Building Better Futures
Since 1990, Lakeshore Habitat for Humanity® has been building strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter. We serve families in Ottawa and parts of Allegan Counties through our affordable home ownership and repair ministry.
Our Mission
Seeking to put God's love into action, Lakeshore Habitat for Humanity® brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope.
Building Homes
We've built 155+ homes and repaired countless more.
Serving People
649 people served, including 423 children.
Creating Community
Volunteers are crucial to our work, contributing 12,768 volunteer hours over the course of fiscal year 2018-19
Helping Abroad
Nicaragua Habitat for Humanity has built over 60 homes with our gifts alone!
The Housing Crisis on the Lakeshore
West Michigan is facing an unprecedented lack of affordable housing due to scarce housing stock, options too distant from jobs and childcare, and home prices that are too high.
In the greater Holland area:
9,785 renters and 12,954 homeowners are cost-burdened (paying 30% or more of their income toward housing costs)
More than 1,100 housing units are considered sub-standard (pose a risk to the health and well-being of occupants, neighbors and visitors)
Though the implications are significant and very personal to the individuals and families affected, this housing crisis negatively impacts all residents of Allegan and Ottawa Counties by leading to:
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Stressed Workers, resulting in greater absenteeism, lower productivity, and unstable workforce.
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Increased Demand for and cost of social services, such as healthcare, temporary shelter, foster care, and mental health services.
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Increased Burdens on education and educators.
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Greater Demands on nonprofits, leading to the need for increased donor support and eventual "giving fatigue."
A Hand Up, Not a Hand Out
We build and sell affordable homes to families who fall between the 30-to-80 percent median income within our service area.
We select families based on
LEVEL OF NEED
RESIDENT IN OUR SERVICE AREA
WILLINGNESS TO PARTNER WITH US
ABILITY TO REPAY AN AFFORDABLE MORTGAGE
FOUR CRITERIA.
The Process
Our process is a partnership; it involves commitment from both parties. We provide future homeowners with financial education to prepare them for homeownership. They also complete sweat equity volunteer hours (250 hours per adult in the family, capped at 500).
The Cost
When a home is completed, we originate an affordable 20-to-30-year mortgage at zero profit, and the new homeowner assumes responsibility for it. We assure their housing costs will not exceed 29 percent of their gross income. When compared to the average rental cost for a three-bedroom unit in Ottawa County, Lakeshore Habitat homeowners save an average of $6,000 per year.
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We select an individual or family to partner with.
The homes we create are so much more than physical structures. They are strong foundations on which families build strength, self-reliance, and stability.
