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| NIHBA partners with two local charities to help veterans. |
The Northern Illinois Builders Association (NIHBA) will host the 2017 Cavalcade Tour of Homes over two weekends from September 7 through September 17, 2017. The largest home tour in Illinois, the Cavalcade Tour of Homes features 22 homes in five counties built by 17 different NIHBA builders.
According to NIHBA President, Court Airhart of Airhart Construction, this year's charitable partners for the Cavalcade Tour of Homes are the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans and the Naperville Responds For Veterans. These outstanding charities will receive 40-percent of the event's ticket proceeds.
There are nearly 21 million veterans in the United States with more than 660,000 of these veterans living in Illinois. Organizations like the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans and Naperville Responds For Veterans work to help support and advocate for the brave men and women who have served our country selflessly.
Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans
Founded in 2000, the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans (MSHV) has a mission to "provide veterans and their families with housing and supportive services that lead to self-sufficiency." No veteran should ever be left homeless, jobless, or alone battling the demons of mental-health issues of facing poverty. The MSHV works with area veterans providing transitional housing and supportive services via homes like the Larson Home, while the ADA accessible Miller Home for male veterans and Tammy's Trace for female veterans offer affordable housing.
The MSHV also runs Freedom Harbour, the Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) program created specifically for chronically homeless veterans. The organization provides these veterans with one-bedroom apartments in their local community. Other services available through the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans include the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF), the Veterans Employment Program, and the Freedom Commissary. The latter is a free thrift store located at the MSHV's administrative site. Veterans receive vouchers to use at the store for items like clothing and household goods.
In addition to supporting the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans with a ticket purchase to the 2017 Cavalcade Tour of Homes, donations are accepted via the organizations website at www.helpaveteran.org/donate or may be contacted at 630-871-VETS (8387) for information about volunteering.
Naperville Responds For Veterans
The Naperville Responds For Veterans (NRFV) works to assist those veterans and their families struggling and living in crisis. A non-profit organization, the NRFV raises donations of money as well as building materials and professional labor plus they coordinate repairs and construction for veterans who need help. When possible, the NRFV donates homes as well. No one, including our veterans and their families, should be living in residences that are unsafe and in dire need of repair.
The NRFV formed after the success of the organization Naperville Responds to Katrina. Several Naperville area home builders, realtors, and leaders determined their community needed to help out the men and women veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. The NRFV works to provide construction related home repair services for these veterans and any other veteran in the community. The organization has fixed and updated homes for veterans by repairing leaking roofs, adding wheelchair ramps and widening doorways to accommodate those wheelchairs, plus performing renovations to ensure the veteran's homes are ADA accessible.
Approximately 90-percent of all monies raised by Naperville Responds For Veterans go to assist veterans in the community. To help support the NRFV as a volunteer or with a donation, please visit them online at www. nrfov.org/donate, email the organization at info@nrfov.org, or call at 331-684-7899.
Support Veterans By Attending the Cavalcade Tour of Homes
The 2017 Cavalcade Tour of Homes will feature a diverse group of stunning homes that are not to be missed. From the Wyndermere Estate in Plainfield (Steward Ridge Neighborhood) to The Bennett House in Geneva and the Ashwood Park Townhome in Naperville, this tour has a variety of home styles to see. Guests on the Tour will enjoy elegant, old-world designs as well as contemporary architecture and classic homes. The Tour is a great way to see a huge group of beautiful homes by amazing local builders, but it's also the perfect way to support our veterans and honor their service and sacrifice.
2017 Cavalcade Tour of Homes Hours and Tickets
Hours of the Tour are Thursday and Fridays from 4:00-8:00 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m.-6:00 p.m., and Sundays Noon-6:00 p.m.
Anyone interested in attending the 2017 Cavalcade Tour of Homes may purchase tickets via the event website at www.cavalcadetourofhomes.com.
Contact the NIHBA at 630-978-9000 for additional information.