Organizations, families work together to make dreams come true
By Tina Johansson Special to The News-Sun December 4, 2011 5:56PM
Shirley Pitts, (left) joins with family and friends as they put a hand on her new home during the Habitat for Humanity dedication for six families on 12th St. in Waukegan Saturday afternoon. December 3, 2011. | John Konstantaras~For Sun-Times Media
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Updated: February 3, 2012 1:58AM
It was a packed house for Irene Sanders and her two children Saturday, as their new home — a 2,000-square-foot quad-level at 1624 12th Street on the south side of Waukegan — was the location for a mass dedication for hers and five other families.
The new houses come courtesy of Habitat for Humanity Lake County, the City of Waukegan and many volunteers and donors that made it possible for the Sanders, Pitts, Rios, Maisonet, Howell, and Garrett families to have a new place of their own for the holidays.
“It’s very exciting. In many cases, they are the first in their family to own a house. They should be able to move in by Christmas,” said Julie Donovan, executive director for Habitat for Humanity. Sanders said all that awaits for her is a city-occupancy permit, which should take a week or two.
Donovan is quick to point out this is not a give-away program. “We like to say we give a hand up, not a hand out,” she said. Each new homeowner must meet certain criteria, including having a full-time job.
Partner families purchase the property with no-interest, 30-year mortgages at a cost that’s lower than going through a bank. “All they pay is principal and taxes,” said Donovan. Habitat makes no profit from the sale of the homes.
In addition, the home buyers complete 20 classes in intense financial literacy and budgeting, as well as putting in 500 hours of “sweat equity,” said Donovan. They often participate working on construction of the house, as well as volunteering at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore on Grand Ave. in Waukegan.
At the dedication celebration, partner families each received a bible, and after words of praise and dedication, they were given keys to their new homes.
For Sanders, a customer-service supervisor in Lincolnshire, the move into the soft canary-yellow abode with appliances included is a dream come true. “We were once homeless,” said Sanders, a single mother who will live in the house with daughters Jasmine and Laila.
“I was almost in a state of disbelief,” she said upon being notified in November about her new home. “But I felt God had answered my prayers. I am so appreciative and happy. Without Habitat, I wouldn’t be able to do it,”
The Pitts family — including Thomas, who works at Home Depot; his wife Shirley; and their children, Giselle and Lyon — will be living in a pale-green four-bedroom with a garage next door.
“It’s awesome. It’s just unbelievable,” said Shirley, a student at the College of Lake County. “Right now, I’m thinking, is this really happening? But I know its God’s doing. He smiled on us and really gave us a blessing.”
Shirley said what takes many participant families up to two years to achieve, has taken less than half a year for her family, who completed the requirements in record time. “I hope others can be as fortunate. I’m always telling people about the program and I pray that they can get a home too,” she said.
Habitat has recently switched gears and is aiming at more rehabs. “People are giving us vacant homes and the cities are happy,” said Donovan. Although vacant land is also being donated to the non-profit group for more new homes to be built.
Right now, Habitat is weatherizing homes for senior citizens at a cost of $150 plus eight hours volunteering at the ReStore. In the spring, the organization will offer outside painting and gutter cleaning in a program called Brush with Kindness. For more information, call (847) 623-1020.
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