In His Hands Orphans Outreach (IHHOO) is a local nonprofit with a mission of helping foster children and orphans while supporting families through the adoption process. One innovative way the group has raised funds for its ministry is by renovating blighted homes and selling them at market value, which also improves the neighborhood. Since 2014, the organization has brought together skilled volunteers for its home rehabs, and in 2016 partnered with Habitat for Humanity to provide a single mother and her three children with a completely restored home. The third renovation that IHHOO completed, in 2018, was recognized with a Springfield Preservation Award.
1149 N. 7th was the first Enos Park renovation for IHHOO. Enos Park Development had purchased the house out of foreclosure in 2014 and donated it to IHHOO to renovate, rather than see it be demolished by the city. Using primarily volunteer labor and donated materials, IHHOO completed a whole house renovation and sold the finished product for market value to a first-time homebuyer.
In 2015, IHHOO took a duplex at 839 N. 8th that had been a problematic rental property and converted it back to a single-family home. This time, IHHOO partnered with Habitat for Humanity, and a single mother who had already completed her sweat equity and other requirements via Habitat purchased the home.
In 2017, IHHOO tackled another project on 7th Street, this time a larger, two-story house next to two homes that had already been completed renovated by Old Neighborhood Rehab and sold to new owners. IHHOO followed the same model and a young couple who were first-time homebuyers purchased the house once the work was complete.
