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Veterans Build 2023

With the help of volunteers, Habitat for Humanity is able to achieve its mission of helping families attain decent, affordable housing.

The annual Veterans Build in Chicagoland was held November 2-4, 2023 at seven Habitat for Humanity affiliate build sites.

Habitat affiliates across the Chicago region are actively addressing the lack of affordable housing by partnering with military service members, their families, and veterans to help build and repair affordable housing. Habitat’s hand-up not a hand-out approach asks partner families to invest sweat-equity hours to build their home and volunteer with us.

2023 Press and Video Gallery

2023 Volunteer Photos

Meet Philip

Philip is a combat Veteran of the US Army, one of the many veterans receiving home repairs and new home construction with Habitat for Humanity.
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Watch our Veterans Build video

View our Veterans Build Video to learn more about our program, our work and the volunteers that help make this work possible.
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2023 Volunteer Organizations

2023 Neighborhood Sponsors

2023 Sponsors

Veterans Build Week 2021

2021 Press Gallery

2021 Veteran Build Events

Veterans Build Week 2021 Program featuring U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth
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Veterans Build Week 2021: A Town Hall Conversation with Chicagoland Veterans on Affordable Housing
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Philip

Philip is receiving critical home repairs through Habitat for Humanity of McHenry County and Owens Corning

Philip is a 7-year, US Army combat veteran who deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2010-2011.  After serving his country honorably, he now dedicates his time to helping veterans as a program coordinator at Veterans Path to Hope, a veteran nonprofit in Crystal Lake, IL.  He’s also a single father who enjoys spending time with his six-year-old son.

 

In May 2023, Phil bought a house to provide a safe, clean place to raise his son.  After Phil moved in, the first rain showed water dripping from the ceiling.  Further investigation by a professional roofer also identified a damaged vent.  These issues created an unsafe environment for Phil’s son, who would sleep upstairs.

 

Phil got estimates from professional roofers ranging from $8,000 to $12,000 for just the roof.  He also needed to get the vent and chimney stack fixed, the ceiling repaired, any damage in between repaired, and any mold removed – all of which would cost an additional $5.000-7,000.  As a single father, these were all expenses he couldn’t afford – and as a military man his pride made it too hard to ask others for help.

 

That’s when Phil contacted the Owens Corning Roofing Deployment Project, who connected him with nearby Habitat for Humanity of McHenry County. The Habitat team rushed to Phil’s home to conduct an assessment and determine the source of the roof leak and several other issues that needed to be addressed. The siding was also damaged due to improper installation.

 

With the support of Owens Corning, Habitat McHenry partnered with XL Contracting to repair Phil’s roof in early September.  And this November, volunteers from Veterans Path to Hope, the Road Home Program at Rush, and Veterans Assistance Commission of McHenry County will complete repairs on Phil’s home as part of the 2023 Veterans Build across Chicagoland.

 

“My life revolves around my son,” said Phil. “I want to make sure he has a nice home to grow up in and one day hope to pass it down to him.”