19 households become homeowners with your help: annual impact report 2022
“The truth is, there are no words to fully express our gratitude.” Those are the words of Bilsan, the 2021 Habitat Kent Homeowner of the Year. Those words are tribute to the hard work our volunteers put in, the generosity of our donors, and the commitment of our community. Hear more from Bilsan and other […]
Quanette’s Homeownership Journey
Quanette’s journey to Habitat Kent began when she was informed that her apartment was being sold and that she would have to move out. With Grand Rapids area rents so high and rising, she soon realized it would be a challenge to find a place that gave her the space she needed at a price […]
Building Leaders and Community in Roosevelt Park
Throughout May and June of 2022, we partnered with Dwelling Place to host Building Leaders, Building Communities (BLBC) in the Roosevelt Park neighborhood. This program seeks to bring neighbors together to learn about community organizing and the power of resident leaders. Over the course of eight weeks, neighbors from Roosevelt Park spent time identifying gifts and passions, […]
Greg McCormick joins Habitat Kent’s Board of Directors
We are honored to welcome Greg McCormick to our Board of Directors. Now retired, Greg brings a wealth of knowledge from his background at Perrigo as SVP – Self Care Marketing, Insights and Analytics. Upon joining our mission, Greg says: “I believe affordable housing is a fundamental need and critical in the establishment of a successful family and building a successful […]
We welcome Fiona Brennan Shea, Jess Eglinton and Jade Johnson!
We recently welcomed three new faces to our Habitat team: Fiona Brennan Shea, Development Specialist, Jess Eglinton, Donor Relations Specialist, and Jade Johnson. They bring with them a wide breadth of experience and knowledge and we’re so excited to have them on board! We enjoyed getting to know all three of these wonderful women in […]
Meet Jillianne Carrasco, our newest team member!
In November, Jillianne Carrasco joined Habitat Kent as our newest Homeowner Services Specialist! Jillianne has experience as a FEMA Corps Member, Intern at the U.S. Embassy in La Paz, Bolivia and as a Legislative Intern at the MI House of Representatives. She also knows over 100 Starbucks blended coffee and tea recipes from her time […]
Welcome Yolanda Ross, MBA, our new Human Resources Generalist
Help us welcome Yolanda Ross! Yolanda joins Habitat for Humanity of Kent County as the Human Resources Generalist. She brings a wealth of experience with her including an MBA from the University of Phoenix with a concentration in healthcare management and over 20 years of HR experience in the healthcare field. She also has great […]
hope + opportunity = stability: annual impact report 2021
“Hope and opportunity are the essence of Habitat Kent. Although we faced many challenges this past year, our commitment to our mission carried us through to achieve great outcomes in 2021.” – Bev Thiel, Executive Director Read more about the 17 new Habitat Kent homeowners in Plaza Roosevelt, our innovative building practices and programs, and […]
Introducing Abby Langenberg, Habitat Kent’s New Construction & Warehouse Director
This summer we added a new position to our team and are excited to welcome our Construction and Warehouse Director, Abby Langenberg! Abby has a diverse construction background and was most recently a Construction Manager for Rockford Construction where she led a team of carpenters in the trades department. She graduated from North Park University with […]
Meet Our New Homeowner Services Specialist
Michelle MacNall joined Habitat Kent earlier this summer as a Homeowner Services Specialist. She brings 12 years of experience from the Habitat affiliate in Baton Rouge, LA where she began as an AmeriCorps member and went on to work in the Homeowner Services Department. We are so fortunate and excited to have her on board! […]
Ask the Expert: How to Upgrade Curb Appeal On a Budget
In our first installment of “Ask the Expert,” Tom Poll, Habitat Kent’s Warehouse Supervisor, shares affordable, easy-to-do tips and tricks to upgrade the look and feel of your home. Q: What is “curb appeal”? Tom: Curb appeal basically means, how attractive your home is from the street. When someone first looks at your home, […]
Homeowner Newsletter June 2021
Inside: Homeowner Story: Karen’s most influential woman in her life; 2020 Homeowner of the Year; Ask the Expert; Things to do this summer for the whole family; and more! June 2021 Homeowner Services Newsletter
March 2021 Habitat Happenings
In this issue: Innovative Housing Solutions; Material Recover Services for your Home Remodel; Home for the Holidays Review; and more! Habitat Kent Happenings, March 2021
Homeowner Newsletter March 2021
Inside: Homeowner Story: Wendy’s Poem Brings Warm Memories, Advice for Selling or Home, Pet Pantry and more. March 2021 Homeowner Services Newsletter
Habitat Kent Happenings: December 2020
What to do when a pandemic keeps you from having home dedication celebrations? Hold a car parade! We celebrated 17 families who are now Habitat Kent homeowners in the Roosevelt Park neighborhood on the southwest side of Grand Rapids. Read the Newsletter
stronger together: annual impact report
“You guys are family to us because you’re helping us every step of the way. Habitat is making sure that we fully understand budgeting, we understand everything about our mortgage and just the process of buying a home. I have the resources to help me be successful.“ – Serita Read more from homeowners and about […]
Blueprint for Greening Affordable Housing
Habitat for Humanity of Kent County and the Plaza Roosevelt are included as a case study in the new book Blueprint for Greening Affordable Housing, published by Island Press. In this fully revised edition, co-authors Kimberly Vermeer and Walker Wells capture the rapid evolution of green building practices, using Habitat Kent’s green building practices and […]
