Jubilee Habitat for Humanity

Housing for veterans

warmowskiphotography — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 18:26:42 +0000

The AARP magazine had a really neat article on options for housing for veterans. It’s something bigger than what we do, but maybe some people in Jacksonville might be excited about the idea.

Just a reminder for veterans any disability payments counts as income, and you could qualify for a Habitat home. Check out our application page for details and to download an application. We are currently working with one veteran to see if he qualifies, and would like to help more.

Need help fixing up a home?

warmowskiphotography — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 15:48:10 +0000

Some other affiliates of Habitat for Humanity are retrofitting old housing – to this point Jubilee Habitat for Humanity has not. It takes a lot of skill and know-how to work on some old structures, we don’t have enough skilled carpenters in our volunteer labor force to do that. And, when we build a new home from the ground up, we are assured that the home will be energy efficient (in the long run it’s cheaper to heat/cool a new home than an old home, even one that’s been upgraded). It makes more sense to rehab in metropolitan areas, not a rural area like Jacksonville.

If you do have some repairs that you need around your home, contact Kathleen Finkle at H.E.L.P.S. Ministry Outreach, 217.291.0911 or 217.719.9584. They have an office in downtown Jacksonville at 238 W. State St., and can help with minor remodeling projects. Office hours 1-5 pm.

Other things going on around town

warmowskiphotography — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 17:13:15 +0000

Even though we are not building a house this year, Jubilee Habitat for Humanity volunteers still have been busy. (If you or someone you know could benefit from owning a Habitat house, check out our web page for info.)

Our construction volunteers have been helping with the reassembly of the bandstand at the Prairieland Heritage Museum. The bandstand, which was taken to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. as the perfect example of Midwestern culture, was returned to Jacksonville after it was no longer needed for display on the national mall. The dedication ceremony will be from 9:15-10:45 am Saturday 24 September during the Steam Show & Fall Festival Days (the show runs from Friday the 23rd to Sunday the 25th).

Our board members are also helping to promote the Heather Williams concert to benefit the New Directions homeless shelter. The Christian recording artist will perform Saturday 1 October at Grace United Methodist Church. Tour the warming/cooling center for the homeless at 5 pm, opening act at 6 pm with Heather Williams at 7 pm. Tickets are $10, call 217.371.1246 or go to Melissa at Midwest Youth Services, 2001 W. Lafayette in Jacksonville. Download flyer for more info – please post to help promote the event.

We were not able to find a partner family to build a home with in 2011. Right now we are working with several potential homeowners, none have reached the stage where they are ready for a Habitat home. Most people who contact us are not a good fit for home ownership, but our goal is the application process will aid them in fixing their finances and reducing their debt to put them in a better position for tomorrow. We do not “give” house away — homeowners pay back the costs of construction with an interest-free loan. We work to avoid putting someone in a home they will not be able to afford to maintain, to pay utilities, etc. Thanks to all those who support Jubilee Habitat for Humanity! We are working hard to be good stewards of your donations as we work to end poverty housing.

Gazebo winner announced

warmowskiphotography — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 06:46:51 +0000

Congratulations to Joe Tobin for winning our gazebo raffle. Drawing was held after the parade Saturday at the South Jacksonville Celebration. Thanks to all who purchased tickets. Profits will help us in our mission of building homes with low-income families.

Thanks to fair help and donors

warmowskiphotography — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 18:50:39 +0000

Mickey Berry (our secretary) sends out a big “thank you” to everyone who volunteered and bought raffle tickets during the Morgan County Fair. We were out there with our gazebo, meeting people and selling tickets for our gazebo raffle.

Habitat at the Morgan County Fair

warmowskiphotography — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 15:03:39 +0000

Look for Jubilee Habitat for Humanity at this year’s Morgan County Fair in Jacksonville. We’ll be out there with our gazebo, meeting people and selling tickets for our gazebo raffle. The fair runs through Sunday July 10th (schedule).

