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 accommodate those with disabilities visiting or living in the home.
The house will be purchased by a qualified Habitat home buyer who has contributed more than 300 volunteer “sweat equity” hours to help build this home and the homes of fellow Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity homeowners. Habitat for Humanity makes no profit on the sales of its homes and provides a very affordable mortgage. The future homeowner also completed more than 30 hours of MSHDA-approved financial literacy and personal financial management classes at Kalamazoo Neighborhood Housing Services. They also completed more than 27 hours of homeowner maintenance training provided by Community Homeworks in partnership with Habitat for Humanity.
