Our local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity has completed five new homes for five partnering families during the last 39 months. These homes are in Princeton, Spring Valley, Granville, Ottawa and Ottawa again. The First of these Ottawa houses was occupied, shortly after Labor Day of 2010. Two previous Habitat homes have been built in Ottawa for Ottawa families.

Habitat is building two homes in 2011: one more in Ottawa (started in October of 2010) and the other in Streator (a completely remodeled existing home) begining the Fall of 2011.  Informational meetings have been held in both cities, and the Family Selection committee has reviewed applications, financial records and visited families with the goal of selecting two qualified families. Two new families have been selected.

Because of a change in plans by our latest partnering Ottawa family, the home shown at the top of our Home page on this web site is now available to a qualifying Ottawa family.

Please Check the Homeowership and About Us sections of this website for more information on qualifying for future builds. About Us can be found below the Home tab. 

The house pictured to the upper-left is the new Ottawa home of Carl and Blair Theissen and their three daughters.

The Theissens are pictured below-right in their new kitchen during the House Blessing service for their new home.

Ed Thorsen of Thorsen Builders served as Site Supervisor on this project. He used his expertise and contributed hundreds of hours of hard work in making this a very successful project.

Habitat's local Project Manager is Mike Knapp of the M J Jennco cabinet company of De Pue. Mike oversaw the construction of this home with assistance from David Wheeler of Ottawa's Golden Rule Lumber.

Jenny Knapp of M J Jennco is our volunteer coordinator and can be reached through our local Habitat office phone at 815-434-2041.

The Building Trades classes of Ottawa Township High School, under the direction of instructor David Keely, installed much of the siding, soffit and fascia and did other exterior construction and installations. Representatives of the James Hardie Co. assisted Mr. Keely with student instructions.

The Theissen family and friends contributed hundreds of hours of sweat equity while qualifying for their home.

Many of the companies and organizations that have contributed to recent Habitat projects are shown on our Sponsors page.

All nine of our completed local single family homes and a two family duplex are pictured on our Properties page.

Sara Mae Baker and her sons Josh (left) and David at the Blessing of their new home in Granville on December 19, 2009. The Baker family moved into their new three bedroom house with attached garage in time for Christmas. The Bakers no longer need to climb 87 steps in order to enter a small apartment.

86-year-old Site Supervisor Joe Panier is largely responsible for the completion of the Baker home. Mike Knapp of M J Jennco Inc served as Project Manager.                                                                            

Pictured below is the new Spring Valley home of Alicia Avila and daughter Leslie. After a full year of planning and hard work by Site Supervisor John Andes, dozens of volunteers, many local businesses and the Avila family, the Avilas were able to occupy their new custom-made home during the Summer of 2009.

Kate and Sarah Bombliss are shown below-right in front of their new Princeton home. They moved in just before  Christmas of 2008.

Joe Bell of Key Builders Construction served as Site Supervisor and contributed almost a year of his weekends to complete construction of this house. Mike Moore of Citizens First National Bank was Habitat's Building Committee Chairman for both the Bombliss and Avila homes.

The Thrivent Financial For Lutherans group contributed a monetary grant and organized volunteer worker groups from area Lutheran and other denominations of Christian churches to make this project possible.

Habitat for Humanity LBPC is currently building a 12th family home at 912 W. Superior St. in Ottawa and is planning for a 13th home in Streator for 2011. Please watch this website for further news.