McHenry Times

State Sen. Craig Wilcox (R-McHenry) wants to see veterans across Illinois get all they need and deserve.

“Habitat for Humanity is in search of veterans with a critical need,” Wilcox recently posted on Facebook. “Habitat for Humanity has funding available for veterans' critical home repairs. If anyone knows of a veteran who owns their home and has critical repair needs, defined as 'interior or exterior work performed to alleviate critical health, life and safety issues or code violations, including a change to or repair of materials or components; a reconfiguration of space; a modification for accessibility; installation or extension of plumbing, mechanical or electrical systems on an existing structure.'”

Wilcox said in McHenry County, the Home Depot Foundation works with Habitat for Humanity to provide the repairs.

“We don’t want to let this funding go to waste in McHenry County,” he said. “Please contact their office or pass along our information to any veteran you think may benefit from this critical repair program. Our office phone number is 815-759-9002 and Jessie Flores handles these programs.”

On its website, the Habitat for Humanity of McHenry County asserts “we believe that every veteran family deserves a decent place to call home. Our Veterans Build Program works to empower veterans through home ownership opportunities, critical home repairs and camaraderie building events.”

The organization said, “Habitat for Humanity of McHenry County is 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 McHenry's hand-up not a hand-out approach asks partner families to invest sweat-equity hours to build their home and volunteer with us.”

For those looking to volunteer, the group insists “we have volunteer opportunities from the construction site to the office suite. All you need is enthusiasm; we’ll teach you everything you need to know. Without our volunteers, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do."

Since 1995, the group estimates that it has built 50-plus homes across McHenry County with volunteers working under the supervision of trained crew leaders and participating in all phases of the construction process. In addition, the organization estimates that it has assisted more than 100 homeowners across McHenry County in making needed repairs to their homes.