Meet Melvin Parson

“My name is Melvin Parson and I am more excited than I have been in quite some time as a result of qualifying and becoming ready to purchase a beautiful home through the Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley Home Ownership Program!

I have lived a very ‘rich’ life during my time on this planet, which includes having spent 13 years of my life incarcerated, being addicted to drugs for over 15 years (I am currently clean and sober since May 16, 2019) and I have been homeless 3 times! Now I must say that being raised by my grandparents, I wasn’t set up to travel down those paths; however, because of my choices and decisions, these are some of the roads I’ve gone down.

Fortunately for me I had a praying grandmother who never turned her back on me and I believe, even in her passing, that she is up in the heavens advocating for my best self and best outcomes. I also believe that as a result of her prayers I’ve been blessed to find myself surrounded by some of the most incredible people on earth that have supported, believed in and nudged me to get a bachelor’s degree in EMU’s School of Social Work program in 2016 and also to have co-founded a nonprofit program in 2015 that mentors men and women returning home from incarceration.

That same same year I began a farming initiative which is now called We The People Opportunity Farm…and as good fortune would have it, my farm (that is host to a paid internship program for formerly incarcerated men and women) is only a SIX MINUTE walk from the home I am purchasing!!! Wow!!!

I am looking forward to being a homeowner and a neighbor to others. I have an awesome son, an adorable grandson, and lovable ‘farm dog,’ Edisto.”

Melvin’s home is sponsored by the John & Renee Stanton Family Fund and the 2022 House of Faith partner congregations. For the last 10 years, The John and Renee Stanton Family Foundation has donated over $355,000! This family, with strong ties to Washtenaw County, has been an amazing supporter of Habitat’s mission. In 2022, the partner congregations of First Baptist Church of Ypsilanti, First Presbyterian Church of Ann Arbor and Westminster Presbyterian Church of Ann Arbor will volunteer for 15 days and donate roughly $20,000 toward Melvin’s home. To learn more about the House of Faith, click here. We are so grateful for the continued support of these two amazing partners!