Dominic Sanchez, a Guilford High School junior, and Quintavius Barbee, left, a senior, work on a Habitat for Humanity home on Carol Place in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — A partnership with Habitat for Humanity that helps high school students learn various skills that go into building a house will expand to Jefferson High School next year.

The partnership between the nonprofit and Rockford Public Schools started seven years ago at Guilford High School and expanded to East High School this year.

“We feel so fortunate and so lucky that Rockford Public Schools has taken a chance on us and kind of brought construction trades back,” said Keri Asevedo, executive director of Habitat for Humanity, on This Week in the Stateline with Steve Summers.

Students learn new skills while helping the nonprofit build affordable housing. Habitat provides industry experts who help students learn everything from framing a house to sheet metal work, plumbing and pipefitting, among other skills.

“The great thing about this partnership is they get to see and actually do all the different trades that go into building a house,” said Bridget French, executive director of college and career readiness for Rockford Public Schools. “It helps really tailor students’ interest to the exact trade that they feel passionate about through their classes.”

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Paul Samsonek, a Guilford High School junior, walks through a Habitat for Humanity home under construction on Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, in Rockford. Guilford students are helping build one of the homes. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

Once students find the trade they’re interested in, high school counselors connect them to an apprenticeship, French said.

“Ultimately, it’s helping students get quality, high-paying jobs right out of high school if they want that,” she said.

It’s helped some students land jobs with the nonprofit.

“We hire students that graduated from Guilford years ago to do drywalling, they’ve help us with roofing, they’ve helped us with plumbing,” Asevedo said. 

More homes, home repairs

Habitat for Humanity returned its homebuilding program to full capacity this year after last year’s work was slowed by the coronavirus pandemic.

Six houses, including those in partnership with Rockford Public Schools, are under construction with various volunteer workers. The goal is to have three homes finished by Dec. 1.

“So we’re hoping to move in families before Christmas,” Asevedo said on This Week in the Stateline. “Three of the families that we’re building for this summer were slated to be built in 2020, and so they’ve waited a long time to get to be in their home.”

“What a beautiful opportunity for them to wake up Christmas morning in their brand new home.”

The nonprofit also expanded its critical home repair program, which will help about 50 residents with everything from roof repair to windows, doors and handicap accessible ramps.

“We recognized a few years ago that the housing stock in Rockford is aging,” Asevedo said. “In order for them to live in those homes they need repairs.” 

“The city does a repair program, but there dollars are so limited and they can only do so many projects.” 

How to help

You can go to RockfordHabitat.org to donate to the nonprofit or volunteer your time.

Construction skills aren’t required to help out, Asevedo said.

“If you’re not interested in swinging a hammer there are a million other ways to volunteer for Habitat,” she said.

You can also volunteer or donate at the Loves Park office 5183 Harlem Road.

Volunteer Glen Larson paints inside a Habitat for Humanity home on Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas or Instagram at @thekevinhaas

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