ABOUT US
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) Habitat for Humanity Campus Chapter was established in 1992 by a group of motivated students who recognized the need to end substandard housing in Urbana-Champaign. Working closely with our Champaign County affiliate, our goal is to raise awareness about housing insecurity among students and fundraise for an annual sponsorship towards an affordable home in the surrounding community. Over the past 24 years, our chapter has proudly sponsored and actively built 19 Habitat homes, contributed volunteer labor to dozens more, and engaged thousands of student volunteers in support of our mission. Our student chapter is open to all members, regardless of major and career interests, and requires no general member dues! We hope to inspire students about the importance of giving back to our community through decreasing housing insecurity. We hold general meetings biweekly on Tuesdays from 7-8 pm and host several fun fundraising and educational events!
​This Year’s Build:
Meet Shannon Gardner!
Shannon Gardner is a lifelong Champaign-Urbana resident, mother of four, and one of seven Champaign County Habitat homeowners receiving keys this year.
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Shannon began the Habitat application process in July 2025 and described the experience as smooth, thoughtful, and reaffirming, saying she felt “seen” and “heard” throughout the process. Finding a home that could meet her family’s accessibility needs had been difficult, especially because her daughter uses a wheelchair
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Habitat worked with Shannon to create a home with features such as wider hallways, an accessible bathroom, lower appliances, and zero-step entry so her family can comfortably remain in the home for years to come.
For Shannon, homeownership represents both freedom and the opportunity to build something lasting for her children.
As she shared, “If I can give my kids some type of equity, some type of legacy to lean on,” that means everything.
Shannon’s story shows how every build, fundraiser, and volunteer hour can help create greater stability, independence, and opportunity for a local family
