KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) — A Kalamazoo group is working to help renters become homeowners in one of the largest neighborhoods in the city.

Edison Initiatives celebrated renovating its second home Saturday afternoon with an open house. It was also a milestone for Felicia Mitchell Lee, who is on her way of achieving her goal of homeownership. 

“I didn’t know when that was going to happen or how that was going to happen, but it happened,” Mitchell Lee said. “The door opened up, the opportunity was presented, and I was chosen.”

 It’s all part of a lease to own program looking to breath new life to vacant houses and give renters a chance to find a permanent footing. Mitchell Lee said she wants this chapter to serve as an example for her kids. 

“It means a lot,” she said. “It’s a step towards our future. It’s a step towards showing our children what it means to be a homeowner. What it means to work hard and make something your own and take care of.”

Leaders for the volunteer group said that the Edison neighborhood is one of the largest in Kalamazoo and the most economically challenged with most homes being rentals. Coordinator Keith Platte says barriers to owning a home, like high down payments, can lock people out from building generation wealth. 

“They then as a family don’t have the opportunity to experience the positive impact for their family, or their grandchildren, or their grandchildren’s grandchildren,” Platte said. “So it’s generational on how it changes the course of opportunities, even if it’s just a home.”

The program does have an application process. It includes sharing an applicant’s credit report, income, employment, rental history, openness to regular check-ins and more. Families in the program will pay a lease to the group with the goal of buying the house within five years.

A portion of the rent money will go towards the down payment. Platte says a home on East Vine Street was once a vacant and run down property when it was bought at auction in 2023. Cleaning up the property seemed to have inspired renovating the long street. 

“There’s multiple homes in the area of Vine and Clarence that are now being fixed up or have been fixed up because they see a trend happening,” Platte said. “And it’s not just us, it’s others too.”

While the bulk of the work is done, Mitchell Lee said she looks forward to hosting her first summer barbecue with her husband and family. 

Platte said the team is are already looking for the next project. More can be learned about the initiative here.