Housing Tools & Resources
Learn about the data, resources, and information available to understand the need for housing as well as tools for housing financing.
Grand Traverse County Housing Growth Opportunity Map
This interactive planning tool helps communities understand where housing can be built most efficiently and responsibly in Grand Traverse County. Developed in partnership with Grand Traverse County, Housing North, and Flywheel, the Housing Growth Opportunity Map identifies areas best suited for residential development based on access to existing roads, water, and sewer infrastructure, helping reduce costs and streamline early planning.
Presentation - Grand Traverse County Housing Growth Opportunity Map
Webinar Recording - Grand Traverse County Housing Growth Opportunity Map
Northwest Michigan Housing Tools
Housing North is committed to providing resources that support housing solutions across our region. These resources offer valuable insights into local zoning, housing development opportunities, and strategies for addressing housing challenges:
Attainable Housing District
The Attainable Housing Facilities Act (SB 362) allows Michigan local governments to create Attainable Housing Districts, where property owners can apply for partial tax exemptions if they meet certain affordability criteria. This tool is designed to encourage investment in workforce housing by reducing real property taxes by 50% of the statewide commercial, industrial, and utility average for up to 12 years, provided affordability requirements are met.
Example Application for Attainable Housing Exemption Certificate
Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) - SB 432
A Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) is a financial agreement between a housing developer (typically an affordable housing provider) and a local government that allows the developer to make fixed annual payments instead of paying traditional property taxes. PILOT programs are designed to encourage the development of affordable and workforce housing by reducing the tax burden, and making projects financially viable while still contributing to local services. Please take a look at the resources below to learn more about PILOTS.
PILOT Examples: Example 1, Example 2, Example 3
HOUSING READY CHECKLIST
This checklist is designed to help communities evaluate their own standards, strategies, plans, and ordinances to ensure they are designed in a way that meets local needs for workforce housing. Click here and learn more.
RAPID RESPONSE HOUSING FUND (RRHF)
The Rapid Response Fund (RRHF) is a regional revolving fund initiative developed by Housing North to support small to medium housing projects across the 10-county Northwest Lower Michigan region (Region D per the Michigan Statewide Housing Plan). The fund aims to help close financial gaps in housing developments aimed at households earning at or below 120% of the Area Median Income (AMI), through low-interest loans and targeted grants.
Zoning Ordinance Tracker
Housing policies start at the local level—and zoning plays a critical role in shaping where and how housing can be developed. Our Zoning Ordinance Tracker its a user-friendly resource to monitor and compare zoning regulations across communities in our region. This tool is designed to help support informed decision-making, and help local leaders, planners, developers, and advocates identify opportunities to create more housing options. Click here and learn more.
Other resources
Housing Commissions: A housing commission is a governmental entity established by a city, village, township, or county through ordinance or resolution. Housing Commissions are authorized to acquire, construct, maintain, and operate housing facilities to address housing needs and promote public welfare. Click here and access a handout on all you need to know about Housing Commissions.
Housing Trust Funds: A Housing Trust Fund (HTF) is a dedicated pool of public or private funds created to support affordable housing initiatives. It serves as a flexible financial tool to address housing needs within your community. A HTF can be administered at the city, county, or state level. Click here and learn more about Housing Trust funds.
How to Develop Housing: A Step-by-Step Map
Navigating the housing development process can be complex, but our How to Develop Housing Handout provides a clear, easy-to-follow roadmap to help guide you through each step.
Residential Facilities Act
The Residential Facilities Act enables local governments to establish attainable housing districts that provide tax incentives for developing and rehabilitating multi-unit housing. This program offers a 50% reduction in property taxes for up to 12 years for qualifying properties, helping to increase housing options for individuals and families earning up to 120% of the Area Median Income (AMI). To participate, a local government must establish a district or secure support from at least 50% of property owners in an area of at least one acre.
Handout on the Residential Facilities Act
Residential Facilities Act Legislation
City of Frankfort Resources on Residential Facilities Act
Neighborhood Enterprise Zones
Neighborhood Enterprise Zones provide tax incentives to encourage the development and rehabilitation of residential housing in designated areas. Local governments including townships, cities, and villages can establish Workforce Housing NEZs, which offer tax relief for new and rehabilitated housing projects. To qualify, the NEZ must encourage compact development, contain at least five existing residential units per acre, and be adjacent to existing infrastructure with access to municipal water and sewer services. This tool is designed to support workforce housing for households earning up to 120% of the Area Median Income (AMI).
Tax Incremental Financing or TIF
This tool can now be used for 'Assistance for Sale' projects that help fill a housing gap. This is a partnership with a developer, local unit of government and the land bank authority, and brownfield redevelopment authority.
Here is a link to a pdf from MEDC on how TIF's work
Here is a link to a pdf from Fishbeck on how TIF for housing works
Here is a link to MSHDA’s resources on TIF
Example Brownfield plan for housing approved in Antrim County.
Zoning Atlas for Housing
A Zoning Atlas is an interactive mapping tool that compiles and standardizes zoning regulations across multiple jurisdictions, providing a clear, accessible overview of where different types of housing can be built. In Michigan, a zoning atlas helps communities, policymakers, and developers understand how local zoning codes impact housing development by identifying restrictions, opportunities, and inconsistencies in land use policies.
The resources in this toolkit are intended to help advocates and leaders build consistent messages around housing in public dialogues, and include memorable data points, clear messages about solutions, and context for how housing impacts our shared values.
Housing North - Employer Solutions for Housing
Everyone can work to make a difference and support housing solutions in their community and employers are no exceptions! There are some things employers can do to help bring housing for employees and those who live and sustain our communities! Click here to learn more.
