Highland Park has a free home repair program operating right now, run by a Detroit community organization that has been doing this work since 2007. This page explains what the program covers, who qualifies, and how to start the process.
What the Whole Homes, Whole Communities Program Does in Highland Park
We Want Green Too is the direct operator in Highland Park — not a referral service, not a pass-through to a national nonprofit. We're a Detroit 501(c)(3) founded in 2007 by Gloria J. Lowe, and we do this work ourselves.
Our Whole Homes, Whole Communities program is a four-year initiative covering free home repairs, weatherization, energy upgrades, and homeowner education. It's backed by $8 million in secured funding from a DTE utility settlement — money being returned directly to these neighborhoods as services. Highland Park is one of the named service areas.
Free means free. Homeowners in the program pay nothing for the assessment and nothing for the work. The program funding covers it.
This is not a discount. It is not a loan. There is no lien on your home. It's a community benefit funded through a utility settlement, and it's being delivered street by street through Highland Park.
What's Included — and What That Means for Your Home
A home energy assessment starts the process. A BPI-certified Building Analyst comes to the house, runs a blower door test to locate air leaks, performs combustion safety testing to make sure gas appliances aren't putting carbon monoxide into the living space, and uses thermal imaging to show where insulation is missing or failing. (For a fuller explanation of what happens during a home energy audit, see our separate article on the process.)
Based on what the assessment finds, the program covers:
- Wall, attic, and foundation insulation
- Air sealing
- Heating and cooling equipment evaluation and upgrades
- Health and safety repairs
- Homeowner education on maintaining the improvements
This matters because most of Highland Park's housing is old. Homes built before modern insulation standards — before air sealing was a construction requirement — lose conditioned air through gaps that never get noticed until a blower door test makes them visible. The utility bill stays high not because the household is running anything wrong, but because the house itself is working against the furnace.
Fix the leaks and add the insulation, and the furnace doesn't have to run as hard. Energy bills can drop by up to 50%.
Who Qualifies — and How to Find Out If Your Address Is in the Active Service Area
The program serves Highland Park homeowners. Because the work is intensive and done properly, WHWC moves through neighborhoods in stages rather than scattered addresses. Whether your block is currently being served depends on where enrollment stands at the time you contact us.
Income guidelines and other eligibility conditions: contact us to confirm. We won't publish thresholds we haven't verified for you directly. What we can tell you is that this program was designed for the homeowners who need it most in these neighborhoods, and the funding came specifically to serve them.
The honest answer on eligibility is: contact us to check your address. We'll tell you where the program stands, whether your block is in the active service area, and what comes next.
Other Programs That Serve Highland Park Residents
WHWC is the most comprehensive free home repair option currently operating in Highland Park, but it's not the only program. Depending on your situation, these may also be available:
Wayne Metro Community Action Agency operates two facilities in Highland Park — a community impact center at 138 Cortland Street and a Weatherization House at 135 Cortland Street. Their Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) covers insulation, air sealing, and furnace evaluation at no cost for income-qualifying households. One important distinction: WAP does not cover structural repairs like roofs, doors, or windows, or plumbing or electrical work. WHWC may address gaps that WAP cannot. To reach Wayne Metro, call (313) 388-9799. (Source: waynemetro.org)
LIHEAP and MEAP — federal and state utility bill assistance programs, administered through Michigan DHHS. You can apply online at michigan.gov/mibridges or by calling 211. (For a detailed comparison, see our article on LIHEAP vs. MEAP: which should Highland Park residents apply for?)
THAW (The Heat and Warmth Fund) — utility bill assistance for customers facing shutoff. Call 800-866-THAW.
DTE Energy assistance programs — DTE offers payment assistance for qualifying customers. Contact DTE directly or check your billing statement for current program details.
MSHDA — Michigan State Housing Development Authority has housing rehabilitation pathways. Contact MSHDA directly for eligibility information.
