About Us

Habitat Oakland County’s mission has a hyper-local focus with a world vision which engages donors, homeowners, neighbors, and volunteers working together to build better living environments.

Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit housing organization that works in nearly 1,400 communities across the United States and in approximately 70 countries around the world. It started in 1976 by a group of people who wanted to help those in need of adequate shelter by helping them to build decent and affordable homes by working side-by-side with volunteers (to keep costs low). Today, Habitat has helped 9.8 million people achieve strength, stability, and independence through safe, decent, and affordable shelter. On a local level, Habitat came to Oakland County in 1995 and to date, we have helped over 600 people on their journey towards homeownership. Habitat Oakland County’s mission has a hyper-local focus with a world vision which engages donors, homeowners, neighbors, and volunteers working together to build better living environments. Habitat Oakland County raises all of its funds locally and receives limited funding from Habitat for Humanity International. As part of Habitat’s Global partnership, when a home is built in Oakland County, Habitat Oakland County tithes a portion of the funds raised to build a house in a developing country.

Since 1995, Habitat Oakland County volunteers, staff and donors have served approximately 200 families through building and rehabilitating homes in nearly a dozen communities across Oakland County. As our first homeowner Doreen Marquis has said that becoming a Habitat Oakland County homeowner changed the trajectory of her family forever. She was able to send all three of her children to college and secure a brighter future for each of them.

The success of Doreen’s family – and other partner families like hers – demonstrates the impact homeownership has on individuals. We also know that homeownership has an impact on communities as well. In recent years, Habitat Oakland County has focused on rehabilitating foreclosed properties. Turning abandoned houses, such as the recently renovated home located next to a playground in Southfield, into a home for a family makes the neighborhood safer for every family and every child.