Housing

Housing Programs and Services

It is clearer now than ever that lack of suitable housing is one of our greatest workforce and economic development challenges, and once plentiful state funding to remediate our rural region’s aging housing stock has dwindled in the past decade. (Over half of housing units in our region were built before 1960, and more than one-third before 1940.)

Michigan Housing Opportunities Promoting Energy Efficiency (MI-HOPE)

WUPPDR has been awarded one million dollars to implement and administer the Michigan Housing Opportunities Promoting Energy Efficiency (MI-HOPE) program of the Michigan State Housing Authority (MSHDA). MI-HOPE is a federally funded program using U.S. Department of Treasury American Rescue Plan Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds.

WUPPDR is administering funds for single-family owner-occupied homes in Baraga, Houghton, Iron, and Keweenaw counties for the following:

  • roof repairs or replacements

  • windows

  • insulation

  • furnace repair or replacement

  • water heater repair or replacements

In Gogebic and Ontonagon Counties, MI-HOPE is being implemented by the Gogebic-Ontonagon Community Action Agency.

WUPPDR received additional funding in Fall 2023 from MSHDA to continue adminstering the MI-HOPE program.

Please see the following resources for information about eligibility and requirements:

MI-HOPE Frequently Asked Questions

MI-HOPE Supporting Document list

Apply to MI-HOPE

MI-HOPE Statewide Application Portal

All applications must be completed through MSHDA’s applicant portal. If you need assistance applying, please call WUPPDR at 906-482-7205 ext 117 for an appointment.

Other Homeowner Programs & Resources

Homeowner Rehabilitation Area Agencies and Other Programs

Our ongoing goal is to expand the availability of housing that is both affordable and high quality. Thus, we have some localized efforts underway, including:

  • Houghton County Homeowner Emergency Repair Program: helped to pay for emergency roof repairs using “program income” returned to Houghton County from the previous CAP - this funding becomes available in some years, including 2022, with an application opportunity becoming available in late summer - early fall

  • Baraga County Housing Task Force: participation and support for a committee pursuing individual property redevelopment opportunities in Baraga County; most recently the task force pursued redevelopment of the Winkler Property in Downtown L’Anse and has been exploring waterfront multifamily housing development opportunities

  • Keweenaw Housing Committee: facilitation of a stakeholder group from Houghton and Keweenaw Counties that is identifying and will make efforts to address housing needs in the area

Western U.P. Regional Housing Partnership

Michigan’s first Statewide Housing Plan was released in 2022 to address the numerous challenges that limit access to safe, healthy, affordable, accessible, and attainable housing for all in a community of their choice. After the plan was released, regional groups (known as Regional Housing Partnerships or RHPs) were created to engage with local groups and create regional plans that support the larger statewide plan. The regional plan is ultimately tasked with building a connected, collaborative housing ecosystem to address the affordability housing crisis in our communities.

Housing Readiness Incentive Grant Program

MSHDA offers this temporary program to back pro-housing policy changes through activities such as zoning amendments and master plan updates. Grants of up to $50,000 are available. As of June 4, 2024, eligible applicants include cities, villages, and townships that are not participating in the MEDC Redevelopment Ready Communities program.

More information is available at Housing Readiness Incentive Grant Program (michigan.gov).

The Western U.P. Housing Partnership Action Plan

The Western U.P. (Region A) Regional Housing Partnership Action Plan is available to view.

More information about the Statewide Housing Plan and the Regional Housing Partnerships is available on the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) website. If interested in joining the Regional Housing Partnership that serves our region contact Lisa McKenzie at lmckenzie@wuppdr.org.

WUP RHP Draft Action Plan

Transient Rentals Regulation

Transient housing rentals (also known as short-term or vacation rentals) are one of the biggest concerns of our region’s communities today, given their implications for year-round housing stock. In 2024, WUPPDR supported a series of in-person program sessions about the topic, with training conducted by Michigan State University Extension.

The presentation from these sessions is available here: Short-Term Rental Policy Options for Michigan Communities

Michigan Housing Data Portal

MSHDA, Michigan Economic Development Corp., and Michigan Municipal League have developed an interactive Michigan Housing Data Portal with comprehensive, easy-to-access statistics relevant to housing in the region!

WUPPDR’s Other Housing Engagement

2016 Residential Target Market Analyses

In 2016, WUPPDR arranged the development of residential target market analyses on a county-by-county basis by consultant LandUse USA. Please note that these were intended to have a five-year “shelf life,” but they may still be useful references and thus are available below.

Regional Housing Study and Strategy

In summer 2022, as a follow-up to the development of our Pandemic Response and Resilience Plan, WUPPDR completed a Regional Housing Study and Strategy to examine the state of the housing stock, market trends, and housing strategies for each county and region-wide. It is now being implemented in conjunction with the RHP Action Plan.