Jubilee, Habitat Partnership expands affordable housing in Holland with new project

A unique partnership between two local nonprofits is making a growing impact on homeownership in Holland, where the need for affordable housing continues to rise.

“Our collaborative partnership is the only one creating affordable for-sale housing stock in Ottawa and Allegan counties,” says Steve Grose, executive director of Jubilee Ministries. “We look forward to continuing this work for our community.”

Grose spoke at the May 29 groundbreaking ceremony for Ottawa Townhomes, an 11-unit development at Ottawa Avenue and 20th Street. The project, the third collaboration between the two organizations, includes five homes to be built by Lakeshore Habitat for Humanity and six by Jubilee Ministries.

“The Ottawa Townhomes project represents more than just the construction of 11 new homes; it symbolizes opportunity, stability, and community for the families who will soon call these houses their own,” Grose says. “Affordable homeownership transforms lives: it provides families with a foundation to thrive, improves educational outcomes for children, and fosters stronger, more resilient neighborhoods.”

The two nonprofits previously partnered on Park Vista Place, completed two years ago, which provided 10 homes for families earning between 30% and 120% of the area median income (AMI). Their second and largest project, Vista Green, is under construction on the city’s south side. It will include 42 homes, 18 being built by Lakeshore Habitat for families earning 30% to 80% AMI, and 24 by Jubilee for households earning 80% to 120% AMI. Vista Green is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

Leaders say the Ottawa Townhomes project stands as another example of how nonprofit collaboration can address housing needs and expand opportunities for families across income levels.

The Lakeshore connected with Grose to talk about the project and Jubilee Ministries’ collaboration with Lakeshore Habitat for Humanity. 

The Lakeshore: This is your third joint development in Holland. What lessons or successes from Park Vista Place and Vista Green influenced your approach to Ottawa Townhomes? 

Steve Grose: The success of Park Vista Place and Vista Green has been transformational. What began as efforts to build a handful of homes quickly evolved into a deeper calling: learning how to be community developers, not just home builders. Together, Jubilee and Lakeshore Habitat have grown rapidly in response to the increasing demand for attainable housing, and in the process, we’ve learned how to plan neighborhoods, engage stakeholders, and think holistically about long-term community impact.

Ottawa Townhomes reflects that growth. It’s our first infill project, unlike Park Vista and Vista Green, which were greenfield developments. That brings new challenges, but also new opportunities to integrate homes into an existing neighborhood fabric.

With Jubilee building six homes and Habitat building five, we’ve brought everything we’ve learned on design, phasing, and collaboration into this project. And we’re continuing to refine our shared vision of what inclusive, sustainable neighborhoods can look like.

TL: Can you share what makes the Ottawa Townhomes project unique and how it continues to address the growing need for affordable homeownership in Ottawa and Allegan counties?

SG: Ottawa Townhomes is unique in both its structure and its setting. It’s an 11-home infill development, located within an existing neighborhood on Holland’s south side, within walking distance of schools, shops, and transit. That makes it a model for sustainable, walkable growth. It’s also a shared effort—six of the townhomes are being built by Jubilee, and five by Lakeshore Habitat.

Like our other developments, these homes will only be available for sale to people in the 30% to 120% AMI range—a group often left out of housing conversations. We’re focused on attainable starter homes for local families, and as far as we know, Jubilee and Habitat are the only organizations in the region currently building for this critical income level. With major job growth projected in Ottawa and Allegan counties, the demand for housing like this will only grow. Our work is becoming even more essential to ensuring our region stays inclusive, equitable, and livable for everyone.

TL: What does your partnership model between Lakeshore Habitat and Jubilee Ministries look like in practice and why do you think it’s been so effective?

Our partnership is built on a shared mission and mutual respect. We bring different strengths to the table and we serve different income brackets, but each organization has unique strengths that have made our collaboration a model for our community.  Habitat leads in volunteer coordination, buyer preparation, and homebuilding expertise, while Jubilee focuses on unique land development strategies, financing, and mixed-income strategy. Together, we’ve created a collaborative development model that leverages those strengths without duplicating effort.

At Ottawa Townhomes, that looks like two organizations co-developing a single site—each building a portion of the homes, but working together from the start on design, planning, and execution. What also sets our partnership apart is our shared belief that income diversity builds stronger, more vibrant neighborhoods. We’re not just building homes – we’re building inclusive communities where families of different income levels can live side by side and thrive.

TL: How do you determine the income ranges for each housing development, and how are you working to create long-term affordability?

SG: We look closely at local data and focus on the households most affected by the housing gap, typically those earning between 30% and 120% of area median income. These are the folks who often make too much to qualify for traditional subsidies but not enough to afford rising home prices. Jubilee and Habitat serve different segments within that range, but we share a common goal: creating attainable starter homes for local families.

When it comes to long-term affordability, we work to strike a balance between keeping homes accessible for future buyers and allowing current homeowners to build wealth. For many families, the home is their single greatest source of equity, and we don’t want to limit that opportunity.

Both Jubilee and Habitat have developed unique models that support wealth-building while ensuring we’re not relying on donors or grant funds to subsidize windfall gains for individual homeowners. We believe it’s a pretty effective approach that honors both the individual family and the broader mission.

It’s also important to note that affordability in our region is largely driven by a lack of housing stock. That’s why we feel it’s incumbent upon our organizations to build as many homes as possible. By increasing supply, especially of homes that are truly attainable, we can help ease pressure on the broader housing market and create a more balanced, equitable community for everyone.

TL: With 63 affordable homes built together so far, what’s your long-term vision for expanding access to homeownership in the region? And how can the community get involved?

SG: Reaching 63 homes is a milestone we’re proud of—but it’s only the beginning. Our long-term vision is to scale up to 20 to 30 homes per year, creating a mix of infill and new developments that prioritize attainability, community integration, and long-term affordability. We know that homeownership is foundational to financial stability and neighborhood health, and we want to ensure that more families in our region have that opportunity.

The need is growing, especially with the significant job growth expected in our area, and our work has never been more urgent. The community can help by donating, volunteering, advocating for housing-friendly policies, and simply spreading the word. When we come together around this issue, we can ensure our region remains a place where everyone has the chance to put down roots and flourish.

Photos courtesy of Jubilee Ministries