(This Lenten Project Introductory article is written by Karen Shellie for the Feb 10 FORUM inside.)
LENTEN OFFERING
Sustain a House – Fight Poverty
Help a family … Help a community
“As the Body of Christ, We Serve One Another”
Our 2013 Lenten project will raise money for the Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley (HHHV) 2013 Catholic House. We hope that you will also consider volunteering to help with the construction!
HHHV envisions a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Habitat homes currently provide safe, decent, affordable housing for 150 adults and 269 children in Washtenaw County. Since its founding in 1989, HHHV has completed 78 new construction homes, 4 recycled homes, and 41 rehabs. Three homeowners have completely paid off their mortgages.
In 2008 HHHV shifted focus from new construction to rehabilitation. This benefits our community by renovating foreclosed homes. So far, 39 of the 41 rehabs have been completed. And 100% of the homeownership projects over the next two fiscal years will be rehabs.
HHHV also cares for the earth. 100% of the local homes that HHHV rehabilitated in the past two fiscal years have achieved 5-star Energy Star ratings! During the Lenten season, we will highlight Habitat's environmentally friendly practices. Many are things that we can do in our own lives.
Habitat is best known for their Home Ownership Program:
How Does It Work?
· Using volunteer labor and donated money and materials, HHHV builds simple, decent houses
· In addition to a down payment and monthly mortgage payments, homeowners invest 200 hours of labor into building their house and the houses of others
· Homes are sold to partner families with a 0% interest mortgage
· Monthly mortgage payments are used to build more Habitat houses
How Are Partner Families Selected?
· Families that need an affordable, decent home qualify based on: their need, their willingness to be partners in the program, and their ability to repay the loan
· Neither race nor religion is a factor in choosing families
How Can I Volunteer or Donate?
· Use the Sustain a House LENTEN OFFERING sack (attached in this FORUM) please Return Contributions on Palm Sunday, March 31, 2013, to St. Francis of Assisi Parish. Learn more at: StFrancisA2.com/lent
· Visit: h4h.org Call: (734) 677-1558 See our: Catholic-Habitat.blogspot.com/
Did you know that HHHV does more than just build houses?
HHHV has a Critical Repair & Weatherization Program:
· After an energy audit, 22 homeowners in the Gault Village neighborhood in Ypsilanti Township prepared for winter by putting in insulation, replacing outdated furnaces and water heaters, sealing areas where air was flowing in, and installing programmable thermostats
· Homeowners contributed sweat equity and will repay a portion of the cost of repairs with a 0% interest loan over six years
HHHV provides Credit Counseling:
· Habitat's credit counselor pulls a family's credit report and reviews it with them – for 80% of those served, this is the first time they have seen their credit report
· The credit counselor helps the families establish affordable payment plans to eliminate debt, as well as a healthy monthly budget
· The credit counselor can help families address mistakes on their credit reports
· 206 families received credit counseling in 2012, most of whom were not in the home-ownership program
HHHV participates in the Washtenaw Housing Education Partners, a collaboration of local governmental agencies, funders, and housing developers that provides educational services to current and future homeowners in Washtenaw County.
The HHHV Executive Director serves on the board and funding review team of the Washtenaw Housing Alliance, a group of 20+ local agencies that work together to address the issues of affordable housing and homelessness.
HHHV operates the Re-Store on Jackson Road, which sells new and gently used building materials, furniture, appliances, and everything you need to update or furnish your space. It's open seven days a week and helps to fund HHHV programs.
Please join us this Lent in supporting Habitat's efforts to provide affordable and earth-friendly housing and create sustainable communities in Washtenaw County!
Use the Sustain a House LENTEN OFFERING sack (attached in this FORUM, February 10, 2013) please Return Contributions on Palm Sunday, March 31, 2013, to St. Francis of Assisi Parish. Learn more at: StFrancisA2.com/lent
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