Habitat for Humanity of Lenawee County dedicates new home in Adrian

ADRIAN — Tim Brososky isn’t a huge fan of being the center of attention. But that’s exactly what he was Monday afternoon during a home dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony conducted by Habitat for Humanity of Lenawee County.

Brososky was officially welcomed into his new house on Spring Street in Adrian by staff from Habitat and others. This was Lenawee County Habitat’s first home dedication of 2023.

In what Wendy Knox, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Lenawee County, described as a stroke of chance, Habitat's last three dedication ceremonies have been for veterans of the United States armed forces. Brososky's new home is across the street from Habitat’s Veterans Home Build, which was dedicated last Veterans Day to Air Force veteran Joshua Traeger. A house on Locust Street in Adrian also went to a veteran, Knox said.

Brososky was in the Army from 1983-89. While he didn’t see a lot of action, he referred to his service time as “good” and “hard” years.

He originally applied for the veterans house across the street. As events unfolded afterward, things worked out to where Brososky was accepted into Habitat’s home build program, and he was selected as the homeowner for the house at 424 Spring St. He closed on the house about two weeks ago.

Brososky lives in the house with his adult son, Jared. The two living together, he said, is one of several blessings he referred to on Monday.

“I just couldn’t ask for a better location or a better situation,” he said. “...I thought that God was pointing me over here from the very get-go.”

The three-bedroom, two-bathroom house with a sizable backyard, Brososky said, is not just an affordable and nice house, but it's also “one of the best houses in the county build-wise,” crediting the work done by the crews from Habitat.

“I really believe in the program,” he said, explaining he was introduced to Habitat for Humanity’s home build program because of the veterans house build across the street.

Doug Straub, Habitat’s construction manager, is an Army veteran himself and, like Brososky, worked for some time for the federal Bureau of Prisons. While Straub was not in attendance Monday, Brososky spoke about his relationship with Straub and how it has been reinvigorated since coming on board with the Habitat program.

“I wanted to be a part of something that was bigger than myself,” Brososky said, sharing that after his retirement from the Federal Air Marshal Service in 2018 there has been at least four or five years of “stuff” going on in his life. “When I was working, I was out of the country a lot and I was gone, so I really couldn’t do something; I couldn’t commit to something. After I retired, I hadn’t been able to do that just because of those ‘things’ going on. And so, in the end, I’ve got a house, a place to live, I reconnected with Doug (Straub), and I’ve been blessed with being a part of something bigger than myself.”

Brososky was praised by several Habitat team members during the dedication, including site supervisor Justin Rincon, who described Brososky as “grateful” and “amazing” throughout the home build process.

“He's been rocking it. He’s done a great job,” Rincon said. “...He’s been here through the whole process. Even on prior (home) builds and current builds.”

“(Tim’s) put in a lot of hours for his home. A lot of sweat equity,” Knox added.

Habitat homeowners are not given their house. They have an affordable mortgage and have to put in that "sweat equity" by helping build the house, volunteering with Habitat or attending homeowner education classes.

Jackson Marsh, another of the site supervisors, briefly talked about the progress of the home build, saying it went “fantastic” and he and Rincon became friends with Brososky.

“We made great companions, and we are ready for the next one,” he said.

Nearly 20 sponsors and partners were recognized by Knox for their assistance in making the home build possible. That assistance, she said, came in the form of donated funds, supplies and business discounts while other contributions were from people volunteering with construction and cleaning and painting the house.

Adrian American Legion Post No. 97 presented an American flag to Brososky to be hung outside of his new house. Once the flag was installed into the flag holder, those in attendance recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Legion representative Dave Loop started the ceremony with an prayer.

Habitat for Humanity announces two upcoming home builds

There are two home builds lined up for Habitat for Humanity of Lenawee County. The first build, anticipated to be completed sometime in the fall, is a house on Treat Street. A second home build is scheduled for a house on Howell Avenue. Both builds are in Adrian. Volunteers are welcome to assist at either of the home builds, Habitat staff and crew members said.

Home builds conducted by Habitat, Knox said, address neighborhood images and remove blighted houses, buildings and other structures in addition to its main purpose of providing affordable housing.

“We are also actively looking for Habitat homeowners,” she said, noting the Treat Street home build will be a three-bedroom, two-bathroom house.

There’s an application process to become a Habitat homeowner. Premier Bank, as a partner with Habitat, provides favorable mortgage rates, Knox said. Anyone interested in being a Habitat homeowner can go online at www.habitat-lenawee.org or call Habitat’s office at 517-265-6157 for information.

Crystal Zavicar is the new homeowner services manager and volunteer services coordinator for Habitat of Lenawee County. The Treat Street home build will be Zavicar’s first go-around with finding a homeowner and coordinating volunteers.

“We really do try to support people as best as we can,” she said. “All the requirements (for homeownership) are right there on the application, first couple of pages. A lot of people can get (on the website) and look it over. They do end up with a pretty good, pretty awesome home when it’s all said and done.”

Habitat for Humanity, Zavicar said, is trying to make sure the people who are most in need of the houses are the ones getting the houses. She said will work with individuals who are seeking assistance in locating certain documents for the homeownership process.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Habitat for Humanity of Lenawee County dedicates new home in Adrian