Affordable Housing Advocacy

Resources & Toolkits

Communications Toolkit

The Housing North Communications Toolkit is 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. The guide includes messaging guidance developed on behalf of Housing North by Avenue ISR in 2019 and based on research from the Frameworks Institute, along with data and information about housing needs and solutions from a broad range of sources.

Download the toolkit here.

Public Comment Handout

Public comment is particularly crucial in finding housing solutions as it directly impacts people's lives and well-being. By inviting feedback from residents, stakeholders, and advocacy groups, local government can gain valuable insights into the unique challenges faced by the community. Public comment helps identify housing needs, preferences, and potential barriers to access, ensuring that housing initiatives are tailored to suit the diverse requirements of the population. Click here to access a handout on Public Comment and valuable insights on how to support housing solutions for your community.

Citizen Advocacy Training

You me be wondering how you can be part of the action taking place in your community regarding housing or how you can really advocate for housing… Housing is a complex challenge. Land Use decisions are made primarily at local levels: City, Village, Township, or County. While it’s easy to agree that more housing is needed, there’s often disagreement on what type of housing, resources to be used, and quite importantly, how one can support and be part of the solution given that local officials like most to hear from the people living in their communities. Click here to learn where decisions are made and by whom and exactly how you can help Housing North and your community advocate. If you’d like the presentation from the training, click here or the handout describing the important of messaging, for advocacy, click here.

2021 Northwest Michigan Housing Summit Presentations

This year Housing North hosted the seventh Northwest Michigan Housing Summit where over 200 gathered virtually to talk about all things housing for our region - and this year will focus on solutions.  It brings together community leaders, housing agencies, businesses and funders to network, learn and build solutions for expanding housing choices in Northwest Michigan. Over the years it’s attracted many participants from a variety of backgrounds and initiated real progress on housing policy solutions, connected development partners and inspired local action. We are grateful for the strong support from more than a dozen area businesses and organizations as sponsors of the Housing Summit, including Consumers Energy as the Partner Sponsor. 

 This year we had a special message from the Governor and featured keynote speaker Ray Suarez, an American broadcast journalist and analyst. Suarez is a former senior correspondent for PBS Newshour and host of the international news and analysis program America Abroad from Public Radio International. His career spans more than 30 years in the news business including work as a reporter in London, Rome, Los Angeles and Chicago. You can watch the Governor's message and Ray's keynote on our YouTube Channel.

We presented three awards including a Housing Leadership Award to Tina Allen, a Champion Housing Advocate award presented to Senator Wayne Schmidt, and for the Funders Award we recognized the six area Community Foundations. The presentation of these awards can be viewed on our YouTube channel.

Each day featured several virtual presentations for summit attendees. Below are a few of the powerpoints from the presentations:

2020 Northwest Michigan Housing Summit Presentations

The 6th Annual Northwest Michigan Housing Summit was held from October 20 - 22, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic repercussions, the event was held virtually for the first time ever. During the summit, we were able to provide information from regional experts about emerging housing solutions for businesses, developers, communities, funders, and housing agencies.

The event focused on the "Missing Middle", featuring keynote speakers like Dan Parolek, author of the book "Missing Middle Housing" and Michael Brown of Burlington Associates in Community Development. Information on the state of the region's housing, Housing Demand Post Covid-19, and more was discussed during the event. If you were unable to attend the event or would like to access the presentations shared by the speakers, please see below:

Webinar Resources

Through its mission of building awareness, influence policy, and expanding capacity so communities can create housing solutions, Housing North offers a variety of webinars, events, and activities with other partners and stakeholders in the region to showcase efforts, advances, and good practices to bring homes to our communities. To access the recordings of our latest events and webinars, please click here or visit our Youtube Channel @HousingNorth. Below, see a list of our latest events and webinars. For questions or inquiries about the recordings or events, please email info@housingnorth.org. 

Only Homes Will End Homelessness

Ashley Halladay-Schmandt from the Northwest Michigan Coalition to End Homelessness shared with us the insights and work of their organization to end homelessness, we also discussed how can we work together to get these homes and work with housing partners. See below the recording and presentation of this webinar. 

Creating a Housing Conservancy Toolbox: A Housing Round-Table

On July 9th, 2020 we hosted the Housing North Housing Conservancy Toolbox webinar in collaboration with Jane MacKenzie from Northern Homes CDC. In this session, we discussed Housing North's new deed restriction pilot program, learned more about Community Land Trusts and how Conservancy Tools can help the region meet its housing goals. See the presentation of the webinar below. 

Local Housing Funds in Michigan

On May 13, 2020 we hosted a webinar with Stephanie Mcgreevy from the Mackinac Island Community Foundation and Ryan Kilpatrick from Housing Next to discuss how to leverage funds for housing development and learn more about initiatives that had worked in their communities to start housing projects. To access the recording of the webinar, please click here.

Housing North Policy Updates and Initiatives

On June 8, 2020 we hosted the Housing North Policy Updates webinar in collaboration with Kent Woods from Borealis Strategic LLC to discuss how Pre- and post-pandemic, Housing North has been working with legislators and partners statewide to create new housing tools and solutions.

Other Presentations

Other Resources

Housing Toolbox for Massachusetts Communities

The Citizens' Housing and Planning Association and the Massachusetts Housing Partnership developed guidance as part of a statewide initiative to support local officials and volunteers in their efforts to provide more affordable housing opportunities in their communities. It includes strategies and best practices for the creation and preservation of affordable housing—including tools and resources for building local support and improving communications.  

Visit their website here for more information.