership. 

“It means so much to my family and me to move into our new home, especially right before the holidays,” Wells said. “We’re so happy and proud to be part of the Pioneer Prairie community and to have reached the goal of homeownership with DuPage Habitat for Humanity.”

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The event also marks the completion of the Pioneer Prairie development, a project that began in June 2009. The three-acre residential subdivision is comprised of 11 energy-efficient detached single-family homes that embody Habitat’s commitment to cost-conscious development and environmentally conscious design. The plans for the innovative West Chicago community incorporated technical advice from a team of green experts for use in DuPage Habitat’s first-ever green community.

“The Pioneer Prairie community is truly a community undertaking.  It has been built, in large part, by volunteers and funded through donations from corporations, faith-based groups, individuals and government in our community,” said DuPage Habitat Executive Director Sarah Brachle.

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Leadership sponsors on the project include: Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Matrex Exhibits, Ambitech Engineering, American Bankers Association, Tyndale House Publishers, IBEW Local 701 and Northeastern Illinois NECA, Trinity Lutheran Church in Lisle, Goldman Sachs, Air-Rite Heating and Cooling, ComEd, Mark and Denise Fessler, Nicor, Painters and Allied Trades Union (District 30), Seyfarth Shaw LLP, and Showalter Roofing.  The project has also received funding from the DuPage County Department of Community Commission’s CDBG and HOME programs.

DuPage Habitat for Humanity builds and sells homes to qualified hard-working, limited-income families. Families must earn sufficient income to pay their 30-year mortgages to DuPage Habitat. In addition, homeowners complete 250 “sweat equity” hours by building their own home as well as their neighbors’ homes and participating in finance, budgeting and home repair classes. All Habitat homeowners pay local property taxes, utilities and insurance.

“Being a Habitat partner family is so much more than building a house,” said Gibson. “We build relationships, partnerships and a sense of community through sweat equity. You realize that so many people care, worked and gave to make my dream a reality.”

For families interested in partnering with DuPage Habitat on the journey to homeownership, they must attend one of the upcoming information sessions.  The last one for 2011 will be held on Wednesday, November 30th from 6:30-8:30pm. All sessions are held at the DuPage Habitat office at 1600 E. Roosevelt Road in Wheaton. All applicants must be present and on time for each session; additionally, prospective applicants must stay for the entire session to be eligible to apply. Please visit www.dupagehabitat.org for more details on becoming a DuPage Habitat homeowner.

About DuPage Habitat for Humanity

DuPage Habitat for Humanity is a locally run affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing organization. DuPage Habitat serves DuPage County, Illinois and works in partnership with people in need to build modest and affordable housing by building and renovating houses using donated materials and volunteer labor. These houses are then sold to limited-income families needing decent shelter.  Those who qualify must demonstrate their commitment to home ownership by investing 250 hours of sweat equity and repaying the cost of their house through a no-interest long-term loan. This “giving a hand up—not a hand out” approach gives families pride in their accomplishment of homeownership.  For further information please visit www.dupagehabitat.org.

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