The Rocket Community Fund, alongside Mayor Mike Duggan and the United Community Housing Coalition, announced that 181 more Detroit families will gain homeownership this year through the "Make It Home" initiative, which leverages the city's "right of refusal" to purchase properties before tax foreclosure auctions. Since 2017, the program has helped over 1,700 families transition from renters to owners, offering 0% interest land contracts tailored to their economic situations, according to the City of Detroit.
Laura Grannemann, Executive Director of the Rocket Community Fund, stated, "We're not just helping families stay in their homes, we’re empowering them with the resources and stability to invest even more deeply in their communities." The initiative also addresses deferred maintenance through a repair program started in 2019, which has funded essential improvements on 580 homes with $4.75 million in grants and low-interest loans, as reported by the City of Detroit.
The United Community Housing Coalition, founded in 1973, provides housing assistance, including workshops on the Homeowner Property Exemption and legal support for eviction cases in the 36th district court. "The need for creating more homeownership opportunities for low-income Detroit households is more crucial than ever right now as funding reductions limit housing opportunities," UCHC Executive Director Ted Phillips said. In partnership with the Rocket Community Fund and city officials, United Community Housing Coalition offers the Make It Home Program, which provides homeownership opportunities along with support for maintenance and repairs, as stated by the City of Detroit.
