Home improvement program expands to two neighborhoods 

Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County, in partnership with the city of Southfield’s Neighborhood Services Committee, will sponsor the 3rd annual Rock the Block program in the Southwest Evergreen Area August 1-2 and in the Bonnie Acres neighborhood September 11-12.

Habitat Oakland County’s Rock the Block (RTB) program combines homeowners in targeted areas, Habitat volunteers, community sponsors and home preservation projects into high-energy community revitalization projects. Under the guidance of Habitat Oakland County’s construction staff, community sponsors and volunteers complete exterior home repairs, weatherization and cleanup activities such as porch staining, house/porch painting, gutter cleaning, yard clean-up and landscaping. Habitat Oakland County invites corporate and community partners to join this movement in neighborhood revitalization and work along-side existing supporters including the city of Southfield, Thrivent Financial, Consumers Energy, and volunteer and sponsor groups.

Habitat Oakland County hosts 2 to 3 Rock the Block events each year. These events generally involve 12-15 simultaneous projects taking place over a two-day period in a focus neighborhood. This year, the program has been expanded to include two different focus areas in the city of Southfield. Work will begin in the Southwest Evergreen Area between 8 and 9 Mile, Lahser to Evergreen followed by the Bonnie Acres neighborhood located near 12 Mile and Greenfield.

Southfield-based AURIA Solutions has invested $30,000 in sponsoring the August 1 day of Rock the Block and will also be providing volunteers for the day. The Southwest Evergreen Area August 2 workday will be Habitat’s first Interfaith Build where numerous local churches and congregations will work together to improve these collective neighborhoods. The following have contributed financially to this effort in addition to providing volunteers for the project: Temple Israel, Kirk in the Hills, The Muslim Unity Center, St. Mary the Protectress Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral, Birmingham First United Methodist Church, First Presbyterian Church of Birmingham, and Cross of Christ Lutheran.

Projects will be approved on a first-come, first-served basis. Interested residents in those focus areas are encouraged to submit an application before the program is full.

To download an application, visit https://www.habitatoakland.org/housingprograms-information/rock-the-block/. For more information, call 1-248-338-1843 or visit www.habitatoakland.org.