In the past five years, Lakeshore Habitat for Humanity has increased its building capacity by 600%.

The state of Michigan has noticed those efforts and has awarded the organization $970,000. The funding is coming from Michigan’s Missing Middle Housing Program.

“Lakeshore Habitat’s model has proven successful over the past 33 years,” says Don Wilkinson, executive director of Lakeshore Habitat for Humanity. 

When the housing crisis began five years ago, the nonprofit made a commitment to increase the number of homes it was building as a way to do its part in addressing affordable housing issues in its community. As a result, Lakeshore Habitat has gone from having four homes in development in 2018 to now having 24.

“What we quickly realized was that we had the program model, we had individuals and families ready to enter our program, we had volunteers ready to help,” says Wilkinson. “But we just did not have the financial resources to scale at the level we desired. We needed a plan.”

Steps in the plan

He says the first step was engaging the community that has supported the organization for over 30 years. Fortunately, individuals, local businesses, and churches generously stepped up to meet the growing need. 

The second step was identifying local and state funding available to close the gaps. 

“Receiving the Missing Middle award does just that and will help us continue to move forward and build more affordable homes in our community,” Wilkinson says.

The Missing Middle Housing Program is a housing production program designed to address the general lack of attainable housing and housing challenges underscored by the COVID-19 pandemic. It seeks to increase the supply of housing stock to support the growth and economic mobility of employees. It does that by providing cost defrayment to developers investing in, constructing, or substantially rehabbing properties targeted to household incomes between 185% and 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG).

The program is funded by the state’s share of American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds. Roughly $50 million of ARP funding has been dedicated to the Missing Middle program. 

90% of needed funds

The awards from the Missing Middle program will help bring Lakeshore Habitat to 90% of the needed funds secured for their 28 homes in development. 

Lakeshore Habitat estimates it still needs an additional $35,000 per unit to complete funding for these 28 homes and begin working toward its next project.  

Lakeshore Habitat for Humanity will divide the $970,000 among its three current developments: 
 

• $540,000 was awarded toward nine homes at Vista Green in Holland. 
• $250,000 was awarded toward five homes at Haven Townhomes in Holland. 
• $180,000 was awarded toward three homes at Buttermilk Creek Townhomes in Hudsonville. 

Those who are interested in learning more about what Lakeshore Habitat is building or how they can financially support the 28 homes in development, can reach out to Dave Rozman, the organization’s development director, at drozman@lakeshorehabitat.org.
 
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