habitat for humanity of kent county

What habitat for humanity of kent county does

Habitat for Humanity of Kent County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 38-2527968) founded in 1983 and headquartered at 1739 Elizabeth Ave NW in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It is an independent affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International and Michigan's top producing affiliate, operating across Kent County with active geographic expansion into Northern Muskegon County. The organization's core function is affordable homeownership: qualifying working families (≤80% AMI, $45K+ household income, 640+ credit) purchase newly built or rehabilitated homes at prices between $164,000 and $299,000, with mortgages capped at 30-35% of monthly gross income and supported by financial coaching, Money Smart classes, and a network of five partner lenders (Macatawa/Wintrust, ChoiceOne, Independent, LMCU, Mercantile). All homes are LEED certified (since 2007), Energy Star rated (since 2007), and all-electric (since 2023), producing ~33% lower energy consumption and ~$805 annual utility savings vs. the average Michigan home. A 90+ year affordability covenant deed restriction preserves perpetual affordability across ownership transfers.

The organization's product and program portfolio centers on three phases of the Pleasant Hills development (a 54-unit condominium community in Roosevelt Park, with Phase III introducing a first-of-its-kind five-story, 27-unit multi-family building financed via federal New Markets Tax Credits with partners Orion Construction, Michigan Community Capital, J.P. Morgan, and IFF, groundbreaking June 2026). Adjacent lines include ReStore retail (selling donated new and gently used building materials at 50-70% below retail, cumulatively generating $5M+ since 2004 and diverting nearly 8 million pounds of waste from landfills), a Material Recovery deconstruction service, Neighborhood Revitalization in Baxter and Roosevelt Park, Women of Habitat Kent, and Housing Champions monthly giving.

Habitat Kent's revenue model is donation- and mission-driven rather than commercial: ReStore retail, individual donations (one-time, monthly recurring, planned, vehicle, IRA/stock, donor-advised funds), corporate sponsorships (Meijer, PNC, Bank of America, Bradford White, Farmers Insurance, Gordon Food Service, Independent Bank, LMCU, Mercantile, Wolverine Construction), homeowner mortgage flows, and material recovery fees. The organization is volunteer-intensive (~5,000 volunteers annually contributing 20,000+ hours), engages 10+ workforce and educational partners (GRCC M-TEC, Gerald Ford Job Corps, GRPS Innovation Central, YouthBuild Grand Rapids, Hamilton Ignite, KISD, WMCI, Kentwood Crossroads, Muskegon Public Schools, Harmel Academy), and is governed by a 21-member board with leadership including CEO Bev Thiel, CFO Evelyn Esparza-Gonzalez, and Chair Paul Keifer (Bank of America). Cumulative impact since 1983 includes more than 500 families housed, 1,500+ children lifted from substandard housing, and a 94% long-term homeownership success rate.

Name

habitat for humanity of kent county

Legal name

Habitat for Humanity of Kent County

Website

https://habitatkent.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Habitat for Humanity of Kent County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1983 that builds LEED-certified, Energy Star, all-electric affordable homes for working families in Kent County and Northern Muskegon County, Michigan, and operates ReStore retail, neighborhood revitalization, and financial education programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Affordable Housing

NAICS

New Housing For-Sale Builders (236117), New Single-Family Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) (236115)

SIC

Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552)

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Affordable Housing Property Management (BPAJAGAJ)

Keywords

• Affordable homeownership
• Residential construction
• Homebuyer education
• Neighborhood revitalization
• Reuse retail

