Our mission, vision and history
HABITAT'S VISION
A world where everyone has a decent place to live.
Our Mission Statement
Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope.
All are Welcome
Mecosta County Habitat for Humanity has an open-door policy: All who believe that everyone needs a decent, affordable place to live are welcome to help with the work, regardless of race, religion, age, gender, political views or any of the other distinctions that too often divide people. In short, Habitat welcomes volunteers and supporters from all backgrounds and also serves people in need of decent housing regardless of race or religion. As a matter of policy, Habitat for Humanity International and its affiliated organizations do not proselytize. This means that Habitat will not offer assistance on the expressed or implied condition that people must either adhere to or convert to a particular faith, or listen and respond to messaging designed to induce conversion to a particular faith.
Our History-bringing people together
Mecosta County Habitat for Humanity was established in 1992 by a group of local individuals interested in eliminating poverty housing in Mecosta County.
The first Mecosta County Habitat house was built in 1994 in Big Rapids. In 2022, the Mecosta Affiliate completed our 35th house –32 of which were original builds and 3 were rehabs of donated houses. New home sites continue to be developed in communities throughout Mecosta County. It is the intent of our Affiliate to spread the building of Habitat homes throughout Mecosta County so that different communities have the opportunity to experience hosting a Habitat home building project. Site selection is based on availability of lots through the donation of a lot or purchase by the Affiliate at a reasonable price.
Mecosta County Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit housing organization led by an Executive Director and governed by an all-volunteer Board which includes an Executive Committee. Board meetings are held bi-monthly. In addition, a number of specifically focused, Board Member led committees are currently active and meet monthly. These Committees include: Community Engagement; Construction; Family Selection/Family Support; Finance; Fund Development; Human Resources; ReStore Store Operations; Site Selection; and Volunteer Recruitment/Appreciation.
Habitat International and Mecosta
From Georgia to mecosta county
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.
Mecosta County’s global impact
Mecosta County Habitat 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 Mecosta Habitat’s local efforts and provides housing solutions around the globe. Tithing unifies Habitat’s impact beyond languages, borders, and cultures.
In essence, our Mecosta County 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.
Click on the below pictures to see how we impact the world from Mecosta County
