The Habitat for Humanity Project Week, led by Upper School science teachers Joshua Phipps and Jonathan Legendre, brought together eight students to learn about the history of housing insecurity and engage in hands-on projects.
We strove to improve housing in Chicago through direct service at Habitat for Humanity’s donation centers and stores that sell second-hand home goods at discounted prices. We also worked on one of their active build sites, where we got involved in housing construction.
On our first day, students stayed on campus to learn about redlining—discriminatory housing practices denying services to Black and minority communities—through documentaries and discussions. Unfortunately, our next itinerary item, a neighborhood tour, was unexpectedly cancelled, so students cleaned up trash in Lincoln Park instead.
On Tuesday, we arrived at ReStore North, one of two Habitat for Humanity donation centers in Chicago that stores and sells donated home appliances at discounted prices. There, students swept the store and cleaned home goods to prepare for a furniture showcase—where items were sold at reduced prices in support of Habitat for Humanity—later that day.
On Wednesday morning, we headed to West Pullman on Chicago’s South Side and toured Habitat for Humanity’s real estate development aimed at buyers who are economically disadvantaged and qualify for their Affordable Homeownership Program. In the afternoon, students visited their second donation center, ReStore South, and helped sort through home appliances to be refurbished and readied for purchase.
For the final two days, the learning and work we had done culminated with active involvement at the West Pullman townhouse construction site. Some students were tasked with spraypainting, sweeping, or vacuuming, while others built closets and cut wood for the houses.
“I really liked being on the build site and learning from the workers so I can take those skills later in life,” sophomore Carly Rosenberg said.
Whether it was watching documentaries or working an active construction site, Habitat for Humanity students gained deeper awareness of housing inequality and worked to expand homeownership for communities in Chicago.