At Tuesday’s Morgan County Fair Pageant one of our “Habitots“ Amanda Jo Tendick made an appearance. Her winning speech when she won the Queen title in 2008 was on how being a Habitat homeowner with her mom changed her life. See results on the contest.

2008 Morgan County Fair Queen Amanda Jo Tendick grew up in a Habitat home.

In other news we are still looking for a homeowner, and are interviewing candidates. Hopefully we can start building soon!

Our gazebo at the Morgan County Fair. By the food/entertainment building.

Prayers requested as we search for next homeowner

warmowskiphotography — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 19:36:05 +0000

Habitat for Humanity’s International Operations Manual states that fervent and continuous prayer is needed in selecting families for homeownership. So, I am asking you all to help the family selection committee of Jubilee Habitat for Humanity in the search process by please asking GOD to guide families to us and for us to have the wisdom to recognize them.

God bless you all,

Kathy Turner, Chair, family selection committee, e-mail

Jubilee Habitat for Humanity will build our next few homes at our new property at the corner of North Diamond and Freedman Streets in Jacksonville. People interested in home ownership should check our web site.

Thanks to all who participated in our open lot

warmowskiphotography — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 02:36:22 +0000

Setting out the welcome mat for neighbors, potential homeowners and the community Tuesday June 14th.

Thanks to all who came out to our open lot party Tuesday 14 June 2011 in Jacksonville. Jubilee Habitat for Humanity recently acquired several lots at the corner of North Diamond and Freedman Streets in Jacksonville. Our next few houses will be built there.

Habitat volunteers and board members were on hand during the afternoon. We met neighbors, potential homeowners, volunteers and several people who offered help with future builds. Right now we’re still looking for our next homeowner, get our application form on-line.

Please pass the word to potential homeowners! We will announce when builds will begin, and you can come out Saturday mornings to help. Please like us on Facebook. And, ask your church to provide links to our blog, Facebook and web pages; and include our info in your communications as chances for mission work.

Thanks to all who put the event together! (Especially Kathy Turner family selection chair, Shelley Heitbrink publicity chair and Steve Warmowski vice president.) Thanks to WLDS/WEAI and Nick Kovatch for doing a story on us. And to The Source and the Jacksonville Journal-Courier for helping to get the word out about our event.

Nick Kovatch of WLDS/WEAI interviews Robert Cockrell, Jubilee Habitat for Humanity president.

Robert Cockrell, Jubilee Habitat for Humanity president, checks the property with Sam Scheets, past president and current treasurer.

A little drizzle won’t stop our open lot party

warmowskiphotography — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 16:19:21 +0000

Our scheduled block party will still go on today (Tuesday June 14th), even with a little drizzle.

Jubilee Habitat for Humanity will build our next few homes at our new property at the corner of North Diamond and Freedman Streets in Jacksonville. To celebrate, to seek new homeowners, to seek new volunteers and to let the neighbors learn about us we will be holding a block party from 3:30-7 pm Tuesday June 14th. We’ll have volunteers on hand to answer any questions.

People interested in home ownership should check our web site. If you have any questions contact Vice President Steve Warmowski.

See our gazebo in parades and buy a chance to win

warmowskiphotography — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 17:28:14 +0000

2011 Jubilee Habitat for Humanity gazebo.

Thanks to our volunteers (led by Gerald Eddy) for building our 2011 gazebo. We will bring the gazebo with us when we participate in parades this year and at the Morgan County Fair. The permanent home (until the raffle drawing) is at the Buchheit parking lot here in Jacksonville.

Jubilee Habitat board members will have raffle tickets to sell at $5 each (or 5 for $20). The winner will be drawn at the South Jacksonville Celebration September 10th, and will get to take home the gazebo! (Free delivery to locations in and close to Jacksonville). Thanks to board member Mickey Berry for organizing the raffle.

Want to buy a raffle ticket? Send $5 per ticket and a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Jubilee Habitat for Humanity, P.O. Box 414, Jacksonville, IL 62651. Donations can also be sent to us at that address.