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Development Spotlight
Habitat Estates
Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity
Habitat Estates, built by Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity, will provide two new-construction, single-family homes in the city of Aurora for sale to households with incomes between 30 and 80 percent of the Area Median Income. The project is helping Aurora meet a priority need, as identified in the city’s Consolidated Plan 2020-2024, to strengthen homeownership among low- and moderate-income households.
Founded in 1989, Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity is a local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International serving southern Kane and northern Kendall counties. They have built or rehabilitated more than 70 homes, largely using volunteer labor and donated materials and funds. Volunteer teams are welcomed multiple days a week and are supervised by Habitat staff and long-term volunteers. Fox Valley Habitat contracts with professionals for plumbing, electrical, infrastructure and other stages of building where licenses or specialized skills are required.
Habitat leverages the private donations they receive to generate Illinois Affordable Housing Tax Credits (i.e. Donation Tax Credit) to help fund costs such as land acquisition, infrastructure and licensed professional contractors.
The Habitat Estates homes are 1,650 square foot ranches with four bedrooms, two bathrooms and two-car attached garages. Construction is insulated concrete forms, asphalt shingles, vinyl single-hung windows and vinyl siding. The interiors have drywall, paint, trim and vinyl plank flooring. Amenities include ranges, refrigerators, microwaves, dishwashers, disposals, washers, dryers, central air conditioning and window blinds. The lots are landscaped with grass, bushes and trees.
Fox Valley Habitat recently celebrated the completion of the first Habitat Estates home, which it is selling to Jenna, a single mom with three daughters. Despite often working two jobs, Jenna struggled to find safe, decent and affordable housing for her family before connecting with Fox Valley Habitat.
“I had worked so hard for so long to give my daughters the best life possible and now our dream is coming true,” she said.
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