ALPENA — Habitat for Humanity Northeast Michigan will hold its 30th Anniversary Spaghetti Dinner at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Fletcher Street Depot, 124 W. Fletcher St. in Alpena.

Guest speaker Sandy Pearson, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Michigan, will give a presentation at the dinner.

Habitat for Humanity Northeast Michigan Executive Director Ted Fines is excited to host the dinner to thank the community for its loyal support throughout the years. He said a number of political dignitaries have been invited and he hopes they will be able to attend. He received a certificate of Congressional Recognition from U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow for the achievement of 30 years.

“It’s just a celebration to involve the community,” Fines said of the event. “Because, like the letter from the CEO of Habitat International mentioned, what’s become even more impactful in the last three or four years, since I’ve taken over, is all the critical home repairs that we’re doing in the three counties of Presque Isle, Alpena, Alcona. And he mentions … that there are three other counties that touch us — Iosco, Oscoda, Montmorency — that have no real active Habitat, and we’re doing work there, too.”

The letter he is referring to is a congratulatory one from Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International.

Fines said the need for home repairs is great in the region, and Habitat has branched out to neighboring counties for the past two years.

“We have to, because people are calling us all the time,” Fines said. “The need is so incredible.”

He is collaborating with Northeast Michigan Community Service Agency to work together on housing solutions.

“I guess one of my major strengths is collaboration with other organizations, because we can do a lot more,” Fines said. “We’ve doubled our revenue in three-and-a-half years. But that’s only because, one, we’re taking advantage of grants, and two, we’re doing things with others.”

Tickets to Thursday’s dinner are by donation. RSVP is requested to info@habitatnemi.org or 989-354-5555, ext. 1000. The dinner will be catered by As You Wish Gourmet Eatery.

Fines said many people have benefited from Habitat’s services, but more homeowners should apply for critical home repairs just to see if they qualify.

“Critical home repairs, we’re going to probably end up doing 20, if not more, this year,” Fines said, noting that anyone can apply for those grants, as they are not just for Habitat homes. “I have the funding, I have the grant money that I can tap into. Just apply.”

Those who are approved for Habitat homes have to put in 250 hours of sweat equity per adult, Fines explained. The latest Habitat home is on Spratt Street in Alpena.

“We’re just waiting for (U.S. Department of Agriculture) mortgage approval,” he said of the Spratt Street home, which he expects to be approved between now and January.

MSHDA MOD program launch

Also on Thursday is a MSHDA MOD Pilot Program job site check presentation at 1:30 p.m. at the site of a new modular home, 515 N. U.S.-23 Highway in Harrisville.

Fines said those are “modular homes, not trailer homes,” and showed a rendering of a two-story home that can be manufactured inside a warehouse and transported to the job site.

“They can build these 24/7, indoors,” Fines noted. “They build them in Bay City. General Housing Corp. in Bay City.”

The check will be for a $196,000 grant for the new program, a collaborative effort between Michigan State Housing Development Authority and Habitat for Humanity Northeast Michigan. Fines put in many hours of grantwriting and presenting in front of state officials to be selected for this program.

“We partner with families, and they have to put in sweat equity,” Fines said. “So, how do we achieve that for a finished modular house that you get from a manufacturer? Well, we’re getting it so it’s roughed inside. So, the walls are not painted, the floors are not in, the cabinets aren’t there. So there’s worked involved.”

“This is for rural areas, this MSHDA program,” Fines explained. “And that is to showcase not only affordable housing, and it’s not low-income housing, this is affordable housing, that northern Michigan rural areas need, but it’s also housing that we can get quickly. Like, I put my order in two days ago, and it’ll be ready in six weeks. You can’t build a house in six weeks.”

The home will be two stories and four bedrooms, Fines said. G&G Construction out of Spruce will be the authorized contractor for the project. He added that the family who will move into the home is two parents and five children who are currently living in a two-bedroom home, so this will be a much better fit for them.

The main office for Habitat for Humanity Northeast Michigan is located inside the Alpena First Presbyterian Church, with the entrance on the north side of the church, at 1600 W. Chisholm St. on the corner of Long Rapids Road.