A Way Home: Housing Solutions

Does Kalamazoo have more than its share of unhoused people?

Does the increasing number of unhoused people in Kalamazoo reflect the county's population? Or are people coming from elsewhere? And are there enough services available to provide for the growing needs?

Edison variety show raises funds and awareness of homebuyers’ need for down payment assistance

What do an "unhinged" taco-buying customer, a spoken word duo, and dancers from Move with Joy have in common? They all recently came together to raise awareness and funds for down payment assistance for Edison neighborhood homebuyers.

David Harris moves from unhoused to his own home.
From unhoused to homeowner: David Harris says connection makes the difference

"Some days it doesn't feel real." That's the reaction David Harris has when he surveys the house that he now calls his own after years of being unhoused. 

Confronting racism’s impact on affordable housing access in Kalamazoo

The enduring impact of racism on affordable housing in Kalamazoo illustrates a direct link between past injustices and present-day housing struggles.

Sugarloaf Mobile Home Park, in Schoolcraft is just south of Portage.
New manufactured homes at Sugarloaf Park part of the mix of housing for low-income county families

Ten manufactured homes will be going to ten families with school-aged children, families who've experienced homelessness and are at 60% area median income.

City and County are strategizing for better housing in Kalamazoo area

The City of Kalamazoo is working with Kalamazoo County to develop strategies to fund projects to help struggling families to find good housing. The intent is to use $1.2 million in federal funding to connect and amplify existing community resources, and to inspire additional investment in them in order to help struggling families to find good housing.  

Nick Wahl, 26, was able to become a first-time home buyer with the purchase of this home in the Oakwood Neighborhood.
Getting started: How tough is it to find a home to buy in the Kalamazoo area?

“It used to be, we’d list a home on Monday and I’d get a call on Tuesday to show it on Wednesday. Now we list it on Monday and I get a call asking if I can show it in 5 minutes,” says Jim Hess, a Realtor with Jaqua Realtors in Kalamazoo. Prospective buyers -- and sellers -- have to be prepared for a brisk selling market in multiple price ranges, real estate professionals say.

County’s Housing for All building momentum in Kalamazoo

Approved in 2020, the Kalamazoo County Homes for All Millage was a historic gesture by voters to increase housing affordability in the area. What's been the progress so far? County Housing Director Mary Balkema recently gave a rundown of past, present, and future projects.

After years of planning, Eastside Square condominiums set to open in Kalamazoo

Long-awaited Eastside Square, a mixed-use housing and commercial development on East Main conceived of by residents in partnership with the Kalamazoo County Land Bank, is complete and ready for occupancy. 

Market forces among barriers to overcome as community searches for more affordable housing

When you dig into the causes behind the lack of affordable housing in Kalamazoo County it turns out one of the big ones is there are not enough houses to meet the demand. 

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