Community Housing Choices Housing Tools

Local initiatives across the country are removing barriers to affordable housing and implementing new policies that will help create more balanced housing markets. Community Housing Choices has created a series of best-practice resources to summarize these proactive housing policies and programs that could work for our communities here in Northwest Michigan.

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	Housing Choices for Northwest Michigan The region’s affordable housing shortage isn’t just a problem for families – it’s an issue for local governments, businesses, and schools, too. Many communities are responding with proactive steps that will help create more balanced housing markets.
	Accessory Dwelling Units As our population ages and our household size dwindles, accessory dwelling units offer a valuable housing choice within our residential neighborhoods, close to jobs and services.
	Cottage Zoning For small households, many traditional single-family homes may not fit their budgets, needs, or lifestyles, while multifamily housing often doesn’t offer the privacy, location, or other amenities of a single-family neighborhood. Cottage housing is an attractive choice for homebuyers looking for the “not so big house” in a traditional neighborhood.
	Employer Assisted Housing For some employers, the lack of affordable housing can affect the ability to recruit and retain employees – resulting in more turnover and training costs. Employer assisted housing can be a cost-effective way to recruit employees and improve employee retention, productivity, and the bottom line.
	Housing Trust Funds Many housing programs are dependent on a highly competitive, political, and unpredictable budgeting process. Local housing trust funds offer a stable, ongoing revenue source to fund flexible housing programs that are designed for a community’s needs and priorities.
	Inclusionary Incentive Zoning Over the last few decades, many communities in Northwest Michigan have seen their rapid population growth translate into new residential development – but much of that new development is unaffordable to large parts of the community. Inclusionary incentive zoning can result in new residential growth that includes housing that’s affordable to low- and moderate income families.
	Land Bank Authority Until recently, Michigan’s tax-foreclosure system left homeowners at the mercy of the foreclosure process and kept tax-foreclosed homes off the tax rolls for years – while the often abandoned homes contributed to blight. Now, with land bank authorities, counties have the means to help prevent foreclosure and manage or redevelop tax-foreclosed properties.
	Zoning for Housing Affordability Studies show that regulatory barriers like low-density zoning, complicated review procedures, and limitations on housing types can raise the costs of land and construction – making new homes unaffordable for many households. A few thoughtful zoning updates can help lower housing costs - while encouraging higher-quality development