Regional Housing Partnership
Michigan is committed to changing the housing “ecosystem”
Michigan’s first Statewide Housing Plan was released in 2022 to increase access to safe, healthy, affordable, accessible, and attainable housing for all in a community of their choice. The plan also offered a blueprint for changing Michigan's housing “ecosystem” by creating a collaborative network of Regional Housing Partnerships (RHPs).
The Western U.P. Regional Housing Partnership is composed of leaders and advocates from a diverse set of stakeholders, including local housing services organizations, economic development organizations, employers, community action agencies, and local elected officials.
The Western U.P. Housing Partnership Action Plan
The Region A Western U.P. Housing Partnership Action Plan highlights the steps to build a connected, collaborative housing ecosystem to address the affordability housing crisis in our communities.
Our regional priorities include preventing and ending homelessness, increasing available housing, and increasing education and awareness about housing-related programs and services in Michigan.
You can see each region’s action plan on the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) Statewide Housing Plan website.
Key achievements of the Western U.P. Regional Housing Partnership
Preventing and ending homelessness
This RHP goal focused on increasing cross-system partnerships to strengthen the homelessness response system, achieve greater stability, and impact social determinants of health. This included linking key contacts at various local organizations involved in homelessness response. The RHP also suggested new resources to be added to the Upper Peninsula Commission for Area Progress’s (UPCAP) 2-1-1 system – a free service connecting Michigan residents with local health and human services agencies and resources.
Increasing available housing stock
We are working to increase affordable and attainable housing throughout the Western U.P. through development of new housing of all types, including “missing middle” and workforce housing, and rehabilitation and preservation of existing housing.
How are we increasing housing stock in the Western U.P.?
We are…
Providing technical assistance for housing grants.
Learn about MSHDA MI Neighborhood housing fundingSupporting the creation of a housing-focused organization.
Learn about the L’Anse Area Community Development Corp.Creating templates for zoning amendments that municipalities can adopt to remove obstacles to increasing housing supply.
Coming soon: Read the template Rental Zoning Ordinance (short- and long-term rentals)
Coming soon: Read the template Accessory Dwelling Unit Zoning Ordinance
Learn more about Transient Rentals Regulations (slides from WUPPDR-supported Michigan State University Extension session)Developing a comprehensive guide for emerging developers to encourage housing development throughout the Western U.P.
Coming soon: Read our Guidebook for Housing DevelopmentSupporting communities in applying for and administering grants from the Housing Readiness Incentive (HRI) Grant Program, which they can use for master plan updates, zoning text amendments, and other similar land use policy activities.
Learn more about the HRI Program
Increasing education and awareness
We are developing educational materials to raise awareness of existing housing programs and services in Michigan.
Coming soon: Read our Guidebook for Housing Development
Coming soon: Find affordable housing in your area
Statewide Housing Plan Milestones
Watch the video below from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority to see what we have accomplished since the release of the Statewide Housing Plan in 2022!
Join the Western U.P. Regional Housing Partnership
Want to help us support affordable housing efforts in the Western U.P.?
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