These programs have different scopes, timelines, and income thresholds. If you're not sure where to start, call 211 — Michigan's triage line for housing and utility assistance — or reach out to us and we'll point you in the right direction.
The Energy Picture in Highland Park
Highland Park's housing costs are not abstract. The city has a poverty rate of 40.9% and a median household income of $29,309, according to American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates. (Source: Census Reporter, citing ACS 2024 5-year data.)
With utility rates that have climbed significantly across the region, the share of household income going to energy in a community at that income level is severe.
The $8 million behind WHWC didn't come from a federal grant line or a foundation check. It came from a DTE settlement — meaning the same utility system that drives high energy burdens in Highland Park is now the source of funding going back into these homes as free repairs. That's why WHWC is here, in this neighborhood, doing this work.
For broader context on why Detroit energy bills are so high and what the city-wide energy burden looks like, see our pillar article on that topic.
How We Do the Work — Local People, Local Expertise
The people doing the assessments are trained and credentialed. Through our ICAN Workforce Development program, in partnership with Michigan EGLE, we certified 20 Detroit-area residents as Building Analysts — BPI Building Analyst Technical (BA-T) and Building Analyst Professional (BA-P). The U.S. Department of Energy recognizes BPI's BA-P certification as "Energy Skilled" in the Single Family Home Energy Audit category.
The residents trained through ICAN are the ones doing this work in Highland Park. The expertise stays local. So do the careers.
Our Healthy Home Production program addresses the indoor health piece alongside the energy work: indoor pollutants, housing safety, and the conditions that make a home genuinely healthy to live in, not just more efficient.
For more on Detroit home weatherization — what's covered and how to qualify, see our dedicated article on the weatherization process.
How to Apply for Free Home Repair Help in Highland Park
To apply for WHWC: Contact us directly. We'll confirm whether your address is in the active service area, explain where enrollment currently stands, and walk you through next steps. There's no fee to apply and no obligation.
For LIHEAP, MEAP, and State Emergency Relief: Apply online at michigan.gov/mibridges or call 211. Text 211 also works.
For Wayne Metro WAP specifically: Call (313) 388-9799. Wayne Metro has staff in Highland Park at 138 and 135 Cortland Street and can confirm eligibility over the phone.
For utility shutoff help: Call THAW at 800-866-THAW.
If you want to support the work beyond your own household — so WHWC can reach more blocks in Highland Park and more homes for veterans and Detroit residents — support WWGT's work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Whole Homes, Whole Communities program still accepting applications in Highland Park?
The program works through neighborhoods in stages. Whether your block is currently active depends on where enrollment stands. Contact us and we'll tell you exactly where things are and what the timeline looks like.
Do I have to pay anything for the repairs?
No. The assessment is free. The work is free. There is no cost to qualifying homeowners at any point in the process.
What if I rent in Highland Park?
WHWC focuses on homeowners. Renters may qualify for Wayne Metro's WAP program — which covers rental units — or for LIHEAP and MEAP utility assistance. Call 211 for triage and eligibility information.
What repairs are covered?
Insulation, air sealing, energy equipment evaluation and upgrades, and health and safety repairs. The full scope is determined by your home assessment. Structural repairs like roofs are not covered by Wayne Metro's WAP — contact us to confirm what WHWC's scope covers for your home.
Does Wayne Metro serve Highland Park?
Yes. Wayne Metro operates a community impact center at 138 Cortland Street and a Weatherization House at 135 Cortland Street in Highland Park. Call (313) 388-9799. (Source: waynemetro.org)
What income limits apply?
It varies by program. For WWGT's WHWC program, contact us to confirm eligibility. For Wayne Metro WAP, call (313) 388-9799. For LIHEAP and MEAP, apply through MI Bridges at michigan.gov/mibridges or call 211.
We Want Green Too is a Detroit-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 45-5324148, founded in 2007 by Gloria J. Lowe. We work on energy-efficient, healthy housing and green-economy careers for Detroit residents and veterans. Learn more at wewantgreentoo.com.
