Achieve the American dream with DuPage Habitat for Humanity

The DuPage Habitat for Humanity will host an informational session for potential homebuyers from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 21. Register at dupagehabitat.galaxydigital.com. The sessions are held at the DuPage Habitat home office, 1600 E. Roosevelt in Wheaton.

In fiscal year 2019, DuPage Habitat for Humanity welcomed six families to the homes they helped build and renovate.

The dedications of these houses represented all the work the families put into their homes during sweat equity. Sweat equity at Habitat is a new homeowner investing in their home or one for another family. It's not a form of payment, but an opportunity to work alongside volunteers who give their time to bring to life a family's dream of owning a home.

Families who partner with Habitat are taking an active role in changing their circumstances. Their partnership is an investment in the future for themselves and their families.

Habitat assists the homebuyer by offering a hand-up - not a handout - and the tools necessary to build a stable foundation.

Criteria for becoming a Habitat homeowner include:

• Need for housing. Current home is overcrowded, unsafe, too expensive, etc.

• Ability to pay. Stable work history, manageable debt load, absence of liens.

• Willingness to partner. Prospective homeowners must invest a minimum of 250 hours of "sweat equity" for each applicant and co-applicant by working on DuPage Habitat homes, at fundraisers and events, at the ReStore, or in the office. Some hours must be invested in budgeting and financial classes.

• Live or work in DuPage County.

• Meet Habitat income guidelines. DuPage Habitat personnel can provide that information during a telephone conversation.

You can help a future homeowner change their life. Make a donation today and bring your congregation out for a Faith Build this year. Together, we can all help build a world where everyone has a decent place to live.

The next informational sessions will be: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16; 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23 in Spanish; 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 16; and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18.

Visit www.chicagolandhabitat.org or www.facebook.com/DuPageHFH/.