Local Habitat for Humanity chapter marks 30 years in fight for affordable housing
GAYLORD — The Otsego-Antrim Habitat for Humanity chapter is celebrating its 30th anniversary this month and many may not realize that the nonprofit organization, which was founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller, is a Christian organization.
"We start every meeting with a prayer," said Randy Urban, president of the board of the Otsego-Antrim chapter. "Basically we help people find affordable housing. It's a laudable goal that has worked better in some areas than others. As you get into rural areas that's where you see the most struggles, but also the most need because local municipalities don't have the revenue to support a proactive approach."
Despite the Christian status, Habitat provides services to people of all faiths.
Finding suitable housing can change the trajectory of someone's life.
"We like to say we are not a hand out but a hand up," Urban said.
Everyone that Habitat chooses for its home building program has to participate in the construction of the home and also obtains a mortgage to finance it.
Aini Abukar, executive director of the Otsego-Antrim Habitat, said the community has embraced the organization in many ways. She also said the May 20, 2022 tornado that struck Gaylord increased its local awareness.
"Before the tornado we created awareness by getting to know our communities and constituents," Abukar said. "The tornado made us function as a disaster recovery organization in helping people to repair their homes and find new homes. That was something we didn't realize we were capable of."
The tornado severely damaged the Nottingham Forest mobile home park. The Habitat chapter stepped in to clean up the area and repair or replace many of the damaged homes within 90 days of the storm.
The Otsego-Antrim chapter has established two ReStores that sell repurposed building supplies, furniture, sinks and other items to the public. The funds generated from that goes toward staffing the stores and providing money for home building and repairs in the two counties, noted Abukar. The Antrim County store is in Mancelona and the Otsego County store is in Gaylord.
The people who donate items to the stores in many cases are eligible for a charitable tax donation, said Urban.
The Habitat chapter has also established a good working relationship with the Lowe's and Home Depot stores and with local licensed contractors/skilled trades in the area. In many cases, the two stores will sell items to Habitat for projects at cost or slightly above cost.
"By law we are required to have licensed builders and electricians and plumbers. Many of them will provide their labor at a reduced cost or in some cases no cost for our projects," Urban said.
Urban said by now, just about everyone is aware that there is a housing shortage, especially of affordable housing, in Northern Michigan, and it is serious.
"At the political level they are aware of the problem. As to do they understand it, I would say no," said Urban. "Are they taking proactive approaches, I would say no."
Urban said local developers would welcome a more efficient permitting process for construction and utility hookups.
"It's all stuff that now takes years to get through all of the bureaucracy. Remember that developers have to make capital commitments up front so when it takes time to get the permits, they have to hope that when it comes through their costs will be covered," he added.
To get a better idea of how the lack of affordable housing affects the local economy, consider the Menards store being built in Gaylord.
"They will need about 150 people to run the store. Where will the employees live? Management can come in and buy housing at the market rate. However, the people who are making $15 to $17 an hour, there is no housing for them," Urban said.
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"I don't think we have a long-term strategy and part of it is that politicians are short-term focused," he continued. "In my opinion, politicians don't view the people who work at that ($15 to $17 an hour) level as their constituency."
One way to attack the lack of affordable housing is with what are called tiny homes, according to Urban. Those are structures that range from about 140 square feet on up to 600 or 650 square feet. Yet Otsego County regulations don't permit the building of a single-family home under 720 square feet except in certain multi-family developments.
— Contact Paul Welitzkin at pwelitzkin@gaylordheraldtimes.com.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Local Habitat for Humanity chapter marks 30 years in fight for affordable housing