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. ReStore Retail Sales: Habitat Kent ReStore sells new and gently used building materials and home improvement products at 50-70% below retail prices. Proceeds fund affordable homeownership construction. ReStore accepts donations of appliances, furniture, building supplies, and more from the public.
2. Individual Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting the mission. Options include one-time gifts, monthly recurring donations (Housing Champions), planned giving, stock/IRA gifts, vehicle donations, and donor-advised fund contributions. EIN: 38-2527968.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partnerships providing financial support, volunteer engagement, and social responsibility alignment. Major partners include Meijer, PNC Bank, Bank of America, Bradford White, Farmers Insurance, Gordon Food Service, Independent Bank, LMCU, Mercantile Bank, and Wolverine Construction.
4. Homeowner Mortgage Payments: Habitat homeowners purchase homes through bank-approved mortgages. The program provides coaching, education, and support to ensure successful homeownership. Homes are not given away; families pay mortgages.
5. Material Recovery Services: Free removal of kitchens, baths, and construction materials from remodeling projects. Donated materials are sold at ReStore, with tax deduction receipts provided to donors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Habitat for Humanity of Kent County builds and sells affordable homes to income-qualified working families in Kent County and Northern Muskegon County (Grand Rapids, MI), with mortgages capped at 30-35% of monthly gross income and a 90+ year affordability covenant. The organization pairs each home with financial coaching, homebuyer education, and a network of five partner lenders, and operates a ReStore home-improvement retail store whose proceeds fund home construction.

Product overview

Habitat for Humanity of Kent County operates as a nonprofit affordable homeownership organization offering a integrated portfolio of programs and services. Core offerings include the Homeownership Program (providing coaching, education, and mortgage support through a network of five partner lenders), Homes for Sale (new builds and rehabs ranging from $164,000-$299,000), and the Pleasant Hills Development (54-unit condo community in three phases). Supporting programs include ReStore (discount home improvement retail generating mission funding), Education & Resources (financial literacy and homebuyer classes), Neighborhood Revitalization (Baxter United, Building Leaders Building Communities), Material Recovery (deconstruction services), Women of Habitat Kent (women's empowerment), Housing Champions monthly giving, and Volunteer Programs. The organization implements High-Performance Construction standards including Energy Star certification, all-electric homes, and LEED standards since 2007.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Housing Champions: Monthly giving community united to build affordable homes, communities, and hope.
• Women of Habitat Kent
• ReStore
• Material Recovery
• Imagine Campaign

