Representative Alma Wheeler Smith joined workers from DTE Energy and First United Methodist Church of Ann Arbor on August 7, 2008 to continue work on the Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley house located at 374 Firwood Street in Ypsilanti Township. This three bedroom five-star rated Energy Star house will be the future home of Karen Tooson and her two children and is one of eight homes that Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley plans to build or rehab in Washtenaw County during the 2008-2009 fiscal year.

Representative Smith (in white shirt) and Ypsilanti Township Supervisor Ruth Ann Jamnick (in blue shirt) listen as house leader Bob Whitacre explains the work to be done that day.

Representative Smith finishes work on the closet in one of the bedrooms.

Representative Smith and Adele Roy measure and set the brackets for the porch railings.

Lunch break!

Prusi helps volunteers on local Habitat home

By LOIS FENNESSY, Habitat for Humanity

IRON MOUNTAIN - On Saturday, August 16th, State Senator Mike Prusi joined the Apostle Build's St. Mary Queen of Peace group to work on the interior of one habitat location while the Care-a-Vanners put up roof beams on the other site down the street.

Trusses, beams, drywall and staining the trim, everyone had a job and the two houses were filled with generous hearts and active bodies.

Northside Grill and Bar donated a superb box lunch for the senator, and our local officials who took the time to discuss the Historic Northside affordable housing concern and the newly renovated Northside park.

Northside Grill & Bar manager Tricia Cahee donated the generous and varied sandwiches and salads.

It takes a partnership of organizations like HFH, Dickinson-Iron Community Services Agency, and the Neighborhood Partnership Program, besides volunteers of both individual and group to make a new home possible.

Living in a good neighborhood can make all the difference. When people feel connected to their neighbors and feel empowered, they can and will be involved in improving their lives and their neighborhood.

Because of all the volunteers the Apostle Build group, and the Care-a-Vanners, the Legislative Build 2008 was a major success.

The Bay City Times:

Barcia, Mayes help build Habitat for Humanity home

by Ryan Stanton, 8/18/08

State Rep. Jeff Mayes and state Sen. Jim Barcia, both Bay City Democrats, rolled up their sleeves and joined local elected officials in pounding a few nails on Saturday.

Bay County Habitat for Humanity's "Legislative Build" took place at the site of a new home at 1004 S. Jefferson St. in Bay City's South End. Work included putting in floor joists, a subfloor and basement stairs, said Habitat Director Bob Jarve.

Jarve said the walls could go up in the next week with the home scheduled to be finished after Jan. 1 and dedicated to Kristine Poirier, a single mother of three children.

"This is a statewide advocacy," said Habitat board member and Bay City Commissioner John F. Davidson, 6th Ward, who helped organize Saturday's event.

He called it an important "opportunity for legislators to see what is going on in the area of affordable housing and community improvement right in the districts they serve."

"It's just exciting to be a part of it," Mayes said. "Habitat is just a great national organization that's doing great work, not only in Bay County but around the country, at a time when people need this help."

Jarve said Habitat has become a certified "green" builder of energy efficient homes.

"All of our houses are green, energy efficient, and we've figured out it's going to save our homeowners over $240,000 over the life of their 20-year mortgage on energy costs," Jarve said. "It's wonderful."

The Poirier house is one of four houses being built by Habitat this year in partnership with families in need of safe, affordable housing. Habitat is venturing outside of Bay City this fall to work on a home in Pinconning.

According to Davidson, nearly 90 percent of the Michigan Legislature signed on to work on an affordable housing or community development project in or near their district as part of the Legislative Build.

He said it was a partnership between many statewide groups who work for affordable housing, neighborhood improvement and community development, including Habitat for Humanity, Community Economic Development Association of Michigan, Community Economic Development Association of Detroit, Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness, Michigan Association of Home Builders, Michigan Community Action Agency Association and Michigan Housing Council.

The link to the article online can be found here.

Habitat for Humanity homes are getting help from local representatives

By Bill Froehlich 

It's an effort to raise awareness about affordable housing, and it means some state officials will be going to work somewhere other than Lansing. State Representatives and State Senators are working with Habitat for Humanity organizations all over Michigan to build homes for low income families.

Volunteers for the Wexford County Habitat for Humanity were busy building a house Saturday in Cadillac for Brenda Whaley and her family. Among those volunteers - State Representative Darwin Booher from Evart.

Representative Booher was helping out with the building because Habitat for Humanity is partnering with state officials for the affordable housing advocacy program. It's a program where both parties try and raise awareness about the importance of affordable housing for lower income families.

Next, Lindsay and Sandy took Rep. Hanson and Senator VanWoerkom on a tour of a newly renovated Wedgewood Senior Apartment and a vacant unit of
Meadow Hills Apartments, which is due to begin renovations within the month. The sky cleared and soon they were hauling dirt at Southwoods.  A couple of tenants came out to meet Gerry and Goeff as they began working up a sweat. The morning was rounded off with lunch and some good conversation.

"It was nice to have had the opportunity to get to know them one on one in a relaxed setting," Sandy said.

"We appreciate their insights on the reality of politics at the state level and felt the time was well spent in building a healthy relationship with both legislators."

Muskegon County Habitat for Humanity – 2008 Legislative Build

Representative Mary Valentine showing her support at the Muskegon Habitat Legislative Build on July 26.

Representative Doug Bennett (right) devoted a day of his busy week schedule to be involved in the building of a Habitat home in Muskegon .

Representative Joan Bauer of Lansing joined Habitat for Humanity of Lansing on July 11 as part of the Legislative Build 2008.  Here, Rep. Bauer received instructions on how to put up garage walls.

