Rental Preservation Program

Conversion of northwest Michigan's housing inventory to seasonal housing and short-term rentals has increased at an alarming pace, drastically limiting housing options for our neighbors and devastating our region's economy by hindering businesses from attracting and retaining talent. We want to make sure we preserve our year round rentals for our residents, while also understanding the need for short term rentals.

In July of 2022 the Consumers Energy Foundation awarded a $100,000 matching challenge grant for a pilot program to launch the program. We met this challenge by December 2022 and are using the funding to develop phase I of this pilot program. This is incubating a larger vision for a revolving loan fund for housing projects in our region.

In its pilot year, the Rental Preservation Project will facilitate a minimum of two affordable housing projects in Leelanau County, as well as create a replicable public-private model for other regional entities desperate to address their communities’ housing crises. The housing will be permanently restricted to long-term rental activity.

To learn more about the program click here. You can contact our Executive Director Yarrow Brown for more information at yarrow@housingnorth.org.

Housing North also offers other housing programs to help with community needs like:

• Deed Restriction Program

• Accessory Dwelling Units Program

Additional Resources on Rental Best Practices and Preservation:

• Rental Fair Housing Best Practices

• A Practical Guide for Tenants & Landlords