Habitat for Humanity-LBPC is delaying the starting of a Princeton home construction until the ground thaws in the spring of 2024.
Therefore, Habitat will take additional applicants for a new Princeton home until a time that has not been determined.
VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED
We are working at 402 7th St., Peru. We start work at 7:00 AM on Saturdays and Thursdays. Helmets and safety glasses are required. If volunteers don’t have these Habitat will provide them.
A NEW HOME IN PRINCETON IS BECOMING AVAILABLE
Please click on the Apply For A Home page of this website for more information.
A new Habitat home is being built at 402 7th. St., Peru.
The Cord and Kelsie Bernier family has agreed to partner with Habitat for Humanity-LBPC to move to 402 7th St., Peru sometime in late 2023.
Bernier Meet and Greet at 402 7th St., Peru
(from left to right) board members Joe Goskusky, Kris Paul, family members Kelsie Bernier – mom, Cord Bernier – dad, Izybela Williams – 13 yr old, Maverik Bernier – 5 yr old, Ivy Bernier – 4 yr old, Habitat bookkeeper and loan originator Fran Gibson, Habitat chairman Tom Pigati, and board member Dan Fitzgerald
- On iPhones or Androids and other small screen devices please click on the three brown horizontal lines on the right side of the black rectangle above and, then click on the + to the right of Apply For A Home and then click on the desired page. Please turn your device 90 degrees horizontally to view it better.
PLEASE GIVE
We ask that you contribute to the work of Habitat for Humanity here in our area. We work to help create stronger families and stronger communities.
Please send contributions to Habitat for Humanity, 1011 Shooting Park Road, Peru, IL 61354. To access or DONATE page click here. If you have any questions about donations, please call us at (815) 434-2041.
We look forward to a busy, successful, happy 2023 as we continue our work in La Salle, Bureau, and Putnam counties. And we wish you all the best blessings!
Volunteer Coordinator position available
We are seeking the right kind of person for the volunteer “Volunteer Coordinator” position. This is an unpaid professional position within the affiliate offices, at a minimum of 12 hours each week. This is a critical function for our organization: strong volunteers make a real difference in our success. In this role you will locate and onboard skilled volunteers in the community to work with our upcoming house builds, assist with our repair program, and work with our Habitat ReStore operation. To learn more, please contact the Habitat affiliate at (815) 434-2041 or use our Contact Us page.
There is more about our ReStore on our LOCAL NEWS page.
To shop online at our ReStore please click here!
Habitat for Humanity-LBPC has a new Executive Director
Mr. Todd Volker (above) is our new Executive Director. Mr.Volker comes to us with experience in small business real estate development and philanthropy projects.
It Was A Celebration!
A Brand New Home in Ladd for the Heath Family!
Shown above at the Ladd Habitat for Humanity House Warming Party are (left to right) Father Ronald Magherio OSB, Habitat Administrative Assistant Fran Gibson, Habitat for Humanity-LBPC former Executive Director Sally Van Cura, Mr. David Magherio standing in front of the Heath family Justin, Kayla, Hazel, and Evelynn.
Father Ronald Magherio OSB (sixth from right) leads in prayer with Habitat for Humanity-LBPC Board President Dan Fitzgerald (fourth from right) and Board members Dr. Frank Zeller (left) and Mr. Martin Wineiger (second from left) and Board Treasurer Mr. James Lobraco (third from left) nodded in prayer.
Many of the contributing organizations can be seen on our Sponsor Page on this website.
Anyone interested in being involved in future Habitat projects go to our Get Involved page on this web
site to take an online safety course.
Our local Habitat for Humanity-LBPC has a new ReStore. Please go to our Local News page for more information.
Habitat for Humanity-LBPC has found a new family to partner with us for a new home in Ladd.
Habitat for Humanity-LBPC and The Village of Ladd are proud to announce and welcome our next partnering family. Thanks to the “can do” commitment of The Village of Ladd along with the hard work of the Habitat Family Search Committee, the Heath family (shown right/above) will soon be able to call the citizens of Ladd their neighbors. Justin, Kayla and daughter Hazel are pictured. A second daughter Evelynn was born on March 22.
PLEASE NOTE: Habitat is taking applications for a new home in Princeton. The time period to apply for a Habitat home in Peru has expired. Please check this website for future home-owning opportunities.
Please watch this website for future housing opportunities. The Habitat Family Search Committee chose the Heath family to partner with us on home # 16.
It Was A CELEBRATION!
And A parade!
Many joined us as we celebrated the new forever home of Valerie McAvoy and her girls.
Nothing would stop our EXCITEMENT!
We thank the Ottawa Police Department!
It took a community to build this forever home for Valerie and her girls!
It was time to celebrate as a community!
Valerie and her girls (upper-left and left) – former Habitat Executive Director Sally Van Cura & Habitat Administrative Assistant Fran Gibson (upper-right) – Ottawa Police leading the parade (right)
More construction site volunteer work oportunities are soon to be available. Please call our office weekday mornings (815) 434-2041 for information.
