Habitat for Humanity Lansing has a lot on its agenda, including the launch of its new Building Up Youth program.
The program, which was initially funded with a $5,000 grant from the Jackson National Community Foundation, allows Habitat for Humanity Lansing to approach youth groups who may be interested in “building up” Lansing.
“There
are a lot of things we work with kids on and it’s really exciting to
bring kids on-site because it teaches them the value of community
service,” says Julie Burtch, development director for Habitat for
Humanity Lansing.
Habitat for Humanity Lansing is also working with the Ingham County Land Bank to purchase, rehab and resell foreclosed homes in Mid-Michigan.
“We’re
going to take these homes and turn them into owner occupancy,” Burtch
says. Burtch expects the rehabbed homes to cost somewhere in the
neighborhood of $40,000 to $50,000. TheLand Bank and Habitat for Humanity Lansing want to complete six homes this year. The first should be finished at the end of July.
“We
have looked at a number of homes through the Land Bank partnership, and
now we have our families and we’re starting to work together,” she says.
Burtch
says the partnership allows Habitat for Humanity Lansing to get
families into foreclosed houses much faster than the nonprofit would be
able to do on its own.
“Owner-occupancy
in a home increases the safety of a neighborhood because the residents
are more permanent and they’re more invested in their home,” she says.
“They’ll be taking care of it and hopefully be better neighbors because
of it. This is going to be a huge improvement for some of the
neighborhoods.”
Source: Julie Burtch, development director for Habitat for Humanity Lansing
Ivy Hughes, development news editor, can be reached here.
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