Rep. Stanley Works with Genesee Habitat to Assist Senior
On July 8, Rep. Woodrow Stanley joined Genesee County Habitat for Humanity to help with their “A Brush with Kindness” program. Genesee County Habitat for Humanity has been working in the Grand Traverse Neighborhood, which is just west of downtown Flint, for the past 3 years. In that time they have worked on 15 homes, including 3 A Brush With Kindness projects, 2 full renovations of vacant homes and 10 new builds. The “A Brush With Kindness” program seeks to help existing homeowners by doing exterior or façade type repairs.
The project Rep. Stanley helped with was at the home of the longest residing resident of the neighborhood, who has lived there 72 years. At the project site, Rep. Stanley helped tear out an existing back deck that was falling down and left the homeowner with just one exit at the front of the house. This was the first day of working on this particular house. Future work will include repainting the exterior of the house and rebuilding the deck that was torn out.
The A Brush With Kindness program is a key step in Genesee Habitat’s neighborhood revitalization project in the Grand Traverse Neighborhood because it is helping existing homeowners who were there far before new homes were being built in the neighborhood. “We feel that by working with those existing homeowners it only strengthens the ties of the community and helps make more neighbors look out for each other,” said Genesee Habitat’s Program Coordinator Ryan Johnson.
Genesee County Habitat for Humanity is a Christian housing ministry, affiliated with Habitat for Humanity International, but controlled locally. It is made up of people who volunteer their time and work to provide decent, affordable homes for persons who could not otherwise afford to buy a home. Habitat is financed through donations of money and materials. Houses are sold at no profit, and no interest, typically over a 20 year period.
