Posted June 21, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 21, 2022
Habitat for Humanity of Michigan Receives Consumers Energy Foundation Grant
Priority Home Repair Program receives $200,000 grant to support critical home repairs
Lansing, Mich. – Habitat for Humanity of Michigan has received a $200,000 grant from the Consumers Energy Foundation supporting critical home repairs for homeowners across the state.
“Michigan is our home, and the Consumers Energy Foundation is committed to helping our friends and neighbors live in homes that are safe and affordable,” said Brandon Hofmeister, the Consumers Energy Foundation’s president. “We are excited to power the Priority Home Repair program and fortify the building blocks of the Michigan communities we care for and serve.”
Critical home repairs through the Priority Home Repair program can include fixing structural problems, roof and basement leaks, mold issues and inefficient or unsafe appliances. Homes will undergo a thorough home inspection and analysis, followed by prioritized repairs. The analysis will take into consideration critical path methodology, which lays out a sequence of tasks to be completed based on severity and threats to the residents’ health and safety.
Lakeshore Habitat for Humanity utilized the Priority Home Repair Program to serve a homeowner who was previously unable to secure Homeowners Insurance due to the condition of his roof, missing siding, and other necessary repairs. With the assistance of volunteer groups and community partners, Lakeshore Habitat was able to use the grant funding to replace the homeowner’s roof and repair the missing siding, as well as install smoke alarms and CO detectors.
“It’s provided a better environment for myself and my son who takes care of me,” the homeowner shared in a follow-up testimonial. “It’s a huge impact on him. It makes things easier for us to work on my health and his well-being instead of having to worry about the roof. I get emotional thinking about the impact it has had on me and my son…It’s given us hope.”
“Because of the grant from the Consumers Energy Foundation we were able to help a disabled man and his son remain in their home,” says Don Wilkinson, Executive Director of Lakeshore Habitat for Humanity. “Lakeshore Habitat would not have been able to afford to do all the repairs necessary for the homeowner to obtain insurance which they needed to continue to live in their house.”
The Priority Home Repair Program has served over 312 households in Michigan since its inception in 2015.
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About Habitat for Humanity of Michigan
Habitat for Humanity of Michigan is the state support organization for Michigan’s more than 40 Habitat for Humanity affiliates and ReStores which serve nearly every county in the state. Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity of Michigan brings people together to build homes, communities and hope.
About the Consumers Energy Foundation
The Consumers Energy Foundation is the charitable arm of Consumers Energy, Michigan’s largest energy provider. The Consumers Energy Foundation enables communities to thrive and grow by investing in what’s most important to Michigan – its people, our planet and Michigan’s prosperity. In 2021, the Consumers Energy Foundation, Consumers Energy, its employees and retirees contributed over $17.5 million to Michigan nonprofits. For more information, visit www.ConsumersEnergy.com/foundation.
Media Contacts:
Maureen Savage, Habitat for Humanity of Michigan, 517-485-1006 x134, msavage@habitatmichigan.com
Brian Wheeler, Consumers Energy, 517-740-1545, brian.wheeler@cmsenergy.com