A panel discussion on Environmental Justice and Housing Stock in Kalamazoo County: Location, Equity of Cost, Energy Efficiency, Support Services, with community housing advocates was recently hosted by the League of Women Voters. Second Wave's Mark Wedel was there.
The new leader of Kalamazoo County’s Land Bank is coming aboard as the program faces new challenges – and an urgent demand for more affordable housing. Sid Ellis joined the anti-blight initiative as CEO earlier this month, continuing a high-profile career in community service and the arts. Ellis says he’s excited by the opportunities his new position offers though there is uncertainty over how to maintain the program’s funding sustainably.
What does it take to get to a point where housing projects funded by Kalamazoo County millage dollars can be approved? Here's a quick peek at some of the process needed to get the work done.
Efforts to provide more needed housing in Kalamazoo County continue as members of the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners recently approved a total of $2.6 million in funding to support planned residential projects. When completed the projects approved should add about 115 new housing units, and another 30 existing properties would be rehabilitated.
The Michigan Homeowners Assistance Fund program was created last year to prevent homeowners from losing their homes as a result of mortgage delinquencies the program and was established under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to mitigate hardships associated with the pandemic. Kalamazoo County Treasurer Thomas Whitener tells how it can work for county residents.
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