Habitat for Humanity hosts 2025 Veterans Build across Chicagoland

CHICAGO (October 29, 2025) — Chicagoland Habitat for Humanity is launching its fifth annual Veterans Build on November 7–8 at seven build sites across the region. The event brings together veterans, volunteers, and community members to address the critical need for affordable housing and home repairs for military families.

This year’s theme, Service Never Ends, honors the ongoing dedication of veterans—both in uniform and beyond—by turning service into action. Veterans Build puts this theme into practice: military-connected and civilian volunteers come together to construct homes, complete repairs, and raise awareness and funds for programs that provide critical housing support.

Frank, a longtime Westmont resident and U.S. Army veteran who served 1963-1965, is one of the many veterans whose life reflects the Service Never Ends spirit. For more than 30 years, Frank lived without reliable air conditioning, often sleeping at friends’ homes during scorching summer nights. With support from Habitat’s repair team, he now has a new, energy-efficient central air system. “The Habitat repair team is just outstanding—patient, kind, and thorough,” Frank said. “I can finally look forward to next summer instead of dreading it.”

Since 2021, Veterans Build has served over 90 veterans across Chicagoland through home construction, rehabs, and essential repairs, with nearly 700 volunteers participating. The program’s impact goes beyond housing: it empowers veterans to give back and volunteer, living out the Service Never Ends principle in their communities.

“Veterans Build not only helps veterans access critical home repairs and affordable housing—it gives them the chance to serve alongside other veterans in their community. That’s what Service Never Ends is all about,” said Leslie Rodriguez, Veteran and Repair Programs Manager for Chicagoland Habitat for Humanity and a U.S. Navy veteran.

This year, more than 170 volunteers from local veteran organizations—including Chicago Veterans, Veterans Assistance Commissions of McHenry and Lake Counties, and Veterans Path to Hope—will participate, alongside corporate veteran employee groups from American Family Insurance, Behr Paint Company, Chicago Transit Authority, Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, James Hardie, Molex, Nicor Gas, Orion Engineers, Schneider Electric, US Bank, and Vistex. Wintrust is a regional sponsor of Habitat’s Veterans Home Repair Program. Special thanks to Chick-fil-A for providing lunch at all build sites.

For more information or to donate, visit chicagolandhabitat.org/VeteransBuild #ServiceNeverEnds #2025VeteransBuild