UUAA is part of an interfaith group of 16 area congregations, the “Good News Group” that has been working together since 1997 in partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley. We have helped 38 families (with over 70 children!) move into affordable, very energy efficient housing, primarily in Ypsilanti neighborhoods. We help families, neighborhoods and the environment– and we laugh and have fun doing it. Click on this link to view a map of the homes we have built and renovated in the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti area. Learn more about the Huron Valley Habitat affiliate and about the Good News Group (lots of photos!) at www.h4h.org/goodnewsgroup .
Each summer UUAA sends about 30 volunteers to paint, hammer, do yard work and much more. We also have volunteers who bring lunch to the site workers. And of course, we always need your donations to help pay for the materials for Habitat for Humanity homes. Use this Donate button to make an online donation thru Realm (be sure to select “Habitat for Humanity” in the drop down selection list). Or checks can be sent to the UUAA office. (Put “Habitat” in the memo line.)
October 23rd 2026 Volunteer Opportunity
Rock the Block! 8:00am – 1:00 pm on Friday, October 23rd.
Join Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley for hands-on community revitalization that brings volunteers, residents, and local partners together to complete exterior home repairs and neighborhood clean-up projects for our partner neighborhoods. Register using this link.
2026 Good News Home
THANK YOU to everyone at UUAA who worked on site, sent lunch or donated money to the 2026 Good News ground-up build home at 1353 Rolling Ct., in Ypsilanti. One of our work crews got to put finishing touches on the house on Sept 18th.
The house is now ready for the Rose family– the proud homeowners. You can read about them in this flyer.
Everyone who supported this year’s house will be invited to the home dedication in October.
You can still make a financial contribution to support our Habitat for Humanity project using the Donate button (scroll up).
Use this link to add your name to the “Short Notice List” — You will receive email asking if you can help out any time we need extra workers on a work day that is not a scheduled UUAA work day (usually 3 or 4 opportunities each summer).
The 2025 Good News House
During the 2025 build season the Good News Group worked on restoring a house in Gault Village in Ypsilanti. It’s a large, split-level house (1,800 sq. ft) that was in good shape structurally but was taken down to the studs and made much more energy efficient .
Handy Information
All volunteers must complete a volunteer waiver once each year. This year there is a new online system that is easy to use. You will receive an email asking you to confirm your volunteer date. A checkbox on that page and an electronic signature quickly confirms the waiver for the year. Or you can download and print a paper waiver.
Site workers should wear comfortable clothing and shoes that you don’t mind getting splashed with paint or mud or sawdust!
No special skills needed! You will be taught how to carry out tasks that are new to you.
All tools are provided. You can bring your own tools if you want, but please mark them to make sure they go home with you!
The site work can include installing insulation, installing windows, floor repair, wall repair, caulking, installing blue board, cabinets, shelving, fixtures, lighting, painting, landscaping and other related work.
Questions? Email habitat@uuaa.org .
To see photos of site work and read more about the Good News Group, go to the Habitat for Humanity Huron Valley Good News website.
Good News Group — UU’s hard at work
