What’s happening: At the “Advocacy in Action: Housing Solutions & Supply Data Updates” event on June 17, local leaders and housing experts discussed the latest data on housing in Ottawa County. The findings reflect encouraging progress while highlighting the ongoing need for targeted solutions, particularly for low- and moderate-income renters and middle-income buyers.
What’s the key takeaway: The total housing need in Ottawa County has increased slightly since 2021, from 15,731 to 16,464 units. Since then, more than 5,700 new homes have been built, including apartments, condos, townhomes, and single-family residences. Despite the progress, the county still requires 3,938 additional rental units. Households earning less than 50% of the area median income (roughly $50,000 annually) account for 2,289 of those needed units.
Why this is important: Community leaders say the progress is encouraging, but not enough. “We’re glad to see the progress that’s been made, and we’re committed to continuing this work moving forward,” says Hadley Streng, president of the
Grand Haven Area Community Foundation and co-chair of the
Housing Next Regional Advisory Council for Ottawa and Kent counties. “Collaboration across the county and the greater West Michigan region is key to increasing access to workforce housing.”
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Housing NextAt the June 17 “Advocacy in Action” event, local leaders and housing experts shared the latest housing data for Ottawa County.
What’s next: Recent investments in market-rate rental housing are showing results:
- Rental demand among households earning 50%–80% of AMI (area median income) has decreased by 67%.
- Demand among households earning 80% to 120%+ AMI has dropped by 50%.
Still, 1,650 additional rental units will be needed for middle-income renters by 2030. With about 400 new multi-unit housing starts per year, the county is on track to meet this target if the pace continues.
What this means: The for-sale housing market remains a greater challenge, with 12,526 additional homes needed to meet demand.
- The highest need is among households earning 80%–120% of AMI (approximately $80,000–$125,000 annually), who require nearly 7,000 new homes.
What they’re saying: “Most of the homes needed in Ottawa County can be built with right-sized zoning and a new housing tax increment financing tool,” says Ryan Kilpatrick, lead consultant for Housing Next. “With the area’s strong schools and high quality of life, developers are ready to build if zoning allows it.”
What communities can do: To address the housing shortfall, experts recommend that local governments conduct zoning audits and land-use mapping to identify infrastructure-ready land. These tools help communities better understand what's feasible under current zoning and support data-driven decisions to expand housing development where it’s most needed.
What’s Housing Next’s role: As a regional partner advancing housing solutions in West Michigan, Housing Next works to support the production of enough housing to meet workforce needs. The organization focuses on policy development, creative financing, technical support, public engagement, and collaboration across sectors.
To explore the full Housing Needs Assessment, visit
www.housingnext.org.
Photos provided by Housing Next
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