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LANSING -- Habitat for Humanity of Michigan on Monday announced that State Farm is contributing $10,000 to support its Housing Counseling and Financial Education program.
"The demand for financial capability services is high and locating funding to support this work is more important than ever," said Sue Ortiz, Director of Housing and Family Services for Habitat for Humanity of Michigan. "We are aiming to serve hundreds more families than we did previously. This support from State Farm is crucial to ensure we help as many Michigan families as possible find financial security, especially now as so many people deal with challenges raised by the pandemic."
Financial capabilities services include financial management and individual financial counseling with consumers and are available to anyone living in Michigan.
Habitat for Humanity Northeast Michigan has participated in the Housing Counseling and Financial Education program with Habitat Michigan since 2016.
"The ASO Housing Counselors continue to impact the development of our next generation of homeowners. This impact has made a real change in strengthening our community," said Ted Fines, executive director of Habitat Northeast Michigan. "We're honored to be part of Habitat Michigan's Housing Counseling and Financial Education program."
Many Michigan Habitat affiliates have been providing housing counseling and financial education as a part of their housing programs for several years; some programs have been operating nearly 10 years. HFHM has been coordinating the Statewide Counseling and Education program since 2015, which includes five Habitat for Humanity affiliates in Saginaw, Genesee, Oakland, Monroe, and Washtenaw counties, as well as the Affiliate Support Organization in Lansing.
Over the last year, services have been provided in 55 counties with the intention to expand to all 83 counties using in-person as well as online education and counseling. Consumers who attend HUD-approved financial education classes are also offered the opportunity to work individually with a counselor to pursue their individual financial stability and housing-related goals. Habitat for Humanity aspires to work with all Michigan consumers who wish to increase the financial capabilities available to them.
HFHM became a HUD-certified housing counseling agency in 2017.
Habitat for Humanity of Michigan is the state support organization for Michigan's more than 60 Habitat for Humanity affiliates and ReStores which serve nearly every county in the state. Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity of Michigan brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope. For more information, visit www.habitatmichigan.org.
Since 1989, Habitat for Humanity Northeast Michigan has been part of the global, nonprofit housing organization. HFHNM is dedicated to eliminating substandard housing locally and worldwide through constructing, rehabilitating, and preserving homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. For more information, visit www.habitatnemi.org.