“I can do all things through Christ” is a familiar Bible phrase, although solving the housing shortage in Leelanau County constitutes some heavy lifting.
Still, Habitat for Humanity, a faith-based organization, is making inroads. Its construction workforce, which includes volunteers, has just completed the sixth and final housing unit in Maple City Crossings, and the crew is fast at work on three start-up homes out of 14 housing units platted out in the New Waves Community near the intersection of M-72 and Bugai Road.
The homes are helping. “Without Habitat, I would have probably moved back downstate,” said Michael Urbano, transportation director for Suttons Bay Public School,. “My friend was great, letting me stay for three years, but I needed a place to live.”
Urbano is now a resident of Maple City Crossing, having bought one of six units in three duplexes built by Habitat for qualified homeowners. He could not find housing in his price range, and was forced to stay with a buddy after accepting a job with Suttons Bay schools in 2020.
“That’s when the market skyrocketed. My friend read an article about Habitat that said they were taking applications,” Urbano recalled.
He was assigned a mentor who guided him through the application process, then helped build his own house through a volunteer program mandated by Habitat. He also became an elementary basketball and middle school soccer coach, helped with the homeless program at Safe Harbor in Traverse City, and donated time to the nonprofi t group that operates Bay Theater to fulfill his mandatory 200 hours of community volunteering.
It’s a story that completes one mission of Habitat for Humanity Grand Traverse Region, says CEO Wendy Irvin.
“The mission itself is putting God’s love into action,” Irvin told the Enterprise. “Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope … That hope is essential to the relationships we build, bringing community together and providing a home that brings self reliance.”
The concept is simple, Irvin continued, but requires funding. Habitat secures land and lines up people willing to work toward their new homes. The program is not targeted toward homelessness, as applicants must possess steady employment and a credit score of 640. It’s designed to provide a boost to people whose financial means fall short of entering the expensive housing market.
“There is a misconception (about Habitat). It’s for people who work and serve in the community. We are able to build a home with them and provide a mortgage that’s affordable,” Irvin said.
Religious faith is not a requirement.
As funding is secured, work begins. Habitat has identified 47 potential home sites in Leelanau, Grand Traverse and Kalkaska counties, including the empty 11 sites in New Waves. Funding comes through private donations from individuals and businesses as well as government housing grants.
Thirty-three-year mortgages, which are the responsibility of new homeowners, are secured from local banks or federal agencies, with Habitat stepping in with funds to lower payments. For instance, while a typical monthly payment for a $320,000 home built by Habitat might run $2,450, the payment for a Habitat owner would be $1,500, according to a graph provided by Irvin. The buyer is expected to bring $1,000 to the closing, with down payment assistance from Habitat making up the difference.
The unit belongs to the homeowner after the mortgage is paid.
Habitat is working on a fiveto- seven year build-out plan. A whopping $10 million would be required to build all 47 housing units at once.
“We have applicants, but we don’t start having relationships with them until we know we have funds for a home,” Irvin said.
Help has been forthcoming in finding land for new homeowners in the county. The Leelanau County Land Bank Authority worked with Habitat to secure lots in Maple Crossing. New Waves United Church of Christ bought property planning to create a physical home for worship, but put its own construction and instead donated lots for future Habitat homes. The church meets at the Elmwood Township Hall.
Irvin has been CEO of Habitat, which has 19 employees including those who staff its Restore retail operation on Cass Road, since 2012. Project manager Curtis Cobb, who has been with Habitat since 2019, gave up a lucrative general contractor job in California to follow his heart.
“I grew up in Traverse City, and my dad was in the nonprofit world and I lost him three or four years ago. I just wanted to give back. Finding Habitat has been a really good thing for me,” Cobb said.
He likes the vibe at projects. “I’m not sure about Jesus or God being there, but there is definitely a sense of giving back to community, of helping fellow people,” Cobb said.
Added Al Houtman, a Habitat volunteer who was swinging a hammer last week at the New Waves site, “I love the feeling of volunteering to help people.”
