Lake Trust Credit Union just handed over $25,000 to Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County, and that money is going straight toward building eight duplex homes for local families who need them.
The best part? Lake Trust members made this happen just by doing what they were already planning to do—buying homes, refinancing, or taking out home equity loans.
How a Home Loan Becomes a Community Investment
Lake Trust’s Home Loan Giveback Program works like this: for every qualifying mortgage, refinance, or home equity loan that closes during a specific period, the credit union kicks in $100 to a housing-focused nonprofit. It’s essentially turning everyday financial decisions into meaningful community support without asking members to do anything extra.
Since launching this program back in 2019, Lake Trust members have collectively generated more than $351,000 for housing initiatives across Michigan. That’s real money creating real impact—not just a line item in a corporate social responsibility report.
Why Monroe County Matters to Lake Trust
“Monroe has been an important part of Lake Trust’s story for many years, and following the opening of our Monroe relationship center last year, we’ve deepened our commitment to investing in the community,” said David Snodgrass, President and CEO of Lake Trust Credit Union. “Empowering homeownership is one of the most meaningful ways we can give back to the community. Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County is doing critical work to help local families achieve stability through homeownership, and we are proud to support that mission with this donation.”
The timing makes sense. Since opening its Monroe Relationship Center in 2025, Lake Trust has been doubling down on its local presence—serving nearly 200,000 members and businesses across Michigan while focusing on housing access and long-term financial stability in Monroe County specifically.
Making Every Dollar Count Twice
Here’s where it gets even better: Lake Trust structured this donation to support Habitat Monroe’s new year-round Tribute Giving Program by matching up to $15,000 from other donors. Translation? The credit union’s gift effectively doubles in impact, amplifying community contributions and accelerating the construction timeline for those eight duplex homes.
Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County has been at this work since 1995, building and repairing homes for families who need safe, affordable housing. They mobilize community volunteers and partners to expand access to stable housing throughout the county—exactly the kind of boots-on-the-ground work that benefits from financial backing like this.
Eight new duplex homes might not sound like a massive number, but for the families who’ll live in them, it’s everything. Stable housing creates ripple effects—better school attendance for kids, improved health outcomes, stronger neighborhood connections, and the kind of financial breathing room that lets people actually build a future instead of just surviving month to month.
And it all started with Lake Trust members refinancing their mortgages.