A Way Home — Housing Solutions: This story is part of Southwest Michigan Second Wave's series on solutions to homelessness and ways to increase affordable housing. It is made possible by a coalition of funders including the City of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County, the ENNA Foundation, and Kalamazoo County Land Bank.
KALAMAZOO, MI – Kalamazoo County will continue to push for the construction of new housing and more living spaces with a fourth round of taxpayer-supported funding.
On June 2, the Kalamazoo County Housing Department opened its online portal for projects seeking financial support from the county’s Homes for All Housing Millage.
“It’s open and we have money for funding,” says Kalamazoo County Housing Director Mary Balkema. “We’re really hoping that developers and nonprofits go in and really have some good applications for funding.”
This year the millage, which was started with the approval of area voters in 2020, will make about $2.8 million available to developers and nonprofit organizations that intend to undertake projects in three categories: Multi-family housing -- $2.1 million for the development of affordable rental housing; Supportive Services -- $200,000 for wrap-around housing services such as eviction prevention and shelter diversion; and Creative Housing -- $500,000 to support unique and innovative housing-related projects that don’t fit into traditional categories.
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Second Wave fileWilla DiTaranto, Deputy Housing Director for Kalamazoo CountyTypically, some $8 million to $9 million dollars that is generated annually by the millage provides funding for multi-family housing, single-family housing, single family rehabilitation, support services and creative housing projects. But this year, Willa DiTaranto says, “We have a fairly limited amount of funds available. So the (Kalamazoo County) Board of Commissioners voted at the end of May to make available $2.8 million total for this year’s funding round.”
DiTaranto, who is deputy director of the Kalamazoo County Housing Department, says, “The reason we have so much less available this year is because of the substantial amount of awards that have been given out in previous funding rounds before this year.”
“We did big awards for future funding years,” DiTaranto says. That includes about $4.4 million that taxpayer revenue generated for this year that are already earmarked for future developments.
Those previous awards include such things as $300,000 to allow Kalamazoo Neighborhood Housing Services to administer its Employer-Assisted Housing Opportunity Program.
“The millage is matching dollar-for-dollar funds that any county employer would like to contribute toward down-payment assistance or critical home repair for their employees,” DiTaranto says.
There are a few employers who are working with KNHS in the pilot program. They include the City of Portage and Kalamazoo County. The program may also partner with Bronson Methodist Hospital, which has an employee-assistance program, as well as the City of Kalamazoo, which also has an in-house program.
Three years of millage allocations to that program – approved in 2024 -- have totaled just over $1 million, including $150,000 in the 2024 round, $300,000 for 2025 and $600,000 for 2026.
In the meantime, updated research on local housing needs, released recently by the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, indicates that the need for more housing continues to evolve.
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CourtesyKalamazoo County Housing Director Mary Balkema discusses advantages of the new AmpliFund portal for opportunities to request housing develoment or rehab assistance in the county.The Kalamazoo County Housing Plan determined in 2020 that the county had a need for 7,750 additional housing units of all kinds and for area residents at all income levels. Based on economic and job growth, new research finds that number actually should have been about 8,000 additional housing units.
Since the first research came out, about 2,500 more housing units have been brought to the market or are being developed, DiTaranto estimates that the actual number that is still needed is about 5,500 units.
“I think that we’ve made incredible strides and I think that what that increased demand number really just tells us is that Kalamazoo is a desirable place to live, work, and play,” she says, “and that we’re just going to have to continue to use all the tools and resources available in our community to work toward that 8,000 number.”
Balkema says her department is happy to see several new housing developments underway because it takes a long time for some to come together. DiTaranto agrees, saying, “This year we’re finally seeing a lot of ground broken on projects that have been in the works for a lot of years.”
They include:
• Legacy Senior Living, a 70-unit affordable apartment complex in Kalamazoo’s Northside Neighborhood. The $27 million project is being developed by Mt. Zion Baptist Church and Edison Community Partners. Ground was broken in March.
• Stanwood Crossings, a development of 42 single-family homes in Portage. The two- and three-bedroom houses will be considered “workforce” housing (affordable to working people who make 80 to 120 percent of Kalamazoo County’s Area Median Income). A ground-breaking ceremony for the project, located off Portage Road between Stanley Avenue and Woodbine Avenue, was held in May.
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The housing portal opened on June 2 and will close at 5 p.m. on July 3. It can be found on The Kalamazoo County Department of Housing
website here.
A mandatory training session for applicants has been scheduled for June 24. It is set for 10 a.m. via Zoom.
Although this year’s financial allocation for new projects is less than previous years, every application for funding will be evaluated after the portal closes, DiTaranto says.
About 1,400 housing units have received support from the Homes for All Housing Millage, the county reports. They have included 136 affordable units (those geared for individuals and families with annual earnings that are less than 30 percent of the Area Median Income). And support for 15 organizations that provide services to help seniors and other qualified home owners remain in safe housing. They provide such things as exterior wheelchair ramp additions, handrail installations, and general home repairs.
DiTaranto says there has been a nice balance of giving between nonprofit organizations and independent developers. But the actual amounts allocated to commercial developers is greater “because it costs a lot more money to build new housing than it typically does to offer supportive services,” DiTaranto says.
In a prepared statement, County Board Chairperson Jen Strebs says, “Our Homes for All Housing Millage is more than just funding. It’s a reflection of our community’s commitment to caring for one another and ensuring that everyone has a safe place to call home.”
The county notes that the need for more investment is urgent as housing costs are rising faster than wages, and as developers face high construction costs.
“We know that housing is fundamental to people’s health, stability and ability to thrive,” Strebs says. “As we open this funding round, we remain optimistic and determined to work alongside our partners to build a stronger, more supportive Kalamazoo County for all.”
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Willa DiTaranto, Deputy Housing Director for Kalamazoo County, and Mary Balkema, County Housing Director