Habitat for Humanity of Ogle County awarded $32,000 grant

A $32,000 grant will help Habitat for Humanity of Ogle County Inc. continue its mission to provide affordable housing for Ogle County residents.

Habitat has received a $32,000 grant from the Community Grants Program of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois with support from the Dr. Louis & Violet Rubin Fund for its Building New 2022 Habitat Life Stories.

Board President, Gail Tuttle and Vanessa White-Broome, Executive Director, announced the award this week.

“By partnering with those qualified in the Ogle County service area, our affiliate provides opportunities for homeownership thus opening doors to security, stability, hope, and a sense of pride in becoming a homeowner,” White-Broome said in a news release. “Though 2020 and 2021 were challenging years in so many aspects, our organization was able to continue to serve lower income residents in Ogle County with our various housing solutions.”

Habitat for Humanity of Ogle County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to eliminate poverty housing by building simple, decent affordable houses for people in need, helping to revitalize neighborhoods and communities. With volunteer labor and tax deductible donations of materials and money, the agency builds and rehabilitates houses with the help of the homeowner (partner) families.

“In 2020 our largest project started was a 4-bedroom home for a family of 6. We are so thankful for the and their long standing support of our organization,” White-Broome said . “In large part due to prior grant awards, we have been able to help more families live in decent, sustainable and affordable housing. In the year 2021 Habitat also completed two handicap ramp projects, and other Brush with Kindness repair projects. All these projects improved day to day living activities for our new Habitat partner families.”

White-Broome said Habitat was excited to share this grant award news with the Ogle County community.

“We are very appreciative to the Board of Trustees of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, as well as countless other individuals and businesses who support our organization in one way or another,” she said. “This support has enabled us to serve many families over the years who dreamed of living in safe and affordable housing. We are fortunate to be based in a county that understands why we do what we do year after year.”

Habitat for Ogle County partners each year with families and individuals to offer them opportunities to reside in improved housing.

“We believe that everyone, everywhere should have a healthy, affordable place to call home. When an individual helps build or improve their residence, they are not only building a better life for themselves, but also building a better community,” White-Broome said.

The 2021/22 Community Foundation funds from the Dr. Louis and Violet Rubin Fund, received in December 2021, through the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, will assist in serving more families as Habitat for Humanity of Ogle County fulfills its mission.

“Since our start up in 2002, we’ve been building affordable quality homes for lower income families that might not otherwise have qualified for a mortgage. Our programs are a “hands up, not a hand-out,” White-Broome said. “Specifically, the 2021/2022 $32,000 grant award will assist greatly with our 2021 building projects. One project planned is the building of a 3-4 bedroom home in Rochelle, and Brush with Kindness projects that will result in repairs and ramps.”

The agency’s goal remains working alongside individuals in Ogle County to improve their living conditions by offering opportunities for a more stable life as a homeowner, she said.

“The $32,000 grant funds from CFNIL for 2022 will aid greatly in serving more Ogle County families,” she said.

The mission of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois is to serve as a catalyst for giving in order to attract, preserve, and grow an endowment for the current and future needs of the people of Northern Illinois. Since its founding in 1953, CFNIL has granted more than $65 million for charitable purposes in the region.