Background

Founded in DuPage County in late 1994 by Dick and Florence Nogaj, DuPage Habitat for Humanity® became a reality. Leaders within the community served on a Steering Committee to develop a Board of Directors. Today, a strong knowledge of housing, construction, fundraising, family nurturing, and/or nonprofit organization experience makes up the current team. If you are interested in becoming involved, please call us at 630-510-3737.

A Decent Affordable Home For Eligible Families

What is Habitat for Humanity® International? Founded in 1976 by Linda and Millard Fuller, Habitat for Humanity® International seeks to eliminate substandard housing from the world and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action by having people from the community of affluence work together with the community of need. Habitat builds new relationships and a sense of community as well as new housing.

How Does It Work?

Through volunteer labor, management expertise, and tax-deductible donations of money and materials, the DuPage Habitat affiliate builds and/or rehabilitates condos, townhouses, and single family homes with the help of volunteers and prospective homeowners. Homes are sold at no profit to partner families, and 0% interest mortgages are issued over a fixed period of time. Small monthly mortgage payments, including taxes and insurance, are repaid and deposited into the DuPage Habitat Fund for Humanity® which pays for the construction of more homes.

Where Is Habitat for Humanity®?

Habitat for Humanity® is growing rapidly throughout the world. With over 1,500 affiliates in all 50 of the United States, and over 1,000 projects in 55 countries worldwide, USA Today recently reported that Habitat for Humanity® will be the world's largest builder of homes by the year 2000.

How Do I Get Involved?

Spread the Word! We are always looking for people to serve as volunteers and committee members. You can become involved by joining one of several committees such as Site Selection, Family Selection, Family Partnering, Fundraising, Speakers Bureau, Building, Volunteer, and Publicity. You can help by getting your company, church, or community group interested in sponsoring a home! Whatever you may do at work could help as well. We are always looking for professional services. And, of course, you can send a check to DuPage Habitat for Humanity® as a one time gift or as an ongoing donation.

Did You Know?

Despite record levels in home sales, and gains in employment and income levels, the crisis in the availability of simple, decent, affordable housing both nationwide and in DuPage County is tremendous.
 

• More than 24,000 households pay more than 50% of their income towards housing costs;

• 7,100 households live in substandard housing;

• 5,000 residents live in over-crowded conditions in DuPage County; and

• 6,500 DuPage households are potential applicants to the DuPage Habitat housing program.

DuPage Habitat for Humanity® is one of the few resources available in DuPage County to meet the affordable housing needs of limited income households. Starting in 1995 with 75 volunteers, the housing ministry of DuPage Habitat for Humanity® has grown to more than 5,000 skilled and unskilled volunteers, individuals, donors, businesses, and faith-based communities working in "partnership" with selected families to address the problem of substandard housing in DuPage County. To-date, houses have been built or rehabbed for 23 DuPage County families, the new homes to 78 children.

DuPage Habitat for Humanity® is not a giveaway program. There is a joint venture between Habitat, future homeowners, and volunteers in which families must invest hundreds of hours of "Sweat Equity" into the construction of their home and others. This helps to reduce the cost of the home and increase the pride of the families as they help build their own homes along with volunteers and other future homeowners. In this way, Habitat is "a Hand Up, not a Hand Out". Habitat seeks to build lives as well as houses. Lives are changed and the cycle of need is broken. 

 How Are Partner Families Selected And What Do You Mean By "Partnering"?

Families or individuals are selected and approved for participation in the housing program based on four criteria. Each "Applicant Family" must be a resident of DuPage County; have the need for decent, affordable housing; have the ability to make mortgage payments; and pay other housing expenses; and have a "willingness to partner."  There is a "partnering" between DuPage Habitat and families in need of better housing who demonstrate a willingness to commit to the terms of "sweat equity". Each adult applicant, as a "Partner" family member is required to invest a MINIMUM of 250 hours of "sweat equity" towards the construction and purchase of their house. A two-parent "Partner" family will typically invest a total of 750 to 900 hours of sweat equity by the time of the purchase of their house.  Families apply directly to the DuPage Habitat office after attending an Orientation/ Application Meeting. The Family Selection Committee chooses homeowners based on their level of need, their willingness to become partners in the program, and their ability to repay the loan. Every building program follows a non-discriminatory policy of family selection. Race and religion are never factors in choosing families that purchase a Habitat home.

The Underlying Principles Of Habitat For Humanity® Are "Faith" and "Partnership"

Habitat for Humanity® gives people a tangible way to live their faith. Faith is love in action and love in action is service. DuPage Habitat "partners" with individuals, trade union leaders and members, businesses, and faith-based communities to raise finds, build houses, and empower families
 

• 4,000 volunteer hours are needed to build one new DuPage Habitat house.

• For every one hour on the construction of a single house, it takes another three volunteer hours working "behind the scenes" by serving on the eight operating committees and fund raising events.

• 16,000 total volunteer hours are needed to serve a "designated" Family and build a single house.

• 700 "building" volunteers will construct one DuPage Habitat house.

• 200 active volunteers serve as office volunteers, members of the eight operating committees, and at fund raising events.

The Mission Of DuPage Habitat For Humanity®

The mission of DuPage Habitat for Humanity® is to provide opportunities for home ownership to limited income families or individuals, and to put the reality of substandard housing in the minds and hearts of DuPage residents in such a powerful way that unattainable home ownership for these families or individuals becomes politically, socially, and religiously unacceptable.