Regional Repair Collaborative​

Helping homeowners with repairs and home maintenance across the Chicagoland region.

In FY2023, the Chicagoland Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors ratified a 3-year strategic plan that was developed in partnership with the five local Habitat affiliates. One of the goals of that strategic plan was for Chicagoland Habitat to assist affiliates in tripling the number of families served by repairs, by raising $4 million and by establishing a regional repair collaboration effort. We more than doubled that, helping to raise $8.6 million for repairs and served 250% more families through repairs.

In our FY2026 strategic plan ratified by the Board, we’ve pledged to raise $8 million again for repairs and, in year one, we’ve raised $2.5 million. But we know we can, and we must, do much more. With your support, we can make safe, decent, and comfortable living conditions a reality for everyone in our community.

Why Repairs Are Needed

Data from the National Low Income Housing Coalition shows that almost 290,000 affordable homes would need to be built to adequately and affordably house all extremely low-income renters in Illinois.

Habitat for Humanity addresses this shortage in two ways. First, we build new or rehabilitate existing affordable housing units, and second, we repair homes for qualifying low-income families. This repair work is critical to preserving the existing supply of safe, stable homes for those who need them most.

In the metro Chicago region alone, there is a huge, unmet need for home repairs for low-income households. The data show a total of over 400,000 households with one or more housing conditions in need of repair.

The need for housing repairs, especially for seniors and veterans, is critically high. With an aging population, the demand for home modifications and repair assistance is growing. We’re stepping up to meet this challenge by expanding our existing programs and reaching out to more communities.

Since their founding, the five Habitat for Humanity affiliates serving the Chicago metro region have been committed to providing safe, secure, and affordable homes to hardworking families with limited incomes. Working hand-in-hand with community volunteers and homeowners, affiliates have constructed and sold new homes, and acquired and substantially rehabilitated existing homes, while leveraging their housing construction experience to address a wider array of housing needs in their areas of service.

Family Highlights

Catherine

Widowed homeowner Catherine received critical repairs that improved her home’s safety and comfort, allowing her to remain independent with peace of mind.
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Wesco International is the inaugural sponsor of the Regional Repair Collaboration in Chicagoland

Brian

Navy veteran Brian received critical home repairs that improved his home’s safety and comfort, giving him peace of mind to continue supporting fellow veterans and his community.
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For Contractors

Affiliates actively seek bids from qualified contractors at various times throughout the year. Click here to find an affiliate near you!

For Families

If you’re interest in applying for a home repair, click here to find an affiliate near you!

Catherine

After years of caring for her home, widowed homeowner Catherine received critical repairs from Will-Grundy Habitat for Humanity that improved her home’s safety, comfort and functionality, allowing her to continue living independently with peace of mind.

Catherine has lived in her home for many years, a place filled with memories of the life she built with her husband. Now widowed and living alone, she manages on half of her husband’s pension along with Social Security. Despite the challenges of maintaining a home on a fixed income, Catherine has taken great pride in keeping her house in excellent condition. She has diligently handled routine upkeep over the years, but as the home has aged, a few repairs arose that were beyond her comfort and ability to address on her own.

Looking for support, Catherine reached out to Will-Grundy Habitat for Humanity, whose team stepped in to provide several critical repairs that would help keep her home safe and functional. In the bathroom, they replaced a damaged tub, surrounding tile, and faucet, while also addressing leaking plumbing by replacing the supply and drain lines. Electrical improvements were made in the basement, and a new circuit and outlet were added in the sunroom to ensure safer, more reliable power. The team also installed a new bedroom window, improving both comfort and energy efficiency.

These repairs not only addressed immediate issues but also gave Catherine peace of mind about the long-term safety of her home. With these improvements completed, she can continue living independently in the place she cares for so deeply.

Thanks to funding from Wesco and other generous donors, Catherine was able to receive the help she needed to ensure her home remains healthy and safe for years to come.

Brian

U.S. Navy veteran Brian received critical home repairs from Lake-McHenry Habitat for Humanity, including new windows, siding, and HVAC and electrical updates, giving him greater safety, comfort and peace of mind while allowing him to continue supporting fellow veterans and his community

For 22 years, Brian, a U.S. Navy veteran who served aboard the USS David R. Ray, has taken pride in maintaining the home he loves. But over time, aging windows, deteriorating siding, and an outdated HVAC system began to create uncertainty. The question of what might break next weighed heavily on him.
“I just wanted to know my home was safe and protected,” Brian shared.

Thanks to support from Lake-McHenry Habitat for Humanity and funding from Wesco, that uncertainty has been replaced with relief and renewed peace of mind. Brian’s home now features new energy-efficient windows and siding, along with critical furnace and electrical updates—improvements that make his home safer, more comfortable, and more efficient for the years ahead.
Brian continues to serve others through his work with Veterans Path to Hope, where he provides peer support, manages the food pantry, organizes community dinners, and stands beside fellow veterans in need.

For Brian, the improvements mean more than updated systems and materials—they provide stability and reassurance. Knowing his home is secure allows him to focus his energy where it matters most: supporting fellow veterans and staying connected to the community he cares deeply about.

Now, with major repairs behind him, Brian can focus on enjoying the home he has cared for over two decades—and the outdoors he loves—without the constant worry of critical repairs.