Habitat for Humanity celebrating 20 years in Lake County
Habitat for Humanity has found a fitting way to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its Lake County branch.
Volunteers are involved in what the organization is calling a 20-day "blitz build" of a home on Waukegan's far South Side. Construction on the house began July 6 and will be ready for dedication Saturday, July 25, as part of a 20th anniversary block party.
Habitat's special home will be affordable and energy efficient. It's rising in the organization's Carter Crossing subdivision near Lewis Avenue and 14th Street in Waukegan.
Julie Donovan, executive director of Habitat's Lake County affiliate, was among the local leaders who attended a wall-raising ceremony for the home that'll be occupied by Lateashia Brown-Crite and her daughters, Idris, 15, Irielle, 13, and Imari, 8.
"It was just a few short weeks ago we stood here on dirt," Donovan said at the July 7 event.
Poor housing conditions forced the Brown-Crite family to move three times in the past seven years, according Habitat. She and her family are contributing 500 hours of labor toward what will be their new home or other Habitat needs.
Brown-Crite said she intends to set aside cash she doesn't spend on utility bills and put it toward her children's college education.
"Habitat for Humanity has shown me that with partnership, hard work and dedication, my family can have a safe home," Brown-Crite said.
In its 20 years in Lake County, Habitat has built 120 houses. Habitat plans to have 10 homes built by year's end.
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry working to end poverty housing across the world. The organization states it follows a self-help model of constructing simple, affordable homes for those in need.
Officials stress Habitat doesn't give away the houses, but instead requires them to be sold at no profit to families who must to spend 500 hours building their home assisting the organization in other tasks. The families buy the houses with no-interest mortgages.