Anxious, appreciative, humbled, grateful, and thankful — just some of the adjectives Derek and April Price expressed after hearing their family was selected by Habitat for Humanity of Ogle County.
“We’ve been on cloud nine…it’s been unbelievable,” Derek said after receiving the news last week. “It’s still hard to wrap our heads around it that we get this chance.”
The news came for the couple and their three daughters last week after the local organization selected the Price family from among several applicants who qualify for the newest home build in Rochelle.
Among the qualifications are the ability to pay the mortgage, current needs and circumstances, and a willingness to partner with HFH in the home-building process.
Vanessa White-Broome, Executive Director of HFH of Ogle County said through the organization, families are able to realize their dream of home ownership through a helping hand, but not as a handout.

“It is a misconception that we just give homes away,” White-Broome said.
Through HFH, the Price family will have the opportunity to secure a no-interest loan, which gives them the affordability to own their own home.
Derek said nearly a decade ago he thought about building a home, but realized it was out of reach.
“The idea we get to do that now and it’s a better deal than anything we could have imagined and we get to build it, and learn from it,” Derek said. “I hope to help with other builds after this one.”
Every HFH home build requires the new owners put in about 200 hours worth of sweat equity, something the Price family is looking forward to. The local community is also involved, between volunteers, contractors and churches. White-Broome said a church has offered to bring sandwiches and drinks during the home build for the volunteers.
“It’s a bit overwhelming just thinking of everybody that’s contributing to this, and even going to contribute to this,” Derek said. “It’s humbling, very humbling.”
White-Broome said the organization is hoping to break ground at the end of March or the beginning of April.
“We are really grateful and humbled to have been chosen…and thankful. It’s been overwhelming, so many people helping. It’s touching,” April said.