Ahead of the NFL Draft in Detroit our Director of Philanthropy, Mary Ellen Kearney, was invited to come on Detroit’s WDIV to discuss the exciting partnership between Habitat for Humanity and Rocket Mortgage.
Energy Provider Will Donate $1 for Every $2 Raised, Up to $100,000
Habitat for Humanity of Michigan and Consumers Energy have teamed once again to provide financial support to Habitat affiliates with a goal of raising $300,000 by the end of July via its “Power of Home” campaign.
Consumers Energy will donate $1 for every $2 raised through individual Habitat donations, up to $100,000. Habitat Detroit, the 2023 Habitat for Humanity of Michigan Affiliate of the Year, aims to maximize the match by encouraging individual donations and team fundraising. Funds raised during this time will help provide safe and stable housing and critical home repairs in Detroit.
In the past ten years (2013-2023) Power of Home (formerly Home Run for Habitat) campaigns have successfully raised nearly $2 million from over 4,900 public donors, bringing the total raised/matched to more than $3 million. Consumers Energy provided $1 million in matching funds for Habitat affiliates by its donation of $1 for every $2 raised through individual donations.
“Consumers Energy is committed to keeping the lights on for Michigan homes. That starts with helping our customers to live in safe, affordable homes that reduce energy waste and protect the planet,” said Lauren Snyder, Consumers Energy’s vice president of customer experience. “We’re excited to continue our partnership with Habitat Michigan and make an impact in communities we serve.”
In order to receive the Consumers Energy match, all donations must be made through the online giving platform Classy. To make a donation or get more information visit Habitat Detroit’s Classy page here.
About Habitat for Humanity Detroit
Habitat for Humanity Detroit is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity of Michigan, a nonprofit housing ministry providing decent, safe, and affordable housing for low to moderate income families in Detroit. Since 1986, the Detroit affiliate has rehabilitated and/or built new homes in partnership with more than 350 families. Financial support, gift-in-kind donations, and volunteer labor allow Habitat for Humanity Detroit to continue building homes, communities, and hope for neighborhood redevelopment.
About Habitat for Humanity of Michigan
Based in Lansing, Habitat for Humanity of Michigan is the state support organization for Michigan’s 45 Habitat for Humanity affiliates and ReStores which serve nearly every county in the state. HFHM’s mission is to increase the capacity of Habitat for Humanity affiliates in Michigan to build or renovate simple, decent, affordable homes in partnership with people in need.
About Consumers Energy
Consumers Energy is Michigan’s largest energy provider, providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.7 million of the state’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. Consumers Energy’s Clean Energy Plan calls for eliminating coal as an energy source by 2025, achieving net-zero carbon emissions and meeting 90% of customers’ energy needs through clean sources, including wind and solar.
From Habitat Detroit staff, to volunteers, to homeowners, we don’t have to look far for inspirational female figures, stories, and mentors during International Women’s Month! Just take a look at our last three home dedications. All three homeowners are single mothers who put in years of hard work–not just for themselves, but for the future of their children. And that’s just in the last three months!
This growing number of female homeowners at Habitat Detroit is especially motivational given the relatively short history of female homeownership. Until 1900, women could not even own property in all 50 states. On top of that, women couldn’t get their own mortgages (without a male co-signer) until 1974! How far we’ve come!
We want to take a moment and recognize all of the women out there who have had a hand in making Habitat Detroit what it is today!
Did you know…
Across the U.S., single women own 2.71 million more homes than single men
In 1981, 73% of home buyers were married couples, 11% were single women and 10% were single men. Today, those shares stand at 59% married couples, 19% single women, and 10% single men.
Single women own and occupy 10.76 million homes in the U.S.
It wasn’t until 1900 that all states allowed women to hold property in their own names
It wasn’t until 1974 that women were apply for and obtain mortgages on their own —without a male co-signer
The median age of a single female first-time homebuyer is 38, compared to 37 for a single male
Women spend about 2% more when they buy a house than men and sell for 2% less. As a result, they realize 1.5% annualized lower returns, or $1,600 a year, on their homes. Sounds small, but it adds up to $20,000 over 13 years (the U.S. average length of homeownership)
Schaterika Matthews is the latest homeowner to be welcomed to the Habitat Detroit family, and she’s proud to show her young daughter that homeownership is possible. Ms. Matthews joins the growing list of hardworking people who have earned the title of Habitat Detroit homeowner.
The Matthews are the second family to become homeowners through Habitat Detroit this year.
“Becoming a homeowner is remarkable to me because this opportunity offers us generational wealth, certainty, and soundness,” noted Schaterika Matthews. “Any mother would want something to pass on to their child, and this house gives me the ability to do that. My daughter has had the joy of going through this homebuying process with me. It has changed my outlook and perspective on homebuying and real estate. I’m now building wealth and want to obtain the most out of life by being a homeowner.”
Homeownership through Habitat Detroit is a multi-year process that takes a lot of dedication and hard work on the homeowner’s part. Attending financial counseling, homeowner classes, and putting sweat equity into building the home represent some of the steps along the way to becoming official homeowners.