‘We were homeless prior to coming to this house’

The Rev. William Huether blesses the Rosenows’ new home.

See video of dedication here.

By Rob Alway. Editor-in-Chief. 

HAMLIN TWP. — A small group of people gathered in the snow covered yard of a small house in Hamlin Lake Estates Friday afternoon. The group celebrated the newest Habitat for Humanity of Mason County home and its new owners, Jamie Rosenow and her children, Charlotte, 8, and Jackson, 5.

Members of the Country Quilters of Scottville presented a quilt.

The house, at 6840 W. Sassafras St., was actually built by Habitat for Humanity volunteers 10 years. The family who had been living in the home had decided to move to a new location and Habitat always has the option to be the first to re-purchase the home. The organization did that and fixed the home up for a new family.

Last April Jamie attended an informational meeting hosted by Habitat. The meeting introduces potential homeowners in need to the organization and what expectations are needed in order to qualify for a home.

Habitat for Humanity does not give houses to people. Instead, the homeowners invest hundreds of hours of their own labor into building their Habitat house and the houses of others. Habitat then sells the home at no profit and receives financing with affordable loans.

“We knew Jamie and her children would be a good fit for this home,” said Meaghan Greene, who serves as publicity chair of the organization. “They didn’t have a home.”

“We were homeless prior to coming to this house,” Jamie told the group. “This house means everything to us.”

Over the past several months, volunteers from Habitat, along with Jamie, spent hundreds of hours updating the home.

“I’d like to thank everyone for braving the cold to be out here today,” Jamie said. “It absolutely warms my heart. I’d like to say thank you to all the volunteers that took time out of their busy schedule.”

Habitat for Humanity of Mason County has existed since 1993 when it built its first home on North James Street in Ludington. The next house to be built will be on North Thomas Street in Scottville.