History:

Since 1986, Habitat for Humanity Detroit has helped to house over 180 families in the city of Detroit. In spring 2002, we celebrated the dedication of our 100th home. In September 2003, 16 new homes were built during Blitz Build '03 as part of Habitat Detroit's Building on Faith celebration. The summer of 2005 saw 30 new homes built in one week during Jimmy Carter Work Project 2005.

Our affiliate is independently governed by our Board of Directors, local Detroit volunteers who plan our projects, set policy, and manage fundraising. We are one of over eighty Michigan affiliates and college campus chapters, the largest number of affiliates in any state.

Highlights

• 1986 - Affiliate founded by Fred and Ellen Schippert .
• 1986 - Purchased our first three houses for $1.00 each. Work begins on renovating houses on the east side.
• 1987 - Thomas family moves into the first Habitat Detroit renovated home
• 1989 - One of several nonprofits to receive proceeds from Christmas Light Show at Domino Farms. Donation was large enough to enable the rehabilitation of one house.
• 1991 - Work expands to west side of Detroit
• 1992 - First Habitat for Humanity Detroit Walk-A-Thon
• 1993 - Lutheran Brotherhood becomes first Adopt-A-House participant
• 1995 - Archer/McNamera Blitz Build - Over 1000 volunteers build 15 new homes in five days in the Westwood Park neighborhood
• 1997 - Archer/McNamera Blitz Build - Twenty additional new homes built in Westwood Park neighborhood in six days
• 1998 - Oprah Winfrey House is first house built in the Creekside neighborhood on east side of Detroit
• 1999 - ROCC Build - Constructed eight new homes in Creekside.
• 2000 - Nine new homes built in the Creekside neighborhood, including two First Ladies Build homes
• 2001 - Nine homes started in late 2000 completed in early 2001
• 2001 - Announced the Tri-Centennial Village project in Core City Neighborhoods
• 2001 - Celebrated our 15th anniversary!
• 2002 - Dedication of the 100th Habitat for Humanity Detroit home
• 2003 - Dedication of the Taylor home, the 2000th Habitat for Humanity home built in Michigan, by Millard Fuller, founder of Habitat for Humanity International.
• 2003 - Blitz Build '03 - 16 new homes built in Tri-Centennial Village as part of Habitat Detroit's celebration of Building on Faith
• 2003 - Habitat for Humanity International announces Detroit selected as a host site for the 22nd annual Jimmy Carter Work Project to be held June 2005
• 2004 - Honored with 2003 Affiliate of the Year award
• 2004 - Blitz Build '04 - Five new homes built on Jane Street in one week; the first residential construction in northeast Detroit in 30 years
• 2005 - Jimmy Carter Work Project 2005 - Led by Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn, over 1500 volunteers gather in southwest Detroit to build 30 homes in one week  
  
• 2006 – Habitat Detroit partnered with Oakland and Macomb Counties for the SuperBuild, where 49 wall sets were constructed and sent to three Texas affliates to be built permanently for hurricane evacuees. Five new homes were built during the Home Builders Blitz and 12 new homes were built during the Fall Blitz Build in MorningSide Commons in partnership with U-SNAP-BAC.