Tri-Cities Area Habitat for Humanity is an ecumenical Christian organization founded in 1989. TCA Habitat has since built over 60 simple, decent and affordable homes in the Tri-Cities. Our hope is to eliminate sub-standard housing in our community. TCA Habitat works in partnership with area churches, businesses and individuals to build simple, decent houses that will become homes for our Partner families.
Ottawa County has an estimated 529 homeless families. Children of homeowners are 25% more likely to graduate from High School and 116% more likely to graduate from College than children of renters.
Through the donated time, hard work and resources of many in our community, Habitat houses are built at low cost and sold to the Partner Families without profit or interest. Partner Families must make a $500 down-payment and complete 250-500 hours of "Sweat Equity" before they can move into their home. Habitat provides a variety of supportive services to the families to help ease their transition to home ownership.
Habitat is a wonderful way to give "hand-up" not a "hand-out" to needy families in our area.
Local businessman Louis Rycenga and other concerned citizens came up with the idea of starting a local Habitat in the Tri-Cities. Upon his death in his late 90's, Louis was still a staunch supporter of TCAHFH.
