1st Quarter Highlight: Habitat for Humanity

The Community Involvement Committee made a $2,500.00 contribution to Habitat for Humanity. Members of Ann Arbor Area Board of REALTORS^®  volunteered at 2 build days this year. 

Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit housing organization working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S. and in approximately 70 countries. Habitat’s vision is of a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Habitat works toward our vision by building strength, stability and self-reliance in partnership with families in need of decent and affordable housing. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage.

1st Quarter Highlight: Fair Housing Center

The Fair Housing Center of Southeast & Mid Michigan is a private, non-profit Fair Housing Center. They look at complaints of illegal housing discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, familial status, marital status, age, (and potentially) condition of pregnancy, source of income, family responsibilities, educational association, and more. Join the mission of the Fair Housing Center to end discrimination in housing.

The Community Involvement Committee made a $2,000.00 contribution to the Fair Housing Center's 2021 REALTORS® for Fair Housing initiative.  The Ann Arbor Area Board of REALTORS^® has also been working with the Fair Housing Center to promote this initiative to members and ask REALTORS® to sign their appeal letter.

FHC AAABoR Realtor Appeal Letter

The Fair Housing Center has an average of 170 complaints a year from our area and surrounding counties. Since 1992 they have aided in the filing of over 85 lawsuits, with a settlement total of over $2.1 million.

Highlight: COVID-19 Help and Donation Opportunities 

Ozone House

Due to the health crisis, school this fall is going to have extra challenges for students experiencing housing instability and other serious issues.

This year, more than ever, we need your help to support students. Young people trying to learn from home still need important supplies to support their education.

 Examples include: 

• Packs of pencils still in the package
• Scientific/Graphing Calculators
• Pocket Folders
• Hand Sanitizer and/or Clorox Wipes
• 1 inch Binders
• Hygiene Products (Shampoo and Condition either full or travel size; Black Hair Care Products; Soap; Lotion)
• For a full list of our item needs click here.

 We prefer you order from our Wish Lists below and have items delivered straight to the WISD to ensure minimal contact.  Explore our Wish Lists by clicking the links below:

• Walmart
• Amazon
• Target

 Please send all orders to:

Washtenaw Intermediate School District 

ATTN Dawn Espy/The Education Project

1819 S Wagner Rd,

Ann Arbor, MI 48103

 If you already have purchased school supplies or have done a drive to collect items, you may do a contact-less drop off of donations that are new and still in the package to the WISD office. 
Drop-Off times include:

• Thursday, August 6th 2pm - 5pm
• Wednesday, August 12th 11am - 2pm
• Monday, August 27th 8am -11am

Fair Housing Center

The Fair Housing Center of Southeast Michigan is currently accepting financial donations that allow them to continue their work to stop housing discrimination and help people with disabilities.  Comfortable housing is critical to an individual’s healthcare, especially during this pandemic when individuals are encouraged to stay home.

"During this time of COVID-19, housing rights are at the forefront. Access to housing could mean a life or death situation. If you experience or hear of anything suspicious, please, report it to us.

Blocking access to housing or harassing someone in a protected class is illegal. Sexual harassment, failure to accommodate someone because of their disability, difference in treatment or excluding people based on race, national origin, or the presence of children, are all examples of illegal behavior.In addition, people who currently have COVID-19 or have a history of having the virus, or are perceived as having the virus, may be protected against housing discrimination under the Fair Housing Act. The unlawful denial of housing, inquiries about whether a person has COVID-19, or imposition of limitations in access to housing or housing-related services because of COVID-19 may constitute illegal discrimination*.Since 1992, the Fair Housing Center has been committed to make housing available, secure, accessible, and free from discrimination. During this time of the pandemic, our efforts to ensure people are housed in safe environments has never been more important. But we need your help. Please consider becoming a member or renewing your membership today.Below are some of the recent public service announcements we've shared on Instagram and Facebook. Please share and help us spread the word.As always, contact us at 877-979-FAIR or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any fair housing concerns or questions.

Alpha House

Alpha House can always put Wish List items to good use.  Volunteering at Alpha House is starting back up again in small doses for small groups of people (5 or less).  Opportunities include indoors or outdoors.  From weeding and yardwork to sorting and organizing donations from winter needing some attention.  Virtually all of our volunteer opportunities involve little if any interaction with our families to keep everyone – staff, clients and volunteers – healthy and well.  

There is an urgent need your group might be willing to embrace.  We provide meals for our families each day, every day. Our intent is for a hot meal, a family meal, every night all year long.  On weekends, a hot brunch late mornings.  Because of everyone’s different schedules, our families serve themselves for lunches, weekday breakfasts, and anytime they want to snack in our 24/7 family kitchen.  Traditionally end of July/August is our toughest weeks during the year to find meal hosts due to summer schedules and lots of vacation time.  This year, add COVID into the mix and we have lots of open dates I’m working towards filling.  Your group might choose to adopt a night or even a week of meals if of interest to you.

Meals arrive a variety of ways.  Some hosts plan and prepare in their homes and then deliver to Alpha House ready to serve.  Others choose to double their blessing and use local restaurants for delivery or take out when providing a meal to Alpha House.  Any combination is possible and welcomed by Alpha House.  If this might be something you want more details on, I’m happy to answer further.  In the meantime, click on our 2020 Meal Host Schedule to see a host of dates available.  You can’t edit the document but you can see month by month as each month has its own tab at the bottom.