Charity begins at home: Assistance for renters and homeowners is available

Midland County Habitat for Humanity was featured in a Catalyst Midland article on Thursday, August 12, 2021 looking at assistance for renters and homeowners in the area. Read the full article here.

 

 

Habitat for Humanity offers affordable mortgages for future homeowners and home repairs for those in need

Habitat for Humanity builds new constructions that will lead to homeownership. Typically, that’s been single-family homes. After the 2018 Housing Analysis identified economic development and low-income affordability as issues Midland County faces, Habitat has looked into building different types of homes.

“We’re adding multi-family [homes] to our products to serve the affordable housing need in the community,” says Jennifer Chappel, CEO of Midland County Habitat for Humanity. The new units are located on M-20 next to Huntley Lane.

They’re now accepting applicants. In order to qualify, applicants must show a need and have the ability to pay. They then purchase the home through an affordable mortgage paid to Habitat.

“We utilize the collective mortgage payments in our portfolio to build more homes for more families,” says Chappel.

The homes will be part of a Homeowners Association. It costs extra monthly, but lawn care, snow removal, insurance for the property, and future maintenance is covered.

“Twenty to 25 years down the road when the roof needs to be replaced, they don’t have to come up with the money,” says Chappel. “They’ve technically been saving for it all along.”

In addition to new builds, Habitat also does home repairs. And every August for the last 10 years — with the exception of last year — they do neighborhood revitalization projects for existing homeowners in the community. In one week, 700-900 volunteers pitch in, doing mostly exterior repairs.

“To date, through repair, we’ve served almost 300 households,” says Chappel.