By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw
WARSAW — Habitat for Humanity of Kosciusko County has seen more growth and support in the past year than ever before and will soon expand in new ways.
The chapter, led by Executive Director Ben Logan, expects to increase the number of homes it constructs in 2025 from two to three and has seen the level of volunteerism and financial support grow in recent years.
Habitat recently learned it had recently received $1 million in a grant from the Lilly Endowment that will be used for new initiatives.
Logan said the Kosciusko County Community Foundation served as a conduit in helping to line up the money from Lilly.
He said the money would be dedicated toward special projects and not for building houses.
Some of that money will be used to improve the already successful Restore outlet located on Corridor Drive.
The store sells used household items and has become the largest source of revenue for the chapter. The store won’t be physically expanding, but changes will be made to make it more profitable, Logan said.
The grant money will also be used to establish a housing coalition — much like LaunchPad, Kosciusko Chamber’s childcare coalition.
The housing coalition will work closely with the community foundation and Habitat hopes to involve other local partners. Right now, organizers are focusing on developing a strategic plan and had 36 people attend an initial meeting, Logan said.
Such an effort comes at a time when housing has become a top issue for many communities.
Logan calls it a “big hairy deal” for many and that it will take coordination and planning to improve the housing crunch.
“I always say it’s a game of long timelines and really big numbers and what we do now is going to be really important for what we see in five to ten years from now,” Logan said during an interview for News Now Warsaw’s public affairs show, In The Know.
He was joined in the interview by Habitat Board Member Stacy Price who is closely involved with Habitat’s Women Build initiatives.
Habitat is also working to launch a home repair program in 2026.
The goal is to provide home improvement assistance for low-income homeowners who would otherwise qualify for Habitat’s traditional housing program but have homes in need of critical repairs.
The program is not ready and emphasized that they are not ready to take calls on the matter.
In another big initiative (not related to the grant money), Habitat is expanding its Women Build tradition in which an entire house will be constructed and financed by women.
The chapter has hosted three Women Build events in past years in which women have led construction efforts over the course of several days.
Now they plan to construct an entire house with all-female teams.
No date or location has been announced yet but enthusiasm is building.
“We’re looking at around 250 women collectively,” Price said. “We started putting the word out and the last I heard was that we were at 23 team leaders so we’re almost at capacity, which is so exciting.”
Logan said he’s impressed to see people “come out of the woodwork” to support the future build.
“People we did not know in this community that were passionate about what we’re doing — this is just one opportunity that they did not want to sit on the sidelines for,” Logan said.
Price, who has participated in previous women-build projects, said the concept creates a certain synergy. Part of that is because many of the Habitat recipients are single moms.
“I feel like there is something so powerful about other women coming to support a single mom and help her build a house that will impact her and her family in their future,” Price said.
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