Batavia resident Renee Fortuny shows off her Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity home on the 300 block of Michigan Ave. in Aurora. The rehabbed frame ranch home, Montgomery-based Habitat’s 50th project since 1989, will be dedicated  on Saturday, Jan. 26. (Al Benson photo)

Habitat for Humanity's 50th project aids single mom, family

A Batavia single mother with three children will get an early birthday present for her family--keys to a rehabbed home—on Saturday, Jan. 26.

Renee Fortuny and her children—Kayla Walker, 8; Charlie Walker, 7; and Maya Walker, 5—will receive keys to a 1,250-square-foot frame ranch home on the 300 block of Michigan Ave. in Aurora when Montgomery-based Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity dedicates its 50th home  next Saturday.

Fortuny, who will turn 47 Feb. 4, said she expects to move in her new residence Feb. 2.

Rev. Jeff Barrett, Habitat executive director and pastor of Genesis Community Church in Montgomery, will preside at the dedication service.

He said the Fortuny family will receive a family bible along with keys to the three-bedroom, bath-and-a- half home.

At the dedication, Habitat officials will speak and introduce selected volunteers who rehabbed the townhouse on Thursdays and Saturdays since September 2012.

City of Aurora officials have been invited. The city donated the house to Habitat under the Federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program.

According to Fortuny, members of First Baptist Church in Geneva have donated furniture and decorations for her children’s rooms and bathroom supplies and decorations.

Renee Fortuny and Habitat for Humanity volunteers help get her rehabbed home ready for occupancy.  (Al Benson photo)

Donating materials were Lumber Liquidators, Aquatech Plumbing, Assured Heating and Appliance, Whirlpool, Yale Locks, and Sherwin Williams.

Habitat volunteer Al Green of Montgomery served as construction supervisor. Volunteer groups included Trader Joe’s of Batavia, First Hmong Alliance Church of Aurora, H.B. Fuller Co., Schneider Electric and Wrigley, Inc.

Financial support for the project is expected from the Habitat ReStore, a retailer of home-building and other supplies, in Fox Valley Westfield mall in Aurora.

Founded in 1989 in Aurora, Fox Valley Habitat is a local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, Inc., a nonprofit housing ministry that partners with low-income families needing basic shelter.

Fox Valley Habitat dedicated its 49th house in December in North Aurora. The volunteer-rehabbed townhome was Fox Valley Habitat’s first project outside Aurora and Montgomery.

Habitat's first 48 homes are located in Aurora and Montgomery.

The Montgomery-based Habitat affiliate has about 1,000 volunteers who have built affordable shelter for more than 200 persons in Aurora, North Aurora and Montgomery.

Habitat sells houses to qualified families at no profit. Partnering families contribute up to 500 hours of sweat equity and repay a zero-interest mortgage. Loan payments are used to build more houses.

Donations of materials, land, funds, and volunteer services are needed to continue the Habitat ministry.

For more information, call (630) 859-3333 or visit www.foxvalleyhabitat.org.