• Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Mail
  • Español
Habitat for Humanity
  • What We Do
      • Homeownership
      • Build and Rehab Homes
      • Veterans Program
      • Neighborhood Engagement
      • We Believe in You

        Start building your dream

  • ReStore
      • About ReStore
      • Locations & Hours
      • Remodeling?
      • ReBuild, ReNew, ReStore

        Less waste, more long-term housing

  • About
      • Celebrating 40 Years
      • About Habitat Kent
      • History
      • Team & Board Members
      • Work At Habitat
      • Resources
      • Find out more

        Building homes, growing communities

  • Connect
      • Blog
      • Events
      • Contact Us
      • We’re Here To Help

        Hammering down problems, nailing down solutions

  • Donate
    • Donate Now
    • Monthly Giving
    • Planned Giving
    • Sponsorship Opportunities
    • Donate Household Items
    • Cars for Homes
  • Get Involved
    • Volunteer
    • Women of Habitat Kent
  • Menu Menu

Self Respect, Stability, and Green Building

May 17, 2023/0 Comments/in 40th Anniversary Stories, Habitat Kent News/by shotchkiss
An interview with former Habitat Kent Executive Director, John Kuiper

Pictured above: John on a build site when Habitat Kent was previously Habitat for Humanity of Grand Rapids; Habitat homeowners and John at a groundbreaking ceremony; John volunteering at the all-electric homes on Diamond in 2022, sporting a Habitat Kent Blitz Build shirt from 1997!

John Kuiper served as the second Executive Director of Habitat Kent from 1987 to 1999. He recently sat down with us and talked about the organization’s early days, the start of our quest for energy efficiency, and the impact housing can have on a family’s well-being.

Mark Ogland-Hand, Sr. Donor Relations Specialist, Habitat Kent: Habitat Kent began building LEED-certified homes several years after your time here, but in looking at the old pictures it is apparent that we were always concerned with building energy-efficient homes.

John: Yes, as early as 1987 we were building 2 x 6 exterior walls with continuous Dow board insulation. When I came back to Habitat Kent temporarily [as interim Executive Director in 2010], I was looking back at those old houses and thinking we should be doing a massive energy retrofit, and I found out that the only thing necessary was a little bit of air sealing and attic insulation upgrades, and maybe foundation insulation.

Mark: Because of those past efforts, our houses are great candidates for electrification. Your work back then is really standing the test of time in preparing them for the future.

John: I would tell people that depending on where Habitat families were moving from their utility bills could go from $200 a month to $30 a month.

Mark: That’s still happening. For one of our “Carbon Footprint Builds” the family came from an old drafty home and their utility bills will reflect a huge reduction. But what was it that made you think, “We’ve got to build better, more energy-efficient houses.”

John: I think that was part of the 1980’s construction move toward energy efficiency. There had been recent swings in gas prices that had priced people out of their houses. $400 gas bills. That was in place before I started and I think Dave Jacobs, [one of Habitat Kent’s original board members], was responsible for that. So that was always there.

Mark: Habitat Kent grew a lot during your time as Executive Director, what was it about Habitat that resonated with the community?

John: What was unique about Habitat was that we’re not just a housing ministry; it’s an opportunity to bring volunteers and people in need together, working side by side, learning from each other. It was a ministry to volunteers as well as homeowners. Homeowners, who, through the experience of building their house, developed a sense of self-respect and their families thrived. It wasn’t just rent verses house payments; it was about stability.

We did a project with Calvin College where students interviewed existing homeowners and we heard stories about how their kids were doing better in school. Their quality of life improved not just because of where they were, but because of what they did.

One of my favorite stories involved a family where the mother showed me the kitchen floor of their current housing – it was carpeting that had been pulled up and all that was left was a pad. It couldn’t be cleaned. A year or so later, the mother is in her new Habitat house and is asked, “What do you like best about your Habitat house?”

I thought, “She’s going to talk about that carpet pad in her kitchen.” But she said, “What I like best about my house is that I feel better about myself. I picked out these colors for the walls and they look so good, and I think I’m going to become an interior decorator.”

At that point, it occurred to me that it’s not just about having a decent floor and a low-energy bill. It is about self-respect

Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Share on Vk
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail
https://www.habitatkent.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/John-Kuiper-Blog-Featured-image-5.17.23.jpg 450 1200 shotchkiss https://www.habitatkent.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/H4H_Kent_Logo.png shotchkiss2023-05-17 12:57:142023-05-17 13:04:46Self Respect, Stability, and Green Building
0 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest News

  • Self Respect, Stability, and Green Building May 17, 2023
  • Bringing People Together April 25, 2023
  • Seeking to put God’s love into action… March 1, 2023
  • Turning a House into a Home: Linda’s Story January 5, 2023
  • “A Safe Place to Call Our Own” December 15, 2022

Instagram

No images available at the moment

Follow Me!

Search

A Home Can Change Lives

Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity of Kent County brings people together to build homes, communities and hope.

  • Main Office:

    425 Pleasant St. SW
    Grand Rapids, MI 49503
    (616) 774-2431

  • Main Office Hours:

    Monday – Thursday: 10am – 2pm*

    *Visits at all other times are by appointment only.

  • ReStore South: Division

    5701 Division Ave S
    Wyoming, MI 49548
    (616) 531-4591

  • ReStore North: Alpine

    5920 Alpine Ave NW
    Comstock Park, MI 49321
    (616) 647-9292

  • ReStore Hours:

    Monday-Friday: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
    Saturday: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

  • ReStore Donation Drop-Off Hours:

    **PLEASE NOTE: DONATION HOURS CURRENTLY VARY DUE TO STAFFING

    Monday-Friday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
    Saturday: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

Copyright © 2023. All rights reserved. Site by CurlyHost.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
Bringing People Together
Scroll to top

Interested in this house? Get a pre-qualification letter from a participating mortgage lender participating within our program requirements:

  • Mercantile Bank, Staci Nichols
  • Choice One Bank, Bonnie Potter
  • Mortgage 1, Dan Grzywacz , or
  • Click here to see a list of MHSDA-approved lenders

Veteran Homeownership Application List

Thank you for your interest in our Veteran Homeownership program. Please fill out the information below and a member of our Homeowner Services team will reach out when we have homeownership opportunities available.

Home Repair Wait List

Group Interest Survey

  • Habitat for Humanity of Kent County provides a variety of volunteer opportunities which can vary depending on the group size, age restrictions, season and general availability. Construction opportunities are full day commitments. Should you prefer a partial day activity or volunteers to work in shifts you will be scheduled for specific tasks or in one of our 3 ReStore locations.
  • Age restrictions apply to certain projects and will be enforced. Most tasks require volunteers to be at least 16 years old. Specific jobs may allow other ages. These restrictions will be indicated by a member of the volunteer services department when a date is offered.
  • Please acknowledge that you understand groups may not be confirmed until 30-60 DAYS PRIOR TO THE DATE AGREED UPON by our volunteer services department. Due to the volume of requests for volunteer opportunities, we will ask that you agree/disagree to the date we offer within a week’s time (unless otherwise noted in our email). This ensures we can look for an alternative date if necessary and place you within a timely fashion.
  • After the completed form is submitted expect to be contacted by a member of our volunteer services department within one week.