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Habitat Kent launches fundraiser for organization's most ambitious project ever

Habitat for Humanity

  

Habitat Kent, the local chapter Habitat for Humanity, has launched a fundraising effort called the ‘Bright Future Campaign’ to help assist the non-profit of providing hundreds of affordable homes to residents in Grand Rapids Roosevelt Park neighborhood.

Officials say, the scope of the project is nothing short of ambitious. While typically Habitat Kent focuses on building one single home at a time, this project is providing homes to 100 families, while improving 300 homes through repairs and block projects.

Habitat Kent’s Executive Director, Brianne McKee says, to put that in perspective, the organization has impacted 400 families in its 35 year history. They are attempting to impact an additional 400 in this project alone.

“Really what we are hoping to do is take the lessons that we’ve gleaned over the last 35 years as an organization and how we have impacted one family that has lived in one single family home, and applied that same concept to an entire neighborhood,” McKee said. “And I think the beautiful thing about this work is that maybe 10-15 years ago, we would have never have dreamed we would be here, so it is amazing when people come together and dream big dreams.”

The project is all part of the Plaza Roosevelt Development, an aggressive revitalization of the Grand Rapids neighborhood made up of mostly Hispanic residents. In addition to affordable housing, the project also includes a new high school, and an expanded health care clinic.

With Habitat Kent’s price tag set at $9 million, officials say they are $1 million shy. With the launch of the Bright Future Campaign, they are hoping the public can help raise the rest.