Greater Jackson Habitat ReStore

09/04/2026

This month, families across Jackson County will fill out enrollment forms. Immunization records, emergency contacts, and a line for a home address.

That last one carries more weight than any of them.

Children who change schools lose academic ground, and the loss is sharpest in the grades where the foundation is being built. Low-income families move at roughly twice the rate of higher-income families, and most of those moves are not chosen. A lease ends. Rent climbs faster than the paycheck. A furnace fails in January and the repair is not coming.

Last month we talked about advocacy, and about a housing law waiting on a funding vote this fall. This month we are talking about what all of it is actually for. A stable address is not a comfort. For a kid, it is a school year that holds together.

Twenty homes in Jackson County by 2028. That is twenty addresses that stop moving.

Support the 20 by 28 campaign. https://greaterjacksonhabitatforhumanity.salsalabs.org/20by28capitalcampaign/index.html

09/01/2026

School is back, and somewhere in your house there is a kid who needs a place to do homework that is not the kitchen counter.

The ReStore is a very good place to solve that. Desks, bookshelves, dressers, lamps, chairs, storage, and dozens of colors of low-VOC paint if the study corner needs a fresh wall behind it. All of it at a fraction of retail, all of it already made, none of it in a box that takes two hours and an Allen wrench.

Here is the part that makes it more than a good deal. Proceeds from the ReStore go directly to our 20 by 28 campaign. Twenty new homes for Jackson families by 2028. So the desk that helps your fourth grader get through long division is also helping build a house where another kid will do their homework.

Greater Jackson Habitat ReStore
251 W. Prospect Street, Jackson
Thursday through Saturday, 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM

Come see what came in this week.

08/20/2026

Check This Out!!
Vintage Drexel Mid Century Dresser
Your Price $250!
Check out the before and after pictures on our website Jacksonhabitat.org/shop

08/18/2026

Michigan's members of Congress are home in their districts right now. That makes the next few weeks the best chance all year to tell them what housing looks like in Jackson County.

Here is why it matters this particular August. The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act became law in July, and it authorized real tools for communities like ours. Community Development Block Grant dollars can now go toward building new homes instead of only repairing existing ones. The HOME program now reaches households earning up to 100 percent of area median income. A new pilot program would help low income homeowners make the health and safety repairs that keep them in their homes. Every one of those programs is currently a framework on paper. Congress authorized them. Congress has not yet funded them, and that decision gets made this fall.

Here is what actually helps:

Call or email the district office of your representative or one of Michigan's senators. Tell them you are a constituent from Jackson County. Ask them to fund the programs in the ROAD to Housing Act when appropriations come up. Then tell them why housing matters to you, in your own words. That last part is the part they remember.

If a town hall or a community event shows up on your calendar this month, go and ask a question about housing. Public questions travel further than private ones.

We talk a lot about building. It usually means a foundation, a frame, a set of keys. This month it means a phone call.

Full breakdown of what the law changes for Jackson is on our blog. https://www.jacksonhabitat.org/post/advocates-are-builders

08/16/2026

We are proud to announce that Consumers Energy is the title sponsor of Casino Night 2026.

Casino Night is one of our biggest nights of the year, and it is possible because of partners who believe that where a family lives shapes everything else about their life. Consumers Energy stepping forward at the title level means more of every dollar raised that evening goes directly into our 20 by 28 campaign, our commitment to build 20 new homes for Jackson families by 2028. Support like this does not just cover an event. It builds houses on real streets for real neighbors.

Join us on Thursday, November 5 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM at the Gene Davis Banquet Center. There will be seven casino-style tables, raffle baskets donated by local businesses, a 50/50 drawing, and food and drinks all evening. You do not need to know how to play anything. You just need to show up.

If your business would like to stand alongside Consumers Energy and support this work, we would love to talk with you about sponsorship. Tickets and sponsorship information: https://greaterjacksonhabitatforhumanity.salsalabs.org/2026CasinoNight/index.html

Thank you, Consumers Energy. We are glad to have you at the table.

08/13/2026

08/11/2026

We are thrilled to welcome Gerdau as a Jackpot Sponsor for our 2026 Casino Night fundraiser!

On November 5, Jackson's best community event of the fall will bring together casino games, great food, raffle prizes, and a whole lot of fun, all in support of our 20 by 28 Campaign to build 20 new homes for Jackson families by 2028.

Gerdau's generous commitment at the Jackpot level makes a real difference in our ability to reach that goal. Thank you, Gerdau, for going all in for home.

Tickets are on sale now. Grab yours and join us on November 5 at the Gene Davis Banquet Center!
https://greaterjacksonhabitatforhumanity.salsalabs.org/2026CasinoNight

08/09/2026

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act was signed into law last month, marking the most significant federal investment in affordable housing in more than a decade. Several of its provisions are directly relevant to families and organizations working on housing right here in our community.

For Greater Jackson Habitat for Humanity, one of the most consequential changes is the expanded use of Community Development Block Grant funds. Previously, those dollars could only be used for home repairs. Under the new law, they can be used for new construction. That opens up resources directly in support of our 20 by 28 campaign.

The HOME Investment Partnerships Program is also updated. Income eligibility for homeownership assistance has been raised from 80% to 100% of area median income, which means more Jackson families will now qualify for support as they pursue homeownership.

For homeowners struggling to keep up with repairs, the Whole-Home Repairs Act included in this legislation creates a pilot program offering grants and forgivable loans for health, safety, and accessibility improvements. In a community with as much older housing stock as ours, that provision is timely.

One important caveat: a law that authorizes programs but doesn't fund them doesn't build homes. The appropriations process is the critical next step, and Michigan's legislators are home in their districts during August recess. This is the right moment to let them know that housing in Jackson is counting on what happens next.

08/04/2026

We are overjoyed to welcome Christin Long and her five children as the newest homeowners in the Greater Jackson Habitat family!

Christin came to Greater Jackson Habitat for Humanity after years of living in a home that had become unsafe and unhealthy for her family. She knew something had to change, but the path to homeownership felt out of reach. Through our down payment assistance and homeownership program, we were able to walk alongside her and help make that path real.

In Christin's own words: "Greater Jackson Habitat for Humanity gave us hope when I felt like I had run out of options. This home has had an impact on my family in ways I can't fully put into words. My children now have a safe place to sleep, play, and grow."

Christin and her children are now settled into their new home on Trail Street, and that home has already begun to change their lives in ways that go far beyond four walls. We are so proud to be part of their story, and deeply grateful to every donor, volunteer, and community partner who helped make this moment possible.

Congratulations, Christin and family. Welcome home.

08/04/2026

⏰ Reminder! We've got NEW HOURS! 🏡💚

🛒 Thursday – Saturday
🕙 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM

We're ready to help you find amazing deals on furniture, home décor, building materials, appliances, and so much more—all while supporting affordable housing right here in Jackson County! ❤️

Need to donate but can't make it to the store? We've got you covered!

🚚 Request a FREE home donation pickup:
📞 517-784-7640
💻 JacksonHabitat.org/restore

Every purchase and every donation helps build stronger communities and brighter futures. Thank you for shopping, donating, and supporting Greater Jackson Habitat for Humanity ReStore! 🏠💙💚