Southwest IL chapter of Habitat for Humanity makes dreams come true for families

After building six affordable homes in O’Fallon, the local chapter of the Lewis & Clark Habitat for Humanity affiliate took a giant leap last week by completing a real estate transaction with the city that will create opportunities for seven more home ownership.

The city and Habitat will work together in the coming months to turn abandoned properties on Booster Road into new homes that will provide families a stable and safe environment. Completion is expected to take four to five years.

The city sold each parcel for $1,000 each — at 112, 126 and 132 Booster Road — for a total of $3,000. Local representatives gave the city the check on Jan. 11.

Jim Campbell, an alderman who has been involved with the local chapter, said to take neglected properties and turn them into homes was exciting.

“This is a proud step forward, the start of a fairly significant project for us that will eventually put seven new homes over on Booster Road, which is next to the old St. Ellen Mine and links into the city’s 2040 Master Plan as part of the neighborhood nodes concept,” he said.

Campbell explained Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide decent places to live for every man, woman, and child — and work in communities across all 50 U.S. state and 70 countries.

With its ecumenical Christian ministry component, they welcome support from all backgrounds. People come together in a common cause to help break down barriers and generate equity, respect, and lasting change, he said.

Habitat for Humanity of Illinois has an open-door policy, which states: “All who believe that everyone needs a decent, affordable place to live are welcome to help with the work, regardless of race, religion, age, gender, political views or any of the other distinctions that too often divide people.”

The local group has been active since 2013 in what they describe as a community effort. Funds collected through donations and fundraisers are used to build the homes.

For the past five years, the Labors Union Local 670 and the Operative Plasters & Cement Masons Local 90 have helped pave the way — literally — for driveways and other work. They receive discounts and donations for supplies from many businesses.

Churches, civic organizations, and individuals have pitched in, too.

“This is life-changing for people,” Campbell said, noting a home is more than walls and a roof — it means healthy living conditions, room to learn and play, and a place to build lifelong memories.

Both Campbell and Lloyd Soeters, the construction committee chair, said they notice a change with the children who take pride in their home, and they see examples of these students succeeding in school, going on to college, and volunteering to help others.

Both are retired — Campbell as a hospital administrator and Soeters as an engineer.

“It’s really God’s work, but it’s our hands,” Soeters said. “It’s an entire community effort. When you see the families be successful, to see them smile, it’s worth it. We get to know them pretty well. We’re helping people who want to help themselves.”

Homeowner Selection Process

The homeowners are selected in an open application process and must meet criteria, including need, ability to pay and willingness to partner.

The homeownership journey includes financial classes and completing 200 hours of sweat equity – working alongside construction volunteers to build their future home, at the ReStore and in the community.

Each qualified Habitat partner family is a first-time homebuyer with a demonstrated need for affordable housing. To be considered, they must attend a one-hour orientation meeting.

In addition to making affordable monthly mortgage payments, partner families are responsible for the down payment, which provides the foundation for their future stability.

The Booster Road Acquisitions

Booster Road is a 16-foot-wide dead-end street with 18 homes located there. Habitat plans to construct seven new homes over several years’ time.

At an earlier city meeting in November, the council approved subdividing and rezoning a .94-acre parcel of land at 126 Booster Road so it could be sold to Habitat to develop two homes on lots about 18,945 square feet.

The city owned the vacant property following demolition of a single-family home that had been abandoned and foreclosed on by St. Clair County. When the city acquired it, the house was beyond repair.

The city acquired 112 and 132 Booster, too, maintaining the lots for several years after demolishing the homes in disrepair. 112 will have one new home constructed and 132 could have four, with a cul-de-sac constructed at the western end to provide access.

Like 126, the home in disrepair was demolished. Plans are to develop four single-family homes after the 1.08-acre site is subdivided into four lots ranging from 7,288-square feet to 17,607 square feet.

The mayor then signed quit claim deeds for the properties.

Access to Booster Road is via Hartman Lane. The plan is to eventually widen Booster Road to provide better access for residents and public safety services, but those improvements will occur later after the necessary right-of-way is obtained. A portion of the site’s frontage on Booster Road will be dedicated for future widening.

The new homes will connect to O’Fallon water, sanitary sewer services will be provided by the Caseyville Township Sewer District and electric and gas services are available to the site and owned by Ameren IP.

C.A. Jones has stepped up to be a partner for this next round of homes, Campbell said.

The Homeownership Mission

On Habitat Way, the re-named Elm Street, there are several homes near Carson and Behrens Streets the O’Fallon chapter finished.

In May 2018, the city changed the Elm Street between Behrens Drive to the east and Carson Drive to the west to Habitat Way out of respect for the work that the organization does, Mayor Herb Roach said.

The mayor said he has helped with the home constructions.

“This is one of the things that makes O’Fallon the community that it is. We are so blessed with volunteers that are willing to give of their own time, businesses that are willing to donate both time and material, unions that volunteer their expertise in different fields, so that we can help others that need a helping hand,” Roach said.

“We have taken old rundown properties or vacant lots and built new houses that families can call ‘home.’ The Habitat leadership team in O’Fallon does a great job of selecting families, getting the designs and materials needed and then lining up the volunteers,” Roach said.

“They are one great group of people who never ask for a pat on the back,” he said.

Applications Now Being Taken

The O’Fallon Area Habitat for Humanity is now accepting applications for potential homeowners — construction is scheduled to start in the spring of 2022.

One must attend an information session to receive an application and be considered for the program. They are planned for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 8; 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 10; and 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, at St. Nicholas Parish Center, 625 St. Nicholas Drive, O’Fallon. Those attending are required to wear a mask.

RSVP for a session at https://forms.gle/5VkEQHy9fbDyKTQx5.

Please email Karen at kshees@aol.com with any questions.

This story was originally published January 19, 2022 at 9:00 AM.