Habitat Kent reopens South ReStore and resumes construction
GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan, June 8, 2020 — Habitat for Humanity of Kent County has reopened its South ReStore location at 5701 Division Ave S, Wyoming, MI 49548 and in the last couple weeks, home construction has resumed as well. The nonprofit is preparing to welcome volunteers back to construction sites later this summer. The ReStore […]
Habitat for Humanity, Consumers Energy Partner for Power of Home Campaign
GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan, May 20, 2020 — Habitat for Humanity of Michigan and Consumers Energy are partnering to provide financial support to Habitat affiliates that have been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with a goal of raising $200,000 by the end of September. Habitat for Humanity of Kent County has set a local goal […]
Jawaan
This is the story of Jawaan and her family. When Jawaan applied to become a Habitat homeowner, she brought her faith in God, her favorite motto (“Teamwork makes the dream work!”), a lot of energy and hope, and a few wishes. She wished that she and her four children could live in a safe, affordable […]
Mazarah & Sofia
This is the story of Mazarah and Sofia. In 2016, they came to Michigan with their three children as refugees after fleeing war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo followed by intense experiences with xenophobia in South Africa. Bethany Christian Services helped them settle and learn the many things needed to adjust to radically […]
Community Invests $9M in Affordable Housing with Habitat for Humanity
GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan, October 29, 2019 — Habitat for Humanity of Kent County is celebrating securing $9 million for its capital campaign to expand access to affordable housing in Grand Rapids’ Roosevelt Park neighborhood. Habitat Kent’s “Bright Future Campaign” is a $9 million plan to build, rehab or repair 400 homes in the Roosevelt Park […]
Habitat Kent Welcomes Bev Thiel as New Executive Director
GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan, May 20, 2019 — Habitat for Humanity of Kent County has named experienced nonprofit leader Beverly Thiel as its new executive director. Thiel brings more than 25 years of nonprofit experience and a strong leadership track record to the executive director role at Habitat Kent. She brings extensive expertise in organizational development, […]
New Beginnings
John was looking for a fresh start and a chance to live the life he always dreamed of. He was in a vulnerable living situation and unexpected health issues made it challenging to find an affordable and healthy place to live. Fortunately, as a U.S. Air Force and Vietnam Veteran, John qualified to build and […]
Strong Futures
In the past year, Dini and Mansura have been surprised how their house transformed from just a plot of land to the beautiful home it is today. Their home was built in partnership with students from Grand Rapids Community College’s M-TEC Program. Since 2005, GRCC students have helped Habitat Kent build 33 homes. GRCC President Bill […]
Confidence
Building a Habitat Kent home takes more than timber, cement, and vinyl. It takes a homebuyer willing to believe that they can accomplish more. Therese took on the challenge of building and purchasing a new Habitat Kent home in the Roosevelt Park Neighborhood. Her hard work will provide a bright future for her three daughters […]
GRPS Students Build Habitat Home
While most students associate the end of the school year with studying for exams, cleaning out lockers, and longing for summer, a group of Grand Rapids Public Schools students were celebrating a project that took the entire school year to complete. Juniors and seniors at GRPS’ Academy for Design and Construction (ADC) spent the 2017-2018 […]
Encouragement
The journey to Habitat homeownership takes encouragement and endurance, which ultimately leads to growth and stability. For Floridalma, her first encouragement came from her brother, who is a Habitat homeowner in Guatemala. “He said that Habitat can help people obtain a home and that our [living conditions] will change if we pursue it,” Floridalma said. […]
Milestones
Stability, community, and a strong foundation are realities of life for a majority of West Michigan families. But for Amadou and Housseinatou, these were once only dreams. The Hassanas emigrated from Cameroon four years ago, seeking a chance for a stronger future for their family. They left behind the security of home for an opportunity […]
Freedom
Bilsan, Norma, and their three boys Roadny (13), Rudy (10), Rony (9), are in awe of their new home. “We can live freer,” Bilsen said.
Responsibility
Because of you, Maria and her two children are going to live in a safe, stable, and healthy home in the neighborhood they love. Maria and her family have been connected to the Roosevelt Park Neighborhood for many years and both children go to school at Caser Chavez Elementary, only a few blocks from their new […]
A Foundation For Family
Patrice raised her family to love and sacrifice for each other no matter the circumstances. So when she had the opportunity to fulfill her dream of homeownership through Habitat Kent, her family came together with volunteers and donors to build a bright future. Last week, amongst her beautiful and growing family she dedicated her new […]
Stability
Because of you, Iraq War Veteran Jonathan and his wife Lindsay now own a safe, stable, and affordable home. This fall, Jonathan, Lindsay and their children Josh (7) and Karolyne (2) celebrated the completion of their new home amongst donors, volunteers, friends, and family. “It’s ours and that’s the best thing about it,” Jonathan said. Jonathan’s grandfather, a veteran […]