Hero Story

Northwest Michigan Habitat for Humanity is building safe, affordable, and high quality homes. Safe and sanitary housing increases household health. When families are not in crisis, mental wellness is also improved, and a manageable budget frees up time and resources for personal care. Education is closely tied to housing. When students have a quiet place to study and are not having to change schools after each move, academic achievement increases. When housing costs are affordable, adults can invest in continued education. Increased self-sufficiency (less reliance on government or nonprofit assistance), retention of the local workforce, school enrollment, and new property tax revenue are a few examples of how the work of NM MI Habitat is impacting our economy and the whole community. The environment benefits when families live in the same city/county that they work reducing commutes/emissions in addition to Habitat’s energy efficient building practices. Therefore, the organization's investment in permanent, affordable housing is deeply impacting the health, well being, and education of its clients, as well as the prosperity of our local economy, and the environment. And, the organization accomplishes all this amazing work while engaging the members of our community through volunteerism. Civic clubs like Rotary volunteer on a monthly basis, local building companies provide volunteer labor and donated materials, and long-time individual volunteers give hundreds and sometimes thousands of hours toward this important mission.

"I believe Habitat for Humanity provides a solution to a very real problem in the area. Through my professional and personal experiences, I’ve seen numerous issues arise surrounding the lack of affordable housing. Whether it be clients unable to adequately staff their organization, or personal acquaintances being forced to relocate to an area with lower, and more abundant housing options." – Nick Moore, Chair of the Board of Directors and Certified Public Accountant at William R. Kanine P.C.

"Housing is so important to a person’s livelihood and helps build a stronger community by enabling independence for our citizens. Northern Michigan is a beautiful place to visit, but we can’t forget about the people who live and work here every day and need sustainable housing. Habitat fills a much-needed gap for our communities by providing access to affordable and safe housing." – Shari Culver, Chief Operating Officer at Great Lakes Energy and Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for Northwest Michigan Habitat for Humanity

"Our team has been working diligently to build homes for families in our community. We’re currently in phase two of four of our project: Foundations for our Future. We have improved our product, streamlined the factory-built home setting process, added to our construction staff and increased volunteer engagement. We take pride in the quality of our homes, making sure our program partners are getting the most value for their dollar. We are fighting the housing crisis from all sides and we’re not about to slow down any time soon!" – James Dawley, Director of Construction.

"Family is important to me. I spent a lot of time as a kid at my extended family’s homes. I appreciate how important a home is for children growing up and the stability and personal development a home provides. I know many of our community families couldn’t afford or even find a home without the participation and leadership of Northwest Michigan Habitat for Humanity." – Doug Mantha, Board Member, on the importance of Habitat for Humanity.