CREATING PATHWAYS AND PARTNERSHIPS FOR HOUSING IN NORTHWEST
Housing North continues to make meaningful strides in advancing solutions and building momentum around our region’s most pressing challenge attainable housing. As we look ahead, we remain committed to deepening partnerships and driving impactful action to ensure our communities are able to thrive for years to come.
Sarah Van Horn HOUSINGNORTHBOARDPRESIDENT
1449 PERMITS PULLED
45 DEVELOPERS AND PROJECTS ASSISTED
In 2025, Housing North helped move housing from concept to construction across Northwest Michigan. Through the Housing Ready Program, we supported the development of 1,965 units through technical assistance, planning, partnerships, funding readiness, and the use of key housing tools. We worked alongside developers and projects to navigate initiatives that encourage development. This momentum is reflected in the 1,449 permits pulled, signaling projects advancing into construction.
In 2025, Housing North launched the Housing Zoning Atlas (HZA) across eight counties in Northwest Michigan (Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, and Manistee).
This effort created a standardized dataset on local zoning, translating complex regulations into clear, accessible insights that help communities identify where housing can be built and better understand infrastructure capacity and development constraints. The Housing Zoning Atlas now serves as a key planning tool for developers, planners, and local leaders, helping unlock new housing opportunities and support data-driven decision-making.
A key highlight of this work is the Grand Traverse County Housing Growth Opportunity Map, developed in partnership with Grand Traverse County, Housing North, and Flywheel. Building on the Housing Zoning Atlas data, this interactive planning tool helps communities identify where housing can be built most efficiently and responsibly by analyzing access to existing roads, water, and sewer infrastructure.
The map also supports environmental stewardship by excluding protected lands and areas with natural constraints such as wetlands and steep slopes, helping communities balance housing growth with preservation of natural areas and community character. Together, these tools support collaborative, sustainable, and datainformed housing planning across the region.
Building housing solutions starts with informed communities. Throughout 2025, Housing North convened local leaders, residents, developers, employers, and community partners through educational events to increase awareness of housing challenges and connect communities with practical, locally relevant tools and solutions. These efforts helped communities better understand housing needs, explore policy and financing tools, and identify actionable strategies to advance housing. Throughout the year, Housing North provided workshops, presentations, and webinars across the region, including:
Housing Tools Workshops in Emmet County and the Village of Northport featuring discussions on master plan updates, HTIF financing, PILOTs, and regional employer housing needs.
Presentations to local governments, including Emmet County and the Village of Empire, on attainable housing districts and PILOTs.
Presentations to the AES Housing Group serving Wexford and Missaukee counties on the Housing Zoning Atlas, zoning reform, HTIF, and revolving loan funds.
Community discussions and presentations on Community Land Trusts.
Workshops and webinars focused on Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs).
Webinars on housing tools, communication strategies, and Regional Housing Funds. Housing Zoning Atlas open houses, webinars, and tailored community presentations across Northwest Michigan.
Source: Artemis Development
The Housing Ready Program brings together the people, resources, and tools needed to move housing forward.
In 2025, this work translated into real momentum across Northwest Michigan, strengthening connections that helped turn local ideas into developments moving toward construction, partnerships and local initiatives.
252 Unit Lakelynn Apartments project in Cadillac.
41 Senior housing units in Manistee.
12 Unit development in St. James Township in Charlevoix County.
146 units targeted for households below 120% of area median income (AMI) in Bellaire (Bellaire Lofts).
$500,000 CDBG CHILL Grant secured in Manistee County to support critical home repairs and preserve existing housing stock
Senior Home Share Network launched in Grand Traverse County to expand affordable housing options for seniors and support aging in place
East Jordan sites (Boat Launch & Mt. Bliss) advanced through connections to Michigan Community Capital and infrastructure planning to unlock housing development
Development of the Leelanau County Housing Action Strategy led, alongside the Housing Collaborative, to align local housing efforts.
Supported zoning, planning, and site readiness across Benzie, Charlevoix, and Manistee counties, laying the groundwork that makes housing development possible.
Led implementation of the Regional Housing Plan by convening the RHP Annual Meeting (January) and coordinating with workgroups to define priorities and guide regional actions.
Promoted the use of housing tools (PILOTs, TIFs, Zoning Atlas, ADUs) through trainings and workshops across multiple counties, alongside a regional water and sewer infrastructure study to guide development.
Activated RHP workgroups to advance priority areas, including housing ecosystem, housing stock, and preventing and ending homelessness. Workgroups refined goals and strategies, coordinated with chairs to define focus areas, and advanced actions to support regional housing solutions, including senior housing initiatives and expanded education and awareness around tools such as PILOTs and TIFs. Housing North also participated in the Grand Traverse County Homelessness Task Force, an independent community-led effort focused on strengthening coordination and regional responses to homelessness.
As the MSHDA-designated Regional Housing Partnership (RHP) Lead for Region D under Michigan’s Statewide Housing Plan, Housing North coordinates regional efforts to develop and implement an action plan that addresses housing needs across Northwest Michigan. Housing North is advancing the needs of Northwest Michigan within statewide initiatives such as MSHDA’s Statewide Housing Plan.
By reporting, informing, and supporting implementation, the RHP ensures regional priorities are clearly defined, recognized, and positioned for solutions that reflect the unique needs of our communities.
