ROCHELLE — Habitat for Humanity of Ogle County, Inc. Board President Gail Tuttle and Vanessa White-Broome, executive director, are pleased to announce that their organization has received a $32,000 grant from the Community Grants Program of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois with support from the Dr. Louis & Violet Rubin Fund for its Building New 2022 Habitat Life Stories.

Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity of Ogle County, Inc. brings people together to build homes, community and hope. Habitat for Humanity of Ogle County is a 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit organization whose mission is to eliminate poverty housing by building simple, decent affordable houses for people in need, helping to revitalize neighborhoods and communities. With volunteer labor and tax deductible donations of materials and money, Habitat builds and rehabilitates houses with the help of the homeowner (partner) families. Per White-Broome, “By partnering with those qualified in the Ogle County service area, our affiliate provides opportunities for homeownership thus opening doors to security, stability, hope, and a sense of pride in becoming a homeowner. Though 2020 and 2021 were challenging years in so many aspects, our organization was able to continue to serve lower income residents in Ogle County with our various housing solutions. In 2020 our largest project started was a four-bedroom home for a family of six. We are so thankful for the  and their long-standing support of our organization. In large part due to prior grant awards from the CFNI, our affiliate has been able to help more families live in decent, sustainable and affordable housing. In the year 2021, Habitat also completed two handicap ramp projects, and other Brush with Kindness repair projects. All these projects improved day to day living activities for our new Habitat partner families.”  

“We are excited to share this grant award news with the Ogle County community, and are very appreciative to the Board of Trustees of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, as well as countless other individuals and businesses who support our organization in one way or another. This support has enabled us to serve many families over the years who dreamed of living in safe and affordable housing,” White-Broome said. “We are fortunate to be based in a county that understands why we do what we do year after year. Every year we partner with families and individuals to offer them opportunities to reside in improved housing. We believe that everyone, everywhere should have a healthy, affordable place to call home. When an individual helps build or improve their residence, they are not only building a better life for themselves, but also building a better community. The 2021/22 Community Foundation funds from the Dr. Louis and Violet Rubin Fund, received in Dec. 2021, from the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois will assist in  serving more families as we fulfill our mission. Since our start up in 2002,  we've been building affordable quality homes for lower income families that might not otherwise have qualified for a mortgage.  Our programs are a ‘hands up, not a hand-out.’” 

“Specifically, the $32,000 grant award will assist greatly with our 2021 building projects,” White-Broome said. One project planned is the building of a 3-4 bedroom home in Rochelle, and Brush with Kindness projects that will result in repairs and ramps. Our goal remains working alongside individuals in Ogle County to improve their living conditions by offering opportunities for a more stable life as a homeowner.”