Products and services

• Homeownership Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 500 families helped since July 6, 1983; over 1,500 children lifted out of substandard housing
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Orion ConstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026Construction partner for Pleasant Hills Phase III, the first five-story multi-family affordable homeownership building in Grand Rapids. Orion Construction is a Grand Rapids company focused on positive community impact, aligned with Habitat Kent's mission.
• City of Grand RapidscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity government partner supporting the Pleasant Hills development and neighborhood revitalization in the Roosevelt Park neighborhood. Commissioner Alicia Marie Belchak participated in groundbreaking ceremony.
• Eastbrook HomescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThird-party builder partner for Pleasant Hills Phase II, constructing 20 attached single-family homes (4 bed, 2 bath, 1,600 sq ft each) in partnership with Habitat Kent. Expected completion end of 2027.
• Grand Rapids Community College (M-TEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner providing students hands-on learning in building trades. GRCC M-TEC students work alongside Habitat building professionals and families to build houses from start to finish. Since 2004, nearly 30 homes built with student participation.
• Gerald Ford Job CorpscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWork-based learning partner providing training opportunities for Job Corps students at Habitat Kent construction sites. Awarded Habitat Kent 'Work Based Learning Center Site of the Year' and 'Community Partner of the Year'.
• GRPS Innovation Central High School (Academy of Design and Construction)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner with Grand Rapids Public Schools providing students hands-on design and construction experience. Students learn cutting-edge building skills while building Habitat homes.
• YouthBuild Grand Rapids (operated by Bethany Christian Services)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouthBuild program helping students ages 17-24 pursue education and construction careers. Second year of partnership with Habitat Kent. Spring cohort of 12 students contributed to two homes. Students receive pre-apprenticeship construction training, GED education, OSHA 10 training, and leadership development.
• West Michigan Construction Institute (WMCI)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerWMCI construction intern David worked on Habitat Kent sites during winter and spring. WMCI's High School Construction Training Program provides state-approved career and technical education allowing students to earn high school credit while exploring trades.
• Kent Intermediate School District (KISD)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerKISD construction intern Liam worked on Habitat Kent sites multiple times per week as part of the Work-Based Learning Program, helping students learn new skills and strengthen existing ones in the construction trade.
• Hamilton Community SchoolssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHamilton Community School's Ignite program sends 9th and 10th graders to Habitat Kent construction sites weekly. 14 students have worked on sites in Kent County and Muskegon since October, gaining ROUTE trade experience alongside nonprofit work.
• Crossroads Alternative High School (Kentwood)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlternative high school program providing students hands-on construction experience at Habitat Kent build sites as part of their educational program.
• Muskegon Public SchoolssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner providing students construction trade experience at Habitat Kent sites in the Muskegon area.
• Harmel AcademysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner providing students hands-on learning in green construction skills at Habitat Kent build sites.
• Sparta High School Special Education ProgramsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecial education program from Sparta High School providing students hands-on learning experience in green construction at Habitat Kent sites.
• Delight Remodel & Design (Jessica Crosby)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerJessica Crosby, founder of Delight Remodel & Design, is a board member of Habitat Kent. She staged a Pleasant Hills model home and actively supports Habitat Kent through board leadership.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Habitat for Humanity International: Global parent organization and network of which Habitat Kent is an affiliate. Operates the worldwide brand, donor pipeline, tithe structure, and HFHI Capital that supports Kent County's Pleasant Hills Phase III NMTC financing. Comparable as the umbrella under which the affiliate operates.
• LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation): National CDFI and community development organization providing capital, technical assistance, and programming for affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization. Operates a Grand Rapids office and is comparable as a peer affordable housing funder with overlapping mission.
• NeighborWorks America: National network of more than 250 affordable housing and community development nonprofits. Comparable as the broader national umbrella for community-based affordable housing organizations operating similar homeownership counseling, lending, and neighborhood revitalization programs.
• Enterprise Community Partners: National nonprofit developer and CDFI operating affordable rental and homeownership programs across the U.S. Comparable as a large-scale mission-driven affordable housing developer, but focused more on rental and mixed-income developments than volunteer-built ownership.

Direct peers

• Cinnaire: Grand Rapids-based Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) providing NMTC allocation, lending, and equity investments for affordable housing and community development across Michigan and the Midwest. Comparable as a financial/development partner and CDFI peer operating in the same Kent County affordable housing ecosystem.
• Habitat for Humanity Detroit: Another large Michigan Habitat for Humanity affiliate operating in metro Detroit. Directly comparable as a peer Michigan Habitat affiliate serving a regional affordable housing market, with similar homeownership program, ReStore, and volunteer-driven construction model.
• Community Rebuilders: Grand Rapids-based nonprofit providing housing stability services, homelessness prevention, and affordable housing programs across Kent County. Direct peer serving the same vulnerable population through housing-related services, though focused more on rental/support than ownership.
• Inner City Christian Federation (ICCF): Grand Rapids-based nonprofit providing affordable housing, homeownership pathways, and neighborhood revitalization across Kent County. Direct peer serving the same regional affordable housing market with overlapping homeowner education and lending partnerships.
• Michigan Community Capital: Michigan-based CDFI partnering with Habitat Kent's Pleasant Hills Phase III NMTC financing. Operates statewide affordable housing and community development financing—comparable as a peer CDFI/nonprofit investor in the Michigan affordable housing ecosystem.
• Kent County Land Bank Authority: Kent County public entity that has awarded Habitat Kent the Affordable Housing Achievement Award and acquires/holds tax-foreclosed properties for redevelopment. Comparable as a regional affordable housing partner/peer operating in the same Kent County development ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HabitatKent
• Facebookfacebook.com/HabitatKent
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/habitat-for-humanity-kent-county
• Instagraminstagram.com/habitatkent

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about habitat for humanity of kent county