Flint, MI— The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation awarded $120,000 to The Genesee County Habitat for Humanity to provide home repairs and maintenance for seniors living in Flint.
The award is part of Mott Foundation’s Focus on Flint initiative, a $1 million grant program designed to engage community members and strengthen the City of Flint.
Over 600 residents voted on 70 potential project ideas and the top eight were selected. This was the first grant disbursement in response to the votes.
“Helping seniors who want to stay in their homes is critical to maintaining the fabric of a neighborhood,” said Thomas Hutchison, executive director of Genesee County Habitat for Humanity. “Often they are the ones who built that community, the ones who fixed the flat tire on your bike when you were younger, the ones who connected neighbors to each other, the advocates for the park down the block, and the ones who choked down your too sweet lemonade at 50 cents a cup. At the end of the day, it’s the least we can do.”
To be eligible to receive funding, a person must be:
- A Flint resident who owns the home they live in.
- At least 60 years old.
- At or under 120% of the area median income based on household size ($53,760 for one person and $76,680 for a four-person household).
Any health or code-related repair qualifies for funding. This includes roofs, structural damage, porch repairs, electric, handicap accessibility, energy efficiency upgrades and more depending on available funds.
“We’re excited to see work beginning on projects residents told us were important to them,” said Ridgway White, president and CEO of the Mott Foundation.
The Mott foundation also recently announced it would be awarding $450,000 to the Genesee County Land Bank to demolish blighted properties as part off the $1 million program.
Residents interested in applying for the program can visit the Genesee County Habitat for Humanity’s website or by calling 810-766-9089 ext. 213.
I am in deep need of a roof put on my house and my basement fixed it floods when it rain.
I am in deep need of a roof on my house and my basement floods when it rains
Diane cureton on oct 15 i went to dialysis came home eat lay down all of a sudden i hear a loud noise three guys kick my front door in came in put a gun up to my head took. My purse with a total of 2671 dollars in it made me lay on the floor an rob me ranshack my house i am still havent got over it my door still not fit no help no where a policereport was taken please help me i am tire of stasying here an there
my roof leak in my kitchen and livingroom when it rain water pours in all my window are taped up i can’t get home insurance because of the damage of my i was born in this home living here for 62 years amen
I’ve worked since I was 11 years old. I had to stop working September 2017 due to heart Surgery and Lung Cancer. There is mold at the base of certain parts of my house.
I’m now on a fixed income and my roof is in bad shape. I’m truly hoping and Praying I’m chosen as one of the person’s chosen for a roof.
My habitat home was gifted to me October,2004 (15)yrs ago. Within the last 5yrs the eldest of my 2 boys has graduated, gotten a job and moved on. My youngest has more of the autism disability and stays with me. I suffer from Sickle Cell Discease partial blindness arthritis and sciatica. During these last few years my boys had their disability taken from them. The basement has flooded four times the hot water heater has been replaced and the furnace too. The lastest disaster is so much black mold in the basement we have to sleep with our windows open. Now the furnace and water heater need to be replaced again. I can’t even afford the mortgage anymore.
I moved to FLINT 4-17. My porch consists of a set of cement steps that are so dangerous they just dump you into the house. There is no landing or stoop. I have to be on the 3rd step down to open my door, so carrying anything in is almost impossible. I’m handicapped and this situation makes it very difficult to bring in any groceries. I don’t think I need a ramp, but a small porch would be a great improvement and make it much safer