In 2025 Housing North partnered with the Michigan Association of Planning (MAP) and Land Use Atlas (LUA) to include communities in Northwest Michigan to the National Zoning Atlas platform, part of a larger project and vision to remove barriers to housing in NW Michigan. By the end of 2025, eight counties had been included.

In 2025 Housing North partnered with the Michigan Association of Planning (MAP) and Land Use Atlas (LUA) to include communities in Northwest Michigan to the National Zoning Atlas platform, part of a larger project and vision to remove barriers to housing in NW Michigan. By the end of 2025, eight counties had been included.

Unlike traditional housing organizations, Housing North doesn’t build homes or place people directly into housing. Instead, they act as a catalyst – coordinating local governments, advocating for policy change, and providing the technical know-how communities need to move forward. Their work, which encompasses 10 counties, is guided by a comprehensive housing needs assessment. Notably, they serve as the Region D lead for the Statewide Housing Plan.

“The group Housing North is trying to connect people who need a place to live with those who have places for rent. The Traverse City-based nonprofit launched an online platform to help connect the two. It’s called the Housing Exchange. “

“The project aims to translate complex zoning codes into “easily understandable data and maps,” according to Housing North’s website. With funding support from the EDC and Brookby Foundation, Housing North partnered with Flywheel Companies, the University of Michigan, and the Michigan Association of Planning to create Grand Traverse County’s zoning atlas. Emmet, Leelanau, and Benzie counties are next on deck this year, with the goal of creating a zoning atlas for each of the 10 Northwest Michigan counties – including Antrim, Charlevoix, Kalkaska, Manistee, Missaukee, and Wexford – by the end of 2026.”

“That's the mission of Housing North, a non-profit that creates housing solutions in Northwest Michigan. Tuesday, Housing North hosted a panel discussion on accessory dwelling units and small homes.”

“Over the next year, Housing North and its partners will work to develop a zoning atlas and growth corridor mapping tool to guide community development efforts related to housing and beyond. The goal is to further support the housing development needs in the county, in collaboration with local units of government and other stakeholders.”

'We've made steps and progress, but it's a long game'

“Emmet County needs to build about 900 new rental units and over 2,500 new homes in the next few years in order to keep up with population growth according to the 2023 Housing Needs Assessment by the advocacy group Housing North.”

“Northern Michigan is such a beautiful place, but we feel so much constraint, especially in the summertime,” says FACLT Relationships Committee Co-Chair Tim Jones. “We wanted to [find a way] for more people to work and also be able to live here.”

“The redevelopment not only addresses Petoskey’s housing shortage, but will also restore what Silva described as a long-standing “eyesore” in the heart of downtown.”

"Housing North is teaming up with the Michigan State Housing Development Authority to help develop the state’s first statewide housing plan and bring more attainable housing to Northern Michigan.”

"ADUs involve a variety of housing types, including apartments within a home, standalone structures on the same lot as existing homes, or new construction above an existing garage.”

"The bills, which passed the state House last month, are a result of nearly two years of advocacy by a coalition of business and housing groups to eliminate financial and land-use barriers for housing developers.”

The Michigan House of Representatives passed four bills today aimed at creating more workforce housing projects across the state and addressing bottlenecks in housing development.

“Why are we so opposed to change when it’s inevitable? We run into the NIMBYs (Not in my Back Yard) often in our work, and now there are BANANAs (Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near me at Anytime). I get it — I used to be on that side. But it’s an outlook that doesn’t think about others or see things from another view.”

This development is being spearheaded by Northwest Michigan Habitat for Humanity, whose mission statement includes being “dedicated to eliminating poverty housing locally by constructing rehabilitating and preserving homes.”