DuPage Habitat for Humanity gives first home in future green community
Storm Kimbrough and her two children have not exactly had the most stable lives. They have moved from apartment to apartment and often have been forced to sleep at relatives' homes.
It has been rough on the children, as they have never had time to establish themselves in a school district or neighborhood. That is about to change.
Kimbrough and her twin 10-year-old children, Maalik and Michel, were handed the keys to the latest DuPage Habitat for Humanity home in West Chicago Sunday. It was an emotional moment for the woman, who at one time in her life had to sleep in her car because she had nowhere to stay. She said without the organization, her dream of becoming a homeowner would never have come true.
"It would probably just be a dream," said the teary-eyed single mother of two. "But this is definitely one dream that has come true. I can't even describe it in words."
The home is the first of what the organization plans to be 11 energy-efficient homes in the same three-acre neighborhood on and around Sherman Street in West Chicago.
Habitat has exceeded a goal of $4.5 million that it projected would be the total price of the community.
Students in a sustainable design class at College of DuPage recommended efficiency measures to be taken in the Pioneer Prairie neighborhood. All homes will be built to high energy standards and will include extensive material recycling as well as landscaping that is expected to have a minimal impact on the environment.
"It's thrilling when you have a project like this and it comes to fruition," said Habitat Executive Director Sarah Brachle. "Being able to look out and see the people who made it possible is gratifying and wonderful."
Several volunteers who helped build the home and donated their time for electric and plumbing work attended the 30-minute ceremony that preceded an open house.
About four years ago, Habitat bought land in West Chicago. After about 18 months of predevelopment work and then eight months of road and infrastructure installation, construction began on the Kimbrough's home in July.
"There is no way the model works without volunteers," Brachle said. "Our organization, more than most, is dependent and vulnerable without them and it's so rewarding when it all gels together."
During the open house, Storm's mother, Alfreda Kimbrough, wept as she toured the home for the first time.
After a long hug, Alfreda said she couldn't imagine how much better the children's lives would become.
"I just hope they now have a place to grow up," she said.
Storm Kimbrough said she was surprised when the organization accepted her application and invited her in for an interview.
"It's been a long journey for me and my kids," she said. "Besides my kids, it's the best thing that's ever happened to me. I am grateful they'll have stability in their lives."