A key is more than a symbol for homeownership: it’s a turning point. Last week, that moment became real for 170 Detroit families, when they received the deeds to their homes through the Make It Home program. We were proud to celebrate these new homeowners at a recent event, marking a powerful step toward stability, opportunity, and generational wealth.

At its core, Make It Home is about transforming a broken system into one that works for residents. Despite paying rent faithfully, renters will often find themselves at risk of displacement. This is due to their landlords failing to pay property taxes. As a result, the homes are pushed into foreclosure. Through this program, those same renters are given the opportunity to stay in place and become homeowners, preserving both their housing and their connection to the neighborhoods they call home.

Helping Detroit Families Home

Make It Home has helped more than 1,700 Detroit families avoid eviction and achieve homeownership since the program launched in 2017. This latest celebration builds on that momentum, reflecting not only the scale of the need, but also the power of a solution rooted in equity and access.

“This program continues to open doors at a time when hope can often feel out of reach,” says Gwen Gell, Senior Program Manager on the Rocket Community Fund Housing Stability team. “I am truly humbled to be part of this program and remain deeply proud of the work accomplished by both the participants and the partnerships that make these successes possible.”

As Gell highlights, this progress is only possible through deep, sustained partnership. The Rocket Community Fund works alongside the City of Detroit and the United Community Housing Coalition to make the program function – from identifying eligible homes to structuring pathways to ownership and providing ongoing support. Our partners leverage the City’s right of refusal and harness community-based expertise to intervene before displacement occurs. Our philanthropic investment supports these efforts to help create lasting pathways to stability.

Sustainable Homeownership for the Future

But Make It Home doesn’t just create homeowners. Listening to residents has been central to the program’s evolution, and one message came through clearly: homeownership must be sustainable. That’s why we launched the Make It Home Repair program in 2019, investing millions of dollars into critical repairs for roofs, plumbing, and heating systems. Because keeping a home safe and livable is just as important as gaining ownership in the first place.

This work reflects a broader, shared vision: a Detroit where stable housing is available to everyone. Where homeownership isn’t just a dream, but an accessible reality. And where families have the foundation they need to thrive, with neighborhoods growing stronger block by block.

For the families receiving their deeds, this milestone represents a commitment to their future. For the partners behind the program, it’s proof that when philanthropy, government, and community organizations align, real systems change is possible.

“On an individual level, homeowners are no longer living with the constant fear of displacement due to negligent landlords,” notes Gell. “Instead, they have the security and agency to invest in their homes and their futures. That stability extends outward, families take pride in maintaining their properties, building relationships with neighbors, and contributing to the overall strength and vitality of their blocks and neighborhoods.”

Ultimately, the impact of the program will make a lasting impact on Detroit neighborhoods. As Gell says, “Over time, this kind of investment fosters more resilient, connected communities where people aren’t just living, but truly putting down roots and thriving.”

Together, this is about more than housing. It’s about ensuring that everyone has a place to call home—and the opportunity that comes with it.