When Brenda Molendyk thinks about what keeps people healthy in Allegan County, she worries about homes with leaky roofs, old plumbing, and broken septic systems.
“Fixing a septic system or well isn’t exciting,” says Molendyk, who works at
Community Action of Allegan County (CAAC). “But for families who can’t afford those repairs, it can mean the difference between a safe or unsafe home.”
Molendyk is part of a group working together through the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). Nonprofits and government groups are sharing resources to help families live in homes that protect their health.
The
Allegan County Community Foundation (ACCF) coordinates the effort, bringing together many local groups through the Multi-Agency Collaborative Council (MACC).
The Healthy Housing Workgroup, part of CHIP, focuses on basic home repairs like fixing plumbing, removing blight, improving insulation, and making homes more energy efficient.
These repairs are especially important for working families who still struggle to make ends meet. Many don’t qualify for other programs and would otherwise be left without help.
“In 2023, we moved CHIP under the MACC to better organize all the efforts,” says Lauren Hunt-VanderPloeg, a community impact officer at ACCF. “We want everyone working toward the same goals.”
Assistance, education
CAAC not only helps with home repairs but also teaches people how their homes work. Its Community Training Center in Otsego has a model home where people learn about air flow, insulation, and how design affects health and energy bills.
“This is about real life,” says Housing Program Supervisor Terry Emelander. “When air quality is better, kids miss fewer days of school and parents miss fewer days of work.”
CAAC started its home repair and well and septic grant programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The programs were meant to be temporary, but they continued after leaders saw how many homes were unsafe.
“Well and septic repairs can cost thousands,” Molendyk says. “Low-income families often can’t afford them, but they’re essential for health.”
Now, the programs offer grants and sometimes low-interest loans to help with these costs. Some families qualify for full funding based on their income. Renters can also apply, as long as their landlords agree.
“We sit down with families and help figure out what programs they qualify for,” Molendyk says. “The rules can be confusing, but we help them through it.”
Lakeshore Habitat for Humanity is also helping. With a $50,000 grant from ACCF, it started a Home Repair Program in the city of Allegan last fall. The goal is to fix urgent problems such as roof damage and structural issues.
“Starting something new takes time,” says Dave Rozman, executive director at Lakeshore Habitat. “We’ve finished some repairs and are working through more. The need is bigger than we expected.”
At first, they thought repairs would cost $10,000 to $15,000 per home. But in many cases, the roofs were so bad that they caused other damage inside the house.
“People didn’t trust it at first,” Rozman says. “There were scam messages going around that made families worry. But now that people see it’s real, more are applying.”
Habitat has worked in Allegan County before, but this new support from CAAC and others lets them do more.
“We’ve worked in towns like Fennville and Hamilton,” Rozman says. “But this kind of teamwork helps us go further.”
Reaching out to community
CAAC also focuses on outreach. Staff members attend community events like the Wayland Balloon Festival and share information during food giveaways.
“Lots of people don’t know help is available,” Molendyk says. “By meeting people face-to-face, we reach those who might not call or come to us.”
The Community Training Center also helps people improve their job skills. Its Healthy Housing course normally costs $650, but scholarships are available for low-income residents. Some students pay nothing at all.
“It’s a chance to learn useful skills,” Emelander says. “People can fix their own homes or get jobs in the trades.”
CHIP is now being updated, with new goals and teams coming soon. At the same time, a possible federal budget cut could affect housing programs in Michigan.
“The president’s proposed 2026 budget would reduce funding for housing support through the state,” Hunt-VanderPloeg says. “It’s just a proposal right now, but it could make our work harder.”
Still, local partners are focused on what’s needed today—and on building better systems for the future. Instead of relying on one agency, this plan brings many groups together through shared goals and strong communication.
“Safe housing affects everything – health, school, jobs,” Hunt-VanderPloeg says. “When we work together, we give families a better chance to stay in their homes and build a stronger future.”
For more information, contact Community Action of Allegan County at 269-673-5472, email
info@communityactionallegan.org, or visit
communityactionallegan.org. Lakeshore Habitat for Humanity can be reached at 616-393-8001; its website is
lakeshorehabitat.org.
Photos provided by the Community Action of Allegan County.