Volunteers posing for the camera at a project site at the Village of Hanover Park.

Actor Jim Belushi and homeowner Jeanette Jelinek at the Spring 2015 Women Build event.

There are nearly 1,400 Habitat for Humanity affiliates around the world. Only 23 of them have earned “Affiliate of Distinction” status, an award established in 2013 to honor local chapters as “the best of the best” on a national classifying scale.

DuPage Habitat for Humanity in Wheaton, Ill., a nonprofit founded in 1995, joined the lofty ranks of the elite this year.

The distinction is a culmination of years of refining its programs and internal operating systems. This internal examination has led to the affiliate’s ability to become 100 percent self-sufficient when it comes to supporting its overhead costs.

A significant part of its $5 million annual budget is funded by its restoration thrift store, “ReStore”, located in Addison, Ill. The store raised more than a million dollars last year under the concept of accepting and selling donated building materials and accessories that give local residents a chance to inexpensively remodel their own homes.

Steve Brennan, Director of Construction for DuPage Habitat, says the concept is so successful a second thrift store is planned to open this fall.

“We have a bright future,” Brennan says. “I was in private construction of affordable housing for 30 years before I joined this organization. The more I found out about it, the more I felt it aligned with my beliefs on building. We have some wonderful programs, but it’s important to know this isn’t a ‘hand-out’ program; it’s a ‘hand up.’ We require families who want to own a Habitat home to contribute a minimum 250 hours of sweat-equity volunteer time per person on title. We don’t restrict how that is accomplished, it could be in the office or with hammer and nail; having them be part of the process is what’s important.”

Empowering Women

One of Brennan’s favorite programs and a distinguishing point of DuPage Habitat is its Women Build program. In the spring and fall, DuPage Habitat offers women the opportunity to come together to build homes. The 2017 Fall Women Build event took place September 23-30 in Bensenville and Hanover Park—suburbs of Chicago.

The focus of Women Build events is to recruit, educate and empower women to build and to be advocates for affordable housing. Individual skill levels hardly matter because, just like all Habitat builds, part of the program is to teach and train all participants on the building site.

“It’s really kind of amazing to see,” Brennan says. “Women are cutting wood, hammering nails, building houses. It’s very common to see a crew leader teaching a task. It’s exciting to have someone looking over your shoulder and having them ask to try to do what you’re doing. They’ll take out a power tool they’ve never used before and end up looking like a pro.”

The DuPage affiliate served 37 families this year and is expecting to help 52 in 2018. A major coup for the organization is that, this coming spring, the women builders will be taking part in developing 27 town-homes in Hanover Park.

The women’s program is so popular, DuPage Habitat is planning on building two homes for families this fall with each project having between 100 and 150 women volunteers on site.

Tired, Dirty and Most of All—Happy

“The first concern with every volunteer on any project is safety,” Brennan says. “The second is that volunteers come away having great experiences so they’ll want to tell their friends and family and come back. If you go home dirty, sweaty, tired and smiling, we’ve done our job.”

Dale Showalter, founder of Showalter Roofing Service, started volunteering with the DuPage affiliate more than a decade ago. “We provide anything that is needed to roof their projects,” Showalter says. “Sometimes we also step in to help with carpentry needs to move a project along so that the home can get a roof, which is critical to keep the inside work going.”

He adds: “The staff at DuPage Habitat is very forward thinking. These subdivision and townhome projects were born out of creative thought processes. The staff supports us as a contractor to make the most effective use of our talents. They engage with the community and are extremely encouraging to their clients, volunteers and contractors. They make it possible for our community to partner with them in providing help for those in need.”

The Ripple Effect is Real

Habitat for Humanity International is the umbrella organization for DuPage Habitat and it has affiliates in nearly 70 countries. Since its early beginnings in 1976, the international group has helped more than 9.8 million people improve their living conditions. Every 50 seconds, Habitat for Humanity is helping a family somewhere in the world access safe, decent and affordable housing.

However, the help it provides is just as important in local communities as it is impactful in other countries overseas.

DuPage County is one of the wealthiest counties in the U.S., with the median house costing $345,000, according to Realtor.com. The high price tag clearly limits affordable housing options for many families in the area, so Habitat for Humanity’s efforts are greatly appreciated on many levels.

“The ripple effect goes far beyond the families the homes eventually house,” Brennan says. “Every volunteer that comes on board, it’s changing part of his or her life. It takes about 8,000 volunteer hours to build one Habitat house. Each hour has a ripple effect for the volunteer’s family, friends and children. It’s amazing to be a part of it.”

To volunteer or to sign up for housing, go to www.dupagehabitat.org.