Policy advocacy remains a core pillar of our work, and 2025 was no exception. While the year brought a complex and evolving policy landscape in Michigan, it also created opportunities to advance key priorities and secure meaningful progress for housing across our region.
Housing North, alongside statewide partners, successfully advocated for $3 million in Zoning Reform Grants included in the final state budget. This investment will support communities in modernizing zoning regulations and reducing barriers to housing development.
To address funding gaps and provide long-term stability, Housing North advanced the Rapid Response Housing Fund (RRHF), a regional financing tool designed to support housing development regardless of fluctuations in the state budget. In 2025, Housing North pursued a $10 million state budget request to capitalize the fund and expand access to low- and no-cost financing for attainable housing across the region.
Throughout 2025, Housing North and our partners advanced several critical policy conversations and initiatives:
Drafted legislation to extend the Residential Facilities Exemption and Attainable Housing Program beyond its 2027 sunset, ensuring continued use by communities. Collaborated on statewide efforts to address regulatory barriers to housing, including legislation regarding zoning reform, regulatory reform, and zoning incentives.
The 2025 Housing Leadership,Champion Advocate, and Funders Award winners: celebrated for their transformative impact on housing in Northwest Michigan.
Each year, the Northwest Michigan Housing Summit brings together local leaders, housing professionals, developers, planners, advocates, funders, and community members to discuss shared challenges and practical opportunities. Centered around the 2025 theme,“Rooted in Community: Housing Solutions for Collective Impact,”the Summit welcomed more than 120 attendees for two days of learning, collaboration, and action-oriented discussion focused on advancing housing solutions across Northwest Michigan. By creating space for cross-sector collaboration and knowledge sharing, the Summit continues to support the partnerships and local capacity needed to move housing solutions forward.
At the Summit, Housing North honors individuals and organizations whose leadership, advocacy, and dedication are driving meaningful change. In 2025, Housing North honored Jane MacKenzie with the Housing Leadership Award, Dan Buron and Nora Dunlop with the Champion Housing Advocate Award, and Huntington Bank with the Funders Award for their outstanding leadership and commitment to expanding housing opportunities across the region.
We extend our sincere gratitude to the Summit sponsors, partners, speakers, and attendees whose support helps make this event possible each year.
Thomas and Jodi Adams
Suan Ager
Jim and Jan Bardenhagen
Joe and Nancy Belton
Francis Kay Bond
Lindsey Bur
Frank Clements
Anna Courtade
Elizabeth Faulkner
Richard and Barbara Foster
Ashley Halladay-Schmandt
Bill and Debbie Hershey
Bo Inthivong and Brad Lonberger
Janet Koch
Daniel Lisuk
Jillian Manning
Larry Mawby and Lois Bahle
Josh Mills
Patrick and Sharon Oriel
Nicholis Pandolfi and Juliana Lisuk
Jared Pickman
Jen Rigterink
Chris Romero
Gary Scheuren
Armen and Marie-Claude Shanafelt
Eric Shertzing
Scott and Dibby Smith
Matthew Tamm and Cindy Okerlund
Dean and Carrie VanderMolen
Sarah VanHorn
Beth Verhey
Carol Waters
Kevin Weber and Nancy Gallagher
4Front Credit Union
AAANM
Allen Edwin Residential Builders LLC
Artemis Development
Aspire North Realtors
CEDAM
Cherry Republic
Cinnaire
DTE Energy
Edson Community Partners LLC
Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis
Fishbeck Consulting
Grand Traverse County
Huntington Bank
IFF
Independent Bank
Lake Michigan Credit Union
Michigan Manufactured Housing RV & Campground Association
Michigan State Housing Development Authority
MSU Federal Credit Union
Munson Healthcare
Networks Northwest
Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency
Priority Health
Progressive Companies
Shorts Brewing
State Land Bank Authority
Traverse City Housing Commission
Wade Trim
Wallick Communities
Artemis Companies
Brookby Foundation
Charlevoix County Community Foundation
Cherry Republic
Frey Foundation
Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation
HP Foundation
Huntington Bank
Little Traverse Tile Works
Loud Brothers Productions
Manistee County Community Foundation
Oryana Food Cooperative
Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation
Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation
United Way of Manistee County
GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC AGENCY PARTNERS
Antrim County
Charter Township of Filer
City of East Jordan
City of Harbor Springs
City of Petoskey
Emmet County
Grand Traverse County
Leelanau County
Michigan State Housing Development Authority
Resort Township
Village of Elk Rapids
Because of your commitment, we’re building stronger, more resilient communities across Northwest Michigan. Every contribution helps us expand housing solutions, support local leaders, and ensure that everyone has a place to call home. You can support Housing North by donating:
You can make an outright gift or pledge your support. Contributions are eligible for tax deductions.
Stock can be donated and may qualify for both a federal and state tax deduction If the stock has appreciated in value, you may avoid paying capital gains upon transferring it to Housing North.
Real estate can be donated to support attainable housing projects. If the property's value has risen over time, the donation of this appreciated asset may qualify for a tax deduction, as well as reduction in capital gains.
Planned giving include bequests, charitable gifts annuities, charitable remainder trusts, life insurance policies, retirement plans, or other arrangements.