Click here to find a slideshow of more pictures (labeled "Legislative Build")!!

Rep. Bauer found out putting up garage walls is not as hard as she thought.  She worked on a Habitat for Humanity house on Lansing’s north side as part of Legislative Build 2008.

Raising the roof: Legislators invited to build Habitat home

By Nancy Hastings, Staff Writer - Hillsdale Daily News

Hillsdale, Mich. —

When one of their children was born with a congenital heart problem, the rising costs of health care took a toll on an area family’s finances. Looking for ways to meet the growing needs of their family, the Malagos applied for a Habitat for Humanity home. With help from area legislators, Hillsdale County Habitat for Humanity will build its largest home ever for the Camden family with seven children.

The Malago family has been raising their children, Michele, Melissa, Melanie, Michael, Mary, Malorie and Matthew in the Camden area for the past six and a half years. The mother, Sandi Malago, has been active in the school systems and volunteers as the mission, outreach, and assimilation team leader at New Hope Church. The father, Jerry Malago, has been employed at Motel Six in Ann Arbor and struggles with many health issues. In February 2008, the Hillsdale County affiliate of Habitat for Humanity conducted its annual family selection process and quickly recognized that the Malago family met the three essential criteria for selection...... (for full story, click here)

Even state legislators have been rolling up their sleeves this summer to participate in a statewide Legislative Build coordinated by Habitat for Humanity of Michigan and local affiliates. State legislators Representative Bruce Caswell (R-Pittsford) and Senator Cameron Brown (R-Sturgis) have been invited to spend half a day on July 19 helping the Malagos realize their dream of an affordable new home. HCHFH has arranged for the lawmakers to appear on the last day of a two-day “Raise the Roof” weekend event scheduled to be held at the New Hope Ministries Center on Montgomery Road in Camden. The event is being co-organized by HCHFH volunteers, along with friends, family, and church friends of the Malagos. Friday, July 18 will kick off the event with rummage sales, bake sales, cake walks, and raffles.  Saturday, July 19 will be a kids day festival extravaganza with face painting, moonwalks, refreshments, and games.

A framing party to build wall frames that will be relocated to the eventual construction site of the Malago home is also scheduled to take place that day, with Caswell and Brown participating side by side with the Malago family and local volunteers.

Caswell said he is supportive of the Habitat for Humanity process and has helped with other homes built in North Adams, Coldwater, Adrian and Litchfield. “It’s a good program and I’m glad to help the cause,” Caswell said. For Brown, the experience is also not new. “I'm excited to be taking part in another Habitat for Humanity build.” he said. “It is always a fulfilling experience to join volunteers who are so motivated to better their community.”

For more information about the Malago Home “Raise the Roof” event Saturday, July 19, contact Hillsdale County Habitat for Humanity, PO Box 181, Jonesville, MI 49250, (517) 439-9169, or e-mail at hillsdalehabitat@sbcglobal.net.

Senator Tupac Hunter, Represenatives LeBlanc, Constan and Polidori to join efforts of Habitat for Humanity of Western Wayne County on June 20, July 10 & August 19, 2008 - get press release here!

Inkster , MI -- Instead of pounding out bills in the Michigan Legislature, Senator Hunter, Representatives LeBlanc, Constan and Polidori will take up a hammer on June 20 th and July 10, 2008 to help Habitat for Humanity of Western Wayne build a house on 26110 Dunning Street .

“Legislative Build 2008 is an opportunity for legislators to see what is going on in the area of affordable housing and community improvement right in the districts they serve,” says the executive director, Alice Dent.

On June 20, 2008, Representatives Constan and Polidori volunteered at the site to help a family achieve the American dream of homeownership. On July 10, 2008, Senator Hunter will perform construction work on a house being built for a family with 5 children. It is one of five houses the Habitat affiliate will build or rehab this year in partnership with families in need of safe, decent affordable housing.

As part of the Legislative Build 2008, nearly 90 percent of the Michigan Legislature signed on to work on an affordable housing or community development project in or near their district sometime this summer.

The Legislative Build 2008 is a partnership between many statewide groups who work for affordable housing, neighborhood improvement and community development. The partners include Habitat for Humanity of Michigan, Community Economic Development Association of Michigan, Community Economic Development Association of Detroit, Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness, Michigan Association of Home Builders and Michigan Community Action Agency Association and Michigan Housing Council.

Above are pictures of Representatives Polidori and Constan volunteering at the Habitat site in Inkster on Dunning street.

The event at the Battle Creek Habitat for Humanity took place on Monday, June 2, 2008 from 9:00am to 12:00 noon. The Legislative Build event involved working on a five-star energy house in Battle Creek.

The Battle Creek HFH sent out a press release for the event, and in response, the local TV station came out and provided coverage on that day.

The workers featured in this picture are (front row, left to right) Art Pearce, Executive Director of the Battle Creek Area Habitat for Humanity, County Commissioners Greg Moore, Susan Baldwin, Kate Segal (second row, left) and staff members from the commissioners' offices.

Rep. Meekhof is first to take part in the 2008 Legislative Build

Rep. Arlan Meekhof (R - District 89) has the distinction of being the first legislator to take part in the Legislative Build.  Because of scheduling conflicts in the summer, he got his time in early, volunteering at TriCities Area Habitat for Humanity in northern Ottawa County on a cold day and snowy day in March.  Decked out in warm, camouflage, Rep. Meekhof helped put up siding on a home which will be completed in June.  Shoreline Builder’s Association was one of the lead sponsors and their president, Todd Hamstra, of Hamstra Builders, served as construction manager on the build.