Working Groups
Working Groups were created to focus on the priorities identified by the Regional Housing Partnership. They meet regularly to determine goals and strategies for their priority area as outlined in the Regional Housing Action Plan (PDF).
Unhoused & Equity
Longstanding disparities in housing have compromised individual and family access to housing and generational wealth-building. Ensuring stability for those who have experienced the lack of a home, need intensive supports, or chronically experience housing instability is the focus of this priority.
Goal 1: Identify and advocate for modifications to policies and practices to remove barriers across the housing continuum for BIPOC, immigrants, refugees, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+, those with low incomes, and other marginalized populations.
- Partner with Michigan State University Extension (MSUE) to hold 3 workshops on housing equity best practices, including the impact of redlining and exclusionary zoning.
Housing Stock
Michigan has a pressing need to develop, rehabilitate, and preserve housing across the state at price points for every level of income.
Goal 1: Increase the supply of the full spectrum of housing that is affordable and attainable to Michigan residents.
- Local Initiatives Support Corporation Kalamazoo (LISC)- Establish 3 AmeriCorps members to expand capacity for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) Redevelopment Ready Communities (RRC) program in Kalamazoo, Berrien, and Van Buren counties.
- LISC Kalamazoo – Increase Revolving Loan Funds (RLF) by 10% for the region with a new fund in Battle Creek and one underway in Kalamazoo.
Goal 2: Increase the rehabilitation and/or preservation of housing stock.
- Support and education on the benefits of Land Banks.
- Host Homeowner Rehab Training with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Training.
- Create peer-to-peer sharing group for municipalities that use MI State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) funding.
Goal 3: Increase missing middle and workforce housing stock to facilitate greater housing choice.
- Support and education on Community Land Trusts.
Housing Ecosystem
The housing ecosystem consists of components that interconnect across the priority areas of the Statewide Housing Plan. Attention to the housing ecosystem is foundational to the effectiveness of actions taken to improve housing in the state.
Goal 1: Increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the housing ecosystem by enhancing collaboration on housing among state agencies, philanthropy, local governments, Tribal Nations, education, and the wide variety of private-sector organizations that make up the housing ecosystem.
- Shorten the permit application to occupancy in development, through RRC AmeriCorps program (shared with Housing Stock).
- Regional Housing Agency Education – Join the Rural Readiness Network (shared with Older Adult Workgroup).
Goal 2: Support an expansion of housing that is affordable and fairly assessed by increasing the availability and demographic diversity of workers in the construction, planning and zoning, and real estate industries.
- Increase individuals’ participation in apprenticeship programs and certification in the building trades.
- Increase those underrepresented in the construction business.
- Assessment of the construction workforce and contractor pipeline for Region J will be completed by the Upjohn Team. The team will focus on three elements of the pipeline: those who recently completed construction training programs at the secondary and post-secondary level (and others who recently completed their education), those working in construction occupations who may have an interest in becoming a contractor, and existing contractors who are interested in growing their business. Understanding how those in the construction industry develop skills, create businesses, and grow businesses is key to identifying ways to improve the overall pipeline.
Older Adult
Older Adult Housing for adults age 65 or older is of special concern in Michigan due to the growth of its aging population.
Goal 1: Equitably expand the supply of affordable and accessible rental units statewide for older adults.
- Increase Homeowner Repair Projects
- Host Homeowner Rehab Training with CDBG Training.
- Create peer-to-peer sharing group for minimalities that are using MSHDA funding.
- Regional Housing Agency education – Join the Rural Readiness Network with the Office of Rural Prosperity.
- Create a senior housing development guide for municipalities.
