Navigation Team Meeting Recap: Housing
The Max Loves Midland Navigation team recently convened a diverse group of community stakeholders and experts to delve into the intricate challenges surrounding housing in Midland County. The event commenced with a welcoming exercise, encouraging participants to share their insights on how the county currently addresses housing issues. Lou Mencia and Kristin Stehouwer provided an overview of the group's goals, emphasizing the collective impact model as a way to collaboratively address the complexity of housing problems. As part of the navigation team, members are tasked with educating, advocating, and promoting participation in these collaborative efforts.
Jennifer Chappel presented on behalf of Jacob Kain, with key findings from the housing study, revealing a shortage of over 1,000 units of attainable housing and the challenges associated with limited available land for construction. Issues such as the scarcity of $600/month rent and limited available land for construction were discussed. She also noted changes since the 2018 housing analysis and the impact of recent global events on housing dynamics.
Nicole Wilson, VP of Economic Development for the Midland Business Alliance, discussed the critical link between economic development and housing, highlighting the need for talent to have accessible housing in the community they serve. Midland is missing out on business expansions, new businesses, and retaining talent, because there isn’t anywhere to house new employees.
Jenifer Acosta, VP Real Estate Development, shed light on the Housing Forward Initiative, emphasizing its holistic approach to housing challenges. She talked about how rent has doubled since 2018, and people are leaving Midland because they can’t afford it. They are connecting people with tools and resources - Tax Abatement, Housing Tooklit, Leverage Fund, ADU Pilot Program, and providing technical assistance.
Brandon Lewis, Realtor for Ayre Rhinehart Real Estate Partners, provided insights into the evolving real estate market, emphasizing the increased competition and rising prices since 2018. First time home buyers and downsizing boomers are fighting over the same houses, because of low inventory.
Sharon Mortensen, President & CEO of the Midland Area Community Foundation, discussed the City of Midland's proposed master plan, stressing the importance of regional growth and the need for proper processes to move the plan forward effectively. Even though the population is reduced, we still need more housing because each household is smaller on average now. Learn more about Midland City Modern on their website: midlandcitymodern.com
Jennifer Chappel, President & CEO of Midland County Habitat for Humanity, emphasized the role of their organization in providing affordable housing options and promoting community growth. She suggests that if we can provide affordable housing, people will be less reliant on other social services, and they raise their families, while being rooted in this community.
The meeting concluded with action items, including outreach to key stakeholders and initiatives to address the stigma associated with the "Not in My Backyard" (NIMBY) mentality. As the community moves forward, these insights and collaborative efforts will play a pivotal role in shaping future initiatives, fostering a thriving, inclusive community in Midland County.
Review the full presentation from our meeting below.
We hope that you’ll join us at the next Navigation Team meeting, May 17th. Please RSVP to NMorreale@midlandfoundation.org if you plan to attend.
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