Habitat for Humanity Lake County and Habitat for Humanity McHenry County Merge to Strengthen Mission and Expand Impact
Habitat for Humanity Lake County and Habitat for Humanity McHenry County are excited to announce that we will be merging in 2025 to form a stronger, unified organization. This strategic partnership will allow both affiliates to expand our impacts, serve more communities, and ensure long-term sustainability for affordable housing programs in both of our counties.
A Merger to Strengthen Our Mission
This merger is driven by a shared commitment to creating a stronger, more resilient organization that is better equipped to serve local families in our community. By joining forces, the new entity will have increased capacity to take on larger, more ambitious projects and will be better positioned to meet the need for safe, affordable homeownership opportunities in both counties.
Both the Lake and McHenry County offices will remain open and fully operational, with both McHenry ReStores continuing to serve as vital resources for affordable building supplies and home goods. All current staff positions will be retained, ensuring continuity of services and support for the families and communities we serve. This merger also celebrates the incredible legacy of McHenry’s longtime President and CEO, Jerry Monica, who enters a well-deserved retirement after a distinguished career of building a successful, impactful organization. As he passes the torch, Joel Williams, the current Executive Director of Habitat Lake County, will step into the CEO role for the newly unified organization. Joel brings nearly 20 years of nonprofit experience and a heartfelt dedication to serving the community, setting the stage for a bright and impactful future in the mission to provide affordable housing for families across both counties.
“Jerry Monica’s impact on Habitat for Humanity in McHenry County has been extraordinary. Through his unwavering dedication, he’s built not only homes, but a legacy—a strong organization, a talented team, and a culture of excellence that has transformed lives across the community. From expanding vital programs to operating two successful ReStores, Jerry’s vision and leadership have laid a foundation that I am both humbled and honored to build upon through this merger. I’m deeply grateful for the trust he’s placed in me to carry this legacy forward, and I know that his influence will be felt for years to come.” – Joel Williams, Habitat for Humanity Lake County Executive Director and incoming CEO
Key Benefits of the Merger
- Strength in Numbers: The combined organization will pool the expertise, skills, and resources of both affiliates, enabling it to enhance program delivery, strengthen financial stability, and improve construction techniques and volunteer engagement.
- Increase Efficiency, Maximize Resources: The merger will streamline operations and reduce duplicate tasks, ensuring donor funds are used more efficiently and allowing the organization to be better stewards of its resources.
- Expanded Reach: With an increased presence across both Lake and McHenry Counties, the organization will be able to serve more communities, raise awareness of Habitat’s mission, and make a deeper impact on affordable housing issues.
- Ensure Long-Term Sustainability: By diversifying revenue streams and enhancing financial resilience, the new organization will be better equipped to face economic challenges and support sustainable growth and innovation.
- Amplify Advocacy: A unified, larger organization will have a stronger voice in advocating for safe, affordable housing.
A Bright Future for Both Counties
“Joel has transformed the way Habitat Lake County approaches the affordable housing market, positioning that affiliate to mesh perfectly with Habitat McHenry as the two organizations merge. I have the utmost confidence that he will lead the merged organization to become the largest producing Habitat affiliate in the State of Illinois.” – Jerry Monica, Habitat for Humanity McHenry President and CEO
Community members, donors, and partners can rest assured that this merger will not result in a reduction of services. On the contrary, Habitat for Humanity’s expanded capacity will allow it to build more homes, serve more families, and further its mission of creating a world where everyone has a safe place to live.
Join Us in Building a Stronger Future
As Habitat for Humanity Lake County and Habitat McHenry County embark on this exciting new chapter, we invite the community to continue supporting their efforts to create lasting change. Together, we are confident that this merger will result in a stronger, more resilient organization that will benefit more individuals and families across both counties.
For more information about the merger and how you can get involved, contact Joel Williams at [email protected].
Join Us in Building a Stronger Future!
With our new, united organization, we have the opportunity to build more homes, make more repairs, and transform even more lives across Lake and McHenry counties.
Your support can make a difference. Your donation will go directly toward expanding our programs, empowering more individuals and families, and creating safe, affordable places for our neighbors to call home.
Let’s build something incredible—together!
Frequently Asked Questions
This merger is an exciting opportunity to build a stronger, more resilient organization that will serve both Lake and McHenry counties even better! By combining our strengths, expertise, and resources, we will expand our impact, increase our capacity to help more individuals and families, and build a more equitable future for our communities.
Absolutely not! In fact, we’re expanding our services to better meet the needs of our communities. This merger is all about enhancing our ability to serve more families, build more homes, and complete more home repairs across both Lake and McHenry counties.
Yes! Both the Lake County (1425 Tri State Parkway, Suite 110 Gurnee, IL 60031) and McHenry County (907 Front St. McHenry, IL 60050) offices will remain open and full operational. We’re excited to keep our teams and resources local while bringing the best of both affiliates together.
Great news! Both ReStores in McHenry County will remain open and continue serving their communities. We’re committed to keeping these vital resources available to support our mission.
Any checks or documents that still have the old affiliate names will continue to be valid for the near future. We’re working to make this transition as smooth as possible for all of our supporters and partners.
No, both affiliates’ tax ID numbers will remain the same for now. We’re maintaining our current tax structure until further notice, so everything will remain in place during the transition.
We are still awaiting approval of the official name for the merged organization from Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI). We are part of the Habitat affiliate network, and we’re pleased to have support from HFHI and our regional sister affiliates as we move forward with this exciting next step.
This merger is about ensuring long-term sustainability. By pooling our expertise, resources, and efforts, we’ll be able to take on bigger projects, increase our presence in both counties, and advocate for affordable homeownership opportunities on a larger scale. Our merged organization will be better positioned to face challenges, maximize resources, and continue our mission of providing safe, affordable homes.
As a larger, unified organization, we’ll have a stronger voice to advocate for affordable housing and homeownership at local, regional, and national levels. We’re committed to raising awareness and securing funding to address the housing crisis and provide more families with safe, affordable homes.
We’re so glad you asked! There are many ways to get involved as we merge and expand our efforts. Whether it’s volunteering, donating, or advocating for our mission, we need you to help us make an even bigger impact. Stay tuned for more ways to engage and join us in this exciting new chapter!
This merger is an important step toward expanding our reach and serving more communities. With enhanced capacity, greater efficiency, and a stronger presence, we’re excited to make a deeper, more meaningful impact in both Lake and McHenry counties. Together, we’ll do more to make affordable housing a reality for everyone who needs it!
Jerry has been a remarkable leader for Habitat McHenry County, driving tremendous growth and positive change within the community. His leadership has built a legacy of impact that will continue to benefit McHenry County for years to come. After the merger, the combined organization will be led by the current Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity Lake County, who brings years of experience and a passion for Habitat’s mission. Jerry’s invaluable contributions and strong foundation in McHenry County are key to this merger, and we’re proud to carry forward his legacy as we expand our impact across both counties!