Families

habitatdetroit
September 20, 2023
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Habitat for Humanity Detroit and National Guard Association of Michigan Joined Forces on Sept. 11 to Rehab Army Veteran’s Home

Habitat for Humanity Detroit and National Guard Association of Michigan Joined Forces on Sept. 11 to Rehab Army Veteran’s Home https://habitatdetroit.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/hfh-group.jpg 1200 800 habitatdetroit habitatdetroit https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/93c049233ae4b274f7b3b443765808b9?s=96&d=mm&r=g September 20, 2023 September 20, 2023

Patriot Day is a day of reflection and remembrance. It can also serve as a day to honor those who served our country. That’s what National Guard Association of Michigan and Habitat for Humanity Detroit did this Sept. 11.

The two organizations came together to perform critical home repairs for Army Veteran Kevin Vann. National Guard Association of Michigan funded the repairs and sent volunteers to complete the work alongside Habitat for Humanity Detroit. The repairs were to a home at 7415 Woodrow Wilson St. in Detroit.

“We’re grateful to have teamed up with National Guard Association of Michigan on 9/11 to repair this Veteran’s home,” said Stephanie Osterland, Habitat for Humanity Detroit’s Executive Director. “We were previously able to provide a roof replacement for Mr. Vann, and know that these home repairs made his home safer and more comfortable to live in.”

Commitment to the country and Detroit runs deep in the Vann family. During basic training, Kevin Vann learned that his parents had been murdered. Despite this incredible tragedy, he returned to finish basic training after laying his parents to rest. He served in the Army at Fort Hood, TX, and after returned to Detroit to work for the city and later at Henry Ford Hospital. All three of his children are active duty military, with one each serving in the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

habitatdetroit
June 15, 2023
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Habitat for Humanity Detroit Celebrates in Morningside

Habitat for Humanity Detroit Celebrates in Morningside https://habitatdetroit.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/wall-raising-home-is-the-key-1.jpg 1547 1031 habitatdetroit habitatdetroit https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/93c049233ae4b274f7b3b443765808b9?s=96&d=mm&r=g June 15, 2023 June 15, 2023

The threat of rain couldn’t dampen the spirits of those who gathered together on Saturday, April 22, on Maryland Street to celebrate Habitat for Humanity’s Home is the Key Campaign. Habitat Detroit was chosen for this national campaign which raises funds and drives awareness around the growing need for affordable housing all across the United States. Thanks to generous sponsors including At Home, Kum and Go, Resideo, and iHeart Media, the campaign spurs homebuilding and repair efforts and helps residents in communities like Morningside access the undeniable advantages of homeownership. It also reminds us that when homeownership is accessible to everyone, we all benefit. Several of our very own Morningside neighbors were featured in this campaign and a spotlight was shone on the work being done by the Detroit affiliate.

National partners, Habitat for Humanity International staff, local volunteers, and the Habitat Detroit team came together to celebrate months of work. Special guest, Egypt Sherrod, of HGTV, was on hand for a ceremonial wall raising at Habitat’s newest build site. Volunteers spread out along the block to put their talents to use on a house being rehabbed by Habitat, along with helping our neighbors with other light landscaping and exterior work to freshen up the entire street. After hours of hard work guests and neighbors gathered together to enjoy food, fun, and festivities at a block party to celebrate all of the amazing work being done in the Morningside neighborhood.

Just days later Habitat Detroit hosted a Home Dedication for the newest Habitat home, a beautifully restored house on Haverhill. Joining the more than 130 homes built or rehabbed by Habitat Detroit in Morningside, this house was a labor of love. The Habitat team and countless volunteers worked tirelessly to breathe new life into the house as it was prepared to welcome the Flores family to their very own home sweet home.

The Flores family was surrounded by family, friends, neighbors, and community leaders as they were officially welcomed to the community. Excitement was in the air and the sun was shining as Gabby, Miguel, Jada, and Gracie (along with pup Phoebe) laughed, cried, and showed off their beautiful new space.

Since partnering with Habitat Detroit in May 2022, the entire Flores family has taken an active partnering role, from building sweat equity hours as volunteers at builds, attending events and classes, and working diligently to increase their buying power.

Upon viewing the house on Haverhill, we could see the joyful tears in their eyes as Gabby pointed out where she would put her plants, which room her girls would have, and how she would hang Christmas stockings along the fireplace mantel.

Both of these events are shining examples of the continued work Habitat Detroit has been doing in Morningside for the past 15 years. Habitat Detroit is so thankful for the outstanding partnership with the neighborhood and is excited to continue our dedicated efforts to help build homes and hope for our community.

habitatdetroit
May 4, 2023
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Habitat Detroit to Celebrate Home Dedication

Habitat Detroit to Celebrate Home Dedication https://habitatdetroit.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/wilson-homeowner.jpg 1200 797 habitatdetroit habitatdetroit https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/93c049233ae4b274f7b3b443765808b9?s=96&d=mm&r=g May 4, 2023 May 4, 2023

Grayson Wilson is excited to make their dream of homeownership a reality

Habitat for Humanity Detroit is proud to welcome Grayson Wilson to its list of homeowners. The home dedication will take place on Tuesday, May 9th at 4 pm at 14017 Auburn, Detroit, MI 48223.