Please watch this web site for further information.
Please call our Peru office (weekday mornings) to register.
To volunteer please call the phone # above and go to our Get Involved page.
SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS – listed below
facebook:
Habitat–LBPC – https://www.facebook.com/Habitat.LBPC/
or click on Find us on Facebook above any page of this web site
Habitat–LBPC – private volunteer group – please click below
https://facebook.com/groups/306773670235299/
Club Ladd 89 – Ladd Build –https://www.facebook.com/local.habita
Twitter @Habitat4LBPCHabitat for Humanity-LBPC Has Helped Another Veteran’s Family
Mr. Jeremy Close and wife and two small children are currently rehabilitating a two story residence on Ottawa Avenue in Ottawa.
The Close family will call this residence their home and the house will be home to Jeremy’s woodworking business. Jeremy (shown right/above wearing a hat and doing a radio interview on June 2020) is a veteran of two U.S. military combat tours. Habitat-LBPC provided 213 sheets of drywall along with all new replacement windows for the entire home. The Close family received two toilets. two sinks, insulation, two exterior doors, tiles, a new dishwasher and many gallions of paint from Habitat-LBPC. IKEA and Habitat provided new kitchen cabinets. Volunteers accounted for over 200 hours of work. Financial contributions included: Miller Group Charitable Trust $5,000; Walmart $1,000; Cosco $600; private donations, including through a go-fund-me page over $3,400.
Habitat for Humanity’s Veterans Build is a national initiative aimed at providing homeownership, volunteer engagement to U.S. veterans and their families Habitat for Humanity-LBPC is a participating affiliate.
Please Note: Assistance to a previous veteran’s family is described farther down this web page.
Who does it take to build a Habitat home … it takes a caring community and YOU.
Shown below is the new foundation built by contributing organizations and individuals. The Club Ladd 89 organization has raised a substantial amount of their $89,000 goal. The Club Ladd 89 facebook page can be found by clicking here..
Shown below is the substantially finished Habitat for Humanity home in Ladd.
There are four new Habitat homes that have been constructed in Bureau County for Bureau County families along with thirteen new homes and two rehabbed homes constructed in the other two counties of our local Habitat’s three county area. All can be viewed in reverse order of when they were completed on our Properties page. The second and third shown are two rehabbed homes in Streator. The remaining thirteen are new with one Streator duplex included.
The photo below is of the our local Habitat’s (#16) McAvoy home at 1206 1/2 Catherine St., Ottawa.
Habitat for Humanity-LBPC Selected The McAvoy Family
The Valerie McAvoy family was recently selected to partner with Habitat for a new home on Catherine St. on the south side of Ottawa.
Valerie McAvoy is shown shortly after being selected with daughters Olivia (left) and Jayda. The McAvoy family are paying a low interest loan and have moved into their new home. Construction people and donors made this dream a reality for the McAvoys.
To ask questions, please contact Todd Volker, Executive Director at (815) 434-2041 or email Todd at [email protected]. Please like and share our facebook page. To access, please click on the facebook icon above any page on this web site.
Habitat for Humanity-LBPC Broke Ground in July 2019 for the McAvoy Home
Shown left to right are Olivia, Jayda, with mom Valerie McAvoy, Illinois State Representative Lance Yednock, former Trinity Lutheran Church Pastor Nathan Feig, Ottawa Mayor Dan Aussem and Habitat for Humanity-LBPC President Dan Fitzgerald
Habitat for Humanity LBPC along with Town and Country Services and Bryant Heading and Cooling teamed up to help a local veteran’s family
Michael Wright is a disabled veteran with three overseas deployments. His family of six has purchased a home in Streator. The furnace was old and unable to keep their family warm this winter. They turned to Habitat for Humanity of La Salle, Putnam and Bureau Counties for help.
When the HFH board of directors heard of the Wright’s dilemma, they immediately put the Habitat home-owner repair project in motion.
Michael and Cassandra Wright are shown in their Streator home.
One of the board’s 2019 goals was to offer a hand-up to local veterans.
When Bob Goskusky, owner of Town and Country Services was contacted by Habitat executive director Sally Van Cura, he immediately produced a plan to install a brand new Bryant furnace.
Town and Country Services is a local family owned business that has been serving our community since 1919.
The Wrights are now comfortable in their home and are wishing everyone a Happy New Year!
Rick Spangler of Town and Country Services is shown installing the new Bryant furnace at the Wright home in Streator.
Habitat for Humanity has completed three recent home repair projects for families through The Brush with Kindness program. One involved a home foundation, another a roof and the third home received new windows and some roof renovations
More information is available on our local chapter facebook page found above any page on yhis web site.
A Family has Received a Habitat Home
Habitat for Humanity-LBPC and the James and Lenka Coyne family are partnering together. The Coynes have moved into a like-new rehabbed home on Shabbona St. in Streator. James is a veteran and currently works for Caterpillar in nearby Pontiac. Lenka is a full-time homemaker.
