A Battle Creek Habitat Home – Again

It's among a homeowner's worst nightmares: A house fire. For the average homeowner, recovering financially - at least navigating the insurance process - can be taxing, on top of all the emotions that come with such an event. For a Habitat for Humanity homeowner, it can be even more taxing.

The Battle Creek Habitat for Humanity, these days, is not building new "Habitat homes" for its clients because, Director Beverly Kelley says, there are too many vacant homes in Battle Creek. So, they have undertaken remodeling projects these days instead.

But, back in 2009, 438 West Jackson Street (pictured above in 2012) was a new Habitat construction. A pre-qualified family worked hard alongside builders - as all such families do - to help finish the construction. They moved in and began living the American dream of homeownership.

But, in 2014, the home caught fire. The damage incurred rendered the home unlivable, and the family was left with a 5-year-old home they could not live in - and could not afford to repair.

Kelley tells WBCK it took some doing to convince the homeowners to sell the home back to Habitat, which could then repair the home and offer it for sale to another qualifying family.

It turns out, access to new grants helped - including a CHDO grant, a new funding source Habitat recognized after partnering with the community development unit at the City of Battle Creek. Click the player below to hear more.

Hear The Richard Piet Show weekday mornings from 5:30-9 on WBCK.