Otsego-Antrim Habitat for Humanity has been operating since September 8th, 1993. Throughout the years the staff, volunteers, and our board of directors have built a strong foundation impacting affordable housing in our community. An exciting aspect of our community outreach is engaging and collaborating with other businesses and nonprofits to make a larger impact. Together we can do so much more!
Every so often, it is good to take a look back, while keeping an eye on the future to ensure growth and sustainability. Otsego-Antrim Habitat has worked diligently to keep organizational operating costs, and program costs down wile maintaining our mission and vision in a rural area. In 2010, the ReStore was added as a program of the Habitat affiliate to provide our residents an area to donate items that would typically end up in a landfill. The ReStore allows us to direct 100% of our cash donations to Habitats mission of putting God's love into action by bringing people together to build homes, communities and extend hope.
As of 2019, twenty-five Otsego County families have helped build a solid, simple, energy-efficient home that they purchase from Habitat by obtaining a mortgage. The monthly payments are earmarked for building purposes only. The homes built are energy efficient helping to keep homeowners utility bills low. Building a solid, strong home, helps to reduce maintenance upkeep. We continue to strive for “green” products to incorporate into our builds and remain committed to being environmentally responsible.
We consider our nonprofit to be more than a home builder. We impact neighborhoods and communities by offering affordable housing production, rehabilitation, financial empowerment, and more. We recognize the need for a strong neighborhood strategy. It is our belief that investing in neighborhoods and our community helps to create and sustain employment opportunities in our county.
During 2018, our Habitat affiliate began to offer more programs to impact more residents in our community. In February of 2019, we learned Antrim County Habitat was dissolving their entity. We wanted to be a good neighbor and preserve their ReStore so we would have funding to help our neighbors without reducing what we do here in Otsego County, so we set out to acquire the entity.
Community Served ~ On November 12, 2020 we opened the doors to the Antrim ReStore location in Mancelona. Our new entity is now called Otsego-Antrim Habitat for Humanity and we will be providing housing programs to both counties. Contributions made to OAHFH stay in both area's to help our communities. This means anyone who is a full-time resident of Antrim or Otsego County, and falls within our income guidelines, may apply for any of our programs. Please click here to view the different programs we offer and the eligibility requirements. All applicants are considered without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, height, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex/gender, sexual orientation, veterans, weight nor as state or federal law otherwise prohibits.