Facts

Kent County Habifacts

Zero Step Home
  • In 2007, Habitat for Humanity of Kent County received the Corrie Bair Inclusive Communities Award for Housing for building homes with universal design and zero step entry from the State of Michigan Disabilities Council.
  • Habitat homes are not "given"; they are purchased by homeowners through 25 year, zero-interest mortgages.
  • Habitat for Humanity of Kent County is ranked 14th out of 1700 national affiliates for 2006 homebuilding by Habitat International.
  • Habitat for Humanity of Kent County has has built 237 homes since its founding in 1983 and has had only 3 foreclosures.
  • Habitat for Humanity is the only homebuilding non-profit in Kent & Eastern Ottawa Counties that targets famiies who make 30% to 50% of the area median income, approximately $18,500-$31,050 per year, based on income guidelines for a family of four.

Looking for quality giving for your dollar?  Habitat for Humanity of Kent County gets a four star rating on www.CharityNavigator.org as an independent non-profit rating service.

GREEN Kent County Habifacts

  • The Kent County Habitat affiliate is leading the way in sustainable-design, or "green" homes.  We built the first "LEED Certified Affordable Home" in the nation, notably awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council.
  • In 2007, Habitat for Humanity Kent County made the commitment to build all homes in the future to LEED certifications.
  • A few thousand dollars invested in green-building can help Habitat families save an estimated $1,000 per home per year in electric, water, heating and cooling costs.
  • For families who live close to the poverty line the savings each month help to ease the hard decision: "food or heat?"
  • The Habitat Educational Partnership Program uses the construction of a Habitat home as a green building learning laboratory for 10th, 11th and 12th grade students in the Grand Rapids Public School system and college students in the Grand Rapids Community College M-Tech program.
  • Habitat for Humanity of Kent County's ReStore is another example of HFHKC's long held environmental policy - that whatever is still functional, can be saved for re-use.  Building materials donated to Habitat are available for purchase at the ReStore at vastly discounted prices.
  • In July of 2007 Habitat for Humanity of Kent County was designated as an "Approved environmental group" by www.OnePercentforthePlanet.org.