Grayson Wilson, along with his mother, Anne Grenion migrated to the US from Guyana South America in search of a better life. They faced many challenges and setbacks as they learned a new culture and way of life but thrived, nonetheless. In his younger days, Grayson was extremely active in sports and loved being on a team. His love for teamwork, leadership, and connectedness lead Grayson to a successful 7-year career in the Army.

A little over a year ago Grayson connected with Habitat Detroit and joined the Weekend Warriors, knowing he very much wanted to be a homeowner himself. Understanding he needed to get a few financial ducks in a row first, he began to attend HomeEd webinars. Over the next year, he helped in several home builds and attended webinars all in order to learn the skills needed to be a successful homeowner. During this time he discovered that the Habitat Detroit culture at its core is “genuine care”.

“In February Grayson officially applied for and was approved to be Habitat Detroit Homeowner. That same week he viewed the Auburn house,” says Stephanie Osterland, Habitat Detroit’s Executive Director, “After careful consideration, he accepted the house on February 13, 2023. He looks forward to his relationship with Habitat Detroit developing even further, and we could not be more excited for the partnership we have established.”

“I have an innate desire to serve others and to see their lives fulfilled. Volunteering with Habitat Detroit for over a year and a half, I’ve seen other’s homeownership dreams come true. I’ve learned new skills relating to home renovation and home maintenance,” say Wilson.

The Habitat Detroit Homeownership program was established to help build wealth, assets, and opportunities for the next generation of Detroit citizens. Grayson is the latest example of the program in action.

Wilson continued, “Now that homeownership is a reality for me, I am grateful to have this experience. Working with Habitat Detroit offers me peace – They continue to equip me with the knowledge, skills, and access to resources to make my homeownership lifecycle sustainable.”

“We look forward to welcoming our newest Homeowner to the Habitat for Humanity Detroit family and for the partnership that is to follow,” says Osterland.

habitatdetroit
April 14, 2023
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Habitat for Humanity, Consumers Energy Team to Raise $300,000 for Power of Home Campaign

Habitat for Humanity, Consumers Energy Team to Raise $300,000 for Power of Home Campaign https://habitatdetroit.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/330368016_1587858688641605_2083353836076519821_n.jpg 2048 1404 habitatdetroit habitatdetroit https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/93c049233ae4b274f7b3b443765808b9?s=96&d=mm&r=g April 14, 2023 April 14, 2023

Energy Provider Will Donate $1 for Every $2 Raised, up to $100

Detroit, Mich., April 10, 2023 – 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. Habitat for Humanity Detroit has set a local goal of $300,000 to help fund critical housing needs in Detroit.

Through the Power of Home campaign, Consumers Energy will donate $1 for every $2 raised through individual Habitat donations, up to $100,000.

“For over a decade, Consumers Energy and Habitat for Humanity of Michigan have partnered to help provide critical housing funds to communities across Michigan, and we are proud to continue that support this year through the Power of Home campaign,” said Brian Lewis, Consumers Energy’s Executive Director of Customer Operations. “This effort helps to raise funds that are used to provide safe and affordable housing. These homes are also energy-efficient, helping us to eliminate energy waste and better protect the planet. We are grateful to be part of this partnership and for everything Habitat does to support our state.”

In the past nine years (2013-2022) Power of Home (formerly Home Run for Habitat) campaigns have successfully raised nearly $1.9 million from 4,900 public donors, bringing the total raised/matched to more than $2.9 million. Consumers Energy provided $1 million in matching funds for Habitat affiliates by its donation of $1 for every $2 raised through individual donations.

Every dollar given to our Power of Home campaign directly impacts the lives of current and future homeowners across Detroit, and Gabby Flores is living proof of this success.

Growing up, Flores moved around a lot, never really having a “family home.” She had to take a responsible role early in her life to help support her family. This experience instilled dreams of financial stability, planting home roots, and being the best mom she could be for her daughters.

Starting with financial stability, she worked her way up to a management position in her professional life. With that accomplished, she set her sights on homeownership and planting roots through a permanent home.

“Since beginning her partnership with Habitat Detroit in May of 2022 the entire Flores family has sprung into action by building sweat equity hours as a volunteer at builds, attending events and classes, and working diligently to increase their buying power. When their hard work finally paid off, Gabby was overcome with emotion when her dreams of plating gardens, fostering family traditions, and building stability for her children were realized,” says Stephanie Osterland, Habitat Detroit’s Executive Director.

“Habitat Detroit has changed my life by helping me become a homeowner and allowing me to play a role in the homeownership journey for other Habitat families,” says Flores. “Most importantly my daughters see that with hard work and dedication they too can become homeowners.”

The Habitat Detroit Homeownership program was established to help build wealth, assets, and opportunities for the next generation of Detroit families. By giving today, you will make more journeys like this possible. Please join our efforts in building a stronger community, safer homes, and endless hope for neighbors like Gabby. We cannot do this without you!

In order to receive the Consumers Energy match, all donations must be made through the online giving platform Classy.