This Shabbona St. home is the second rehabbed home our local Habitat affiliate area and the fourteenth in our three county area. The first twelve houses were new constructions made to the specifications of the partnering families.
This project was made possible by the generosity of the Margeret Kashak family and many other generous donors. Please go to our Sponsors page to see a list of many contributing organizations and some of the individuals.
Our Habitat affiliate President on this project and two previous homes was Rich Larson. Janie Larson served as Executive Director. The Project Manager for this home and one previous Habitat home was Jeff Coyne.
Habitat owns lots in La Salle County and Bureau County and is preparing for project # 18.
Habitat, through our Brush with Kindness program, has installed new windows, repaired foundations and installed new roofs and porches for existing family homes. Please Contact Us us about qualifying if you’re interested.
Habitat for Humanity- LBPC and the Enrique and Ashley Diaz family of four have continued partnering with Habitat and now live in our first ever rehabbed home. Enrique and Ashley along with two year old Reece and baby Graham are in the kitchen of this fourth Streator Habitat home. Habitat volunteers completed the finishing touches on this home, late in 2014, which has all new electrical, plumbing, insulation, drywall, kitchen cabinets and counters, kitchen and laundry appliances along with new exterior siding, and roofing. The home is energy efficient with a new furnace and air conditioning unit.
Pictured is a photo of this Hall St., Streator home.
Our next family has been selected for a Habitat home in 2019. Habitat is raising money for this home. The next new home (#15) is located on the south side of Ottawa. Please follow this web site and local media for details. Submitting a completed Habitat Homeowners Application during our next announced open application period allows our Family Selection Committee to evaluate the needs and qualifications of interested families. Habitat provides help with filling out applications.
Some of our many local partnering homeowner families are single adults. Some of our families are large families. Some of our families have had severe financial difficulties in the past. Habitat does not discriminate in any way. If you are interested in a Habitat home, please follow the procedures described below.
Interested families will ask for and receive applications as a pdf file attached to an email or by regular mail, or you can download it and print it by going to the Apply for a Home page on this web site.
Our mailing address can be found on the Contact Us page of this web site, or you may call 815-434-2041 or email [email protected]. Please contact us if you have any questions.
Habitat homes are built or rehabbed in partnership with future homeowners. All homeowners are required to put in many hours of “sweat equity” where they are hands on with the building process. After making a down payment of about $750, the family is provided a no-interest paid mortgage. The annual income requirements for the Streator home ranges from $30,000 to $55,000 depending on the size of the family. Please check our Apply for a Home age in this web site for more information.
A New House in Ottawa
Late in 2012, Habitat for Humanity -LBPC selected the Snell family of Ottawa for the new 912 W. Superior St., Ottawa home. The Snell family qualified and consented to partner with Habitat and then moved into their new home. Ms. Snell is a single mom with three children. Their picture appears on Local News. A number of families applied and were considered by the Family Selection Committee. Home visits were made, financial records were reviewed, applications were studied, interviews were conducted and a family reccommendation was made to the HfH-LBPC Board. The Snell family was then approved and accepted.
Please check our Properties page on this web site to view eleven (almost twelve) Habitat new single family homes, one new duplex and two rehabbed homes that have been constructed for local families starting in 1996.
The Ottawa Township High School Building Trades Instructor Mr. Dave Keely and HFH-LBPC Project Manager Mr. Mike Knapp served as Co-Site Supervisors on this project.
LaSalle, Bureau and Putnam Counties HFH is a locally run affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing organization. Habitat for Humanity works in partnership with people in need to build and renovate decent, affordable housing. The houses then are sold to those in need at no profit and loans are provided interest free.
Volunteers provide most of the labor, and individual and corporate donors provide money and materials to build Habitat houses. Partner families themselves invest hundreds of hours of labor – “sweat equity” – into building their homes and the homes of others. Their mortgage payments go into a revolving fund for Humanity that is used to build more homes.
Our Board and Staff
Todd Volker is our Exective Director; Fran Gibson is our Certified Mortgage Originator and Bookkeeper; Jessica Brayfield is our Procurement Officer; Martin Wineinger is our ReStore Manager. Tom Pigati is our Chairman; Lee McCullough, Secretary; James P. Lobraco Jr., Treasurer; Dr. Frank Zeller Vice-Chairman; Dan Fitzgerald Ex-Chairman. Rene Ficek, Joe Goskusky and Kris Paul are our newest Board members.
Are you interested in becoming involved with Habitat for Humanity-La Salle, Bureau & Putnam Counties?
Habitat for Humanity-LBPC is always looking for people interested in our mission to provide affordable, safe housing. We are in need of people with backgrounds in real estate, public relations, social work and home construction. We also have a need for people with a passion for building relationships for this mission. Please contact us if you are interested in finding out how to be involved with Habitat for Humanity-LBPC. We can be reached at our office at 815-434-2041 or fill out the form on our Get Involved page.