Habitat for Humanity of Kent County
Habitat Kent was founded in 1983. Since then we have served more than 800 families through home repairs, homeownership, and homeowner education.
In 2023, we will celebrate the 500th Habitat Kent home built and 500th homeowner family. In an average year, Habitat Kent partners with approximately 2,000 volunteers who log more than 20,000 volunteer hours. We also contribute more than $1.5 million in economic impact to our local economy each year.
From Georgia to Grand Rapids (and beyond)
The heart of Habitat for Humanity was born during the civil rights movement at a place called Koinonia Farm, where Habitat for Humanity founders lived together and began the concept of partnership housing: where volunteers came together to build decent, affordable houses at no profit and sold with no-interest loans provided by supporters. They sought to heal social injustice and racism by bringing people together to build stable, healthy, and safe communities.
Their vision helped launch the global Habitat for Humanity model of building safe, stable, affordable housing beginning in Americus, Georgia, in 1976 and spreading to nearly 1400 communities across the country and to about 70 countries throughout the world.
For decades, Habitat affiliates have offered a tangible way for people of all backgrounds to come together and support one another. To rally together with the goal of offering a hand to a neighbor seeking solace in a permanent home, where their roots can be firmly planted as a strong foundation to raise their family members and accomplish their hopes and dreams for the future.
Habitat Kent’s Relationship to Habitat International
Habitat for Humanity of Kent County was founded in 1983 and completed the first home in 1984. Since then, the greater Grand Rapids community of donors, volunteers, and homebuyers have come together to build 400 homes and help revitalize neighborhoods.
Habitat Kent gives a small percentage of our unrestricted funds to Habitat affiliates in developing nations around the globe to meet the need for affordable housing. This “tithe” expands Habitat Kent’s local efforts and provides housing solutions around the globe. Tithing unifies Habitat’s impact beyond languages, borders, and cultures.
In essence, our Grand Rapids community is investing in people around the world to achieve stability through homeownership. Past and present tithe partners include Haiti, Honduras, Guatemala, Kyrgyzstan, Guatemala, Congo, Uganda, Dominican Republic, Vietnam, Poland, Romania, the United Kingdom and more.
All Are Welcome
Habitat International helps guide the global mission, vision, and strategy for the organization while providing support to local affiliates like Habitat Kent. We work in partnership with Habitat affiliates across the state, country, and world to build a world where everyone has a decent place to live.
Click to learn more about the history of Habitat for Humanity.
A Home Can Change Lives.
Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity of Kent County brings people together to build homes, communities and hope.