OTHER SOURCES & Resources
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This Pattern Book for new infill construction is focused on housing solutions based on built historic precedents, current housing trends, and primary documentary research. Click here to learn more!
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This Toolkit is designed to help municipal leaders implement zoning reform to expand housing solutions and combat the affordability crisis. The document lays out the elements of the housing crisis and creates a case for zoning reform as a necessary intervention. Click here to learn more.
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Take a look at this guidebook developed by Main Street! The guidebook is intended for an audience of beginners who have limited experience in the topics of housing and housing development, is a practical and easily digestible report that incorporates the stories and expertise of Main Street Coordinators, local directors, and partners who have experience with housing.
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Click here to learn more about programs, alternatives and solutions employers cam explore for housing.
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The Networks Northwest Seasonal Population Study for Northwest Lower Michigan provides population data categorized by full-time residents, part-time residents and overnight visitors. Critically important for understanding the region's tourism industry and its relationship to housing, this document provides detailed information for each of the ten Networks Northwest counties.
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This resource provides a high-level overview of affordable housing development process and highlights potential funding resources for each phase of development. Click here to learn more.
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A land bank authority (LBA) is organized by a county to manage tax foreclosures, and provides important development tools that can support local goals for housing and economic development. Click here and learn more about how they work in your communities. If you’re interested in learning more about Land Banks, visit our Youtube Channel and watch the recordings of webinars and events held on the topic.
Click here to learn more about using Land Bank Authorities as a housing solution.
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The ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) Report is the most comprehensive depiction of need in Michigan to date. Click here and learn more about the report.
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According to Networks Northwest, the 2022 Wage Survey gave businesses the opportunity to provide hourly and salary wage information for 29 job families containing a total of 677 job titles. Networks Northwest collaborated with multiple business and community partners to conduct the survey which targeted businesses of all sizes, within all industries, throughout the 10-county region. Click here to access it.
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MSHDA lead the development of Michigan's first collaborative statewide housing plan establishing priority areas, strategies and specific actions to support housing development in the State of Michigan. Click here to see the plan and learn more.
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This document provides information on the findings regarding the housing needs in the State of Michigan click here to learn more.
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The Michigan State Housing Development Authority sets income and rent guidance annually for each county in Michigan which guides development and establishment of needs and resources in each community. To learn more about the current income limits, please click here.
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The Center for Neighborhood Technology offers a mapping and data tool to identify housing and related costs for some communities. Click here to learn more.
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This introductory guidebook is intended to provide basic information to citizens that haven't been closely involved in the planning process, but would like to shape future changes in their community.
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Missing Middle Housing or MMH is a range of house-scale buildings with multiple units that are compatible in scale and form with detached single-family homes and located in a walkable neighborhood. According to the missing middle website (opticosdesign.com) Missing Middle Housing is affordable by design and is often referred to as “naturally occurring affordable housing” or “NOAH,” There are many reasons to consider MMH- to address not only housing shortages but also affordability. “Missing Middle Housing is a proven, affordable-by-design housing solution that meets the growing demand for walkable neighborhood living. It provides a “missing middle” option between subsidized housing and market-rate mid- to high-rise housing (Parolek 2016).“ Click here to watch the Missing Middle Keynote Address at the 2020 Northwest Michigan Housing Summit.
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Treasury worked with the Department of Housing and Urban Development to publish a How-to Guide for Affordable Housing. The purpose of the guide is to assist recipients in implementing their funds for affordable housing. It provides a summary of relevant SLFRF guidance and provides information on ways recipients can combine different sources of federal funds.
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The Sleeping Bear Gateways Council works to address the infrastructure needs of the villages and businesses within 60 miles of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
One of the unique challenges facing gateway communities in Leelanau and Benzie Counties is the lack of regional housing options for workers, especially during the summer season and autumn shoulder season. Click here to access their workforce housing study published on July 2020.
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Visit this link to find resources for community organizers—nonprofit leaders, economic development professionals, and government officials—and those looking to create aggregated pools of capital for local investing.
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Visit National Coalition for Community Capital website to explore their resources, toolkit and alternatives to investing in your community.
Housing IS Economic Development
A Guidebook for Using Tax Increment Financing for Housing Development.
Partnerships with Municipalities
Units of Government and Municipalities can partner in housing projects in a variety of ways.
Using the County Land Bank Authority or State Land Bank Authority to invest in housing
Here is a link to a recent project in Grand Haven!
Using city, county or township owned property to invest in housing in your community
Using unrestricted funds to invest in housing and ensure affordability. Example here in Mackinac Island.
Community Development Finance Institutions
Community Development Finance Institution
(CDFIs) are private financial institutions that are 100% dedicated to delivering responsible, affordable lending to help low-income, low-wealth, and other disadvantaged people and communities join the economic mainstream.
Small business focus:
Nonprofit Developers
Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)
Michigan Community Capital (MCC)
Traverse City Housing Commission
Habitat for Humanity Grand Traverse Region
Northwest Michigan Habitat for Humanity
Benzie County Habitat for Humanity
Cadillac Area Habitat for Humanity
Manistee County Habitat for Humanity
HomeStretch
Cover all counties that touch Grand Traverse County.
Northern Homes Community Development Corporation
A Community Land Trust that covers Antrim, Charlevoix, and Emmet Counties.
Peninsula Housing
A Regional Community Land Trust that covers Leelanau County. Click here and learn more about their ideas on bringing more attainable housing.
The Housing Trust of Benzie (HTB) creates permanently attainable homes by separating the cost of the house from the cost of the land. This innovative model keeps home prices affordable for generations, so that Benzie County remains a place where everyone can live, work, and thrive.