Habitat’s 204th Homeowner Family Dedicates Home

Habitat for Humanity’s 204th homeowner family will dedicate their new home on November 19th 2017. More than 250 Habitat for Humanity volunteers contributed time and talent to this project, working beside the future homeowner family. This home was the site of the Women Build 2017. Volunteers included Habitat’s regular Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday crews, and groups from Eaton Corporation, Old National Bank, Nielsen, Advia Credit Union, Tower Pinkster, Truth Church, Owen-Ames-Kimball, Women’s Lifestyle Magazine, FOCUS Kalamazoo, Arbor Financial Credit Union, Stryker and Grainger Industrial Supply. The modest three bedroom home will be the third that Habitat has built to the rigorous Zero Energy Ready Home standard administered by the U. S. Department of Energy. It uses advanced construction techniques, added insulation, upgraded windows, and ultra-efficient appliances. This creates a comfortable, healthy, durable home for the family that is affordable to maintain and operate. The estimated energy costs are only about $700 per year. While there is a small increase in cost to build to these efficiency standards, the family can expect to save at least $25,000 in energy costs over the next 30 years. A no-step entry, wider doors and hallways, and a larger bath were also installed that can…

Our Annual Report

Strength. Stability. Self-reliance. Through shelter, Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity helps homeowners and future homeowners build, achieve, and learn all of these things. Habitat’s innovative homeownership program provides opportunities to individuals and families to build and buy affordable homes. Our home repair program meets the critical needs of existing homeowners who seek ways to preserve their homes affordably. As we complete our 34th year of service, our mission and vision have never been clearer: Everyone deserves a decent place to call home. This infographic  provides a quick look at the highlights of our fiscal year. As a banker, I love to crunch numbers. As a Habitat board member, I’ve learned that numbers alone cannot adequately reflect the success of our programs. Meet some of the people behind the numbers in this newsletter. Habitat’s work is shared by many. We thank our homeowners who partner with us with persistence, energy, and great faith. We are grateful for the support of our volunteers, funders, donors, and community partners, too. Thank you all. But, there is more work to do. Everyone can help, everyone can make a difference. With the partnership of more homeowners, the help of more volunteers, and greater financial investment…