Grand Rapids Residents Invited To Review Housing And Community Development Plan

Press release from the City of Grand Rapids:

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The City of Grand Rapids Community Development Department has outlined its regional consolidated Housing and Community Development (HCD) Plan which will map out the city’s and county’s housing and community development strategies for the next five years.

During Tuesday’s City Commission public hearing, Managing Director of Community Services Connie Bohatch summarized the 200 page draft plan which will prioritize federal funding for housing and community development needs to address community issues like affordable housing, homelessness and economic opportunities.

The HCD Plan serves as a strategic planning tool to address housing and community development needs and priorities. Required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the joint plan allows Grand Rapids and Kent County access to Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) and Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) funds.

“Citizen input is critical as this plan will guide us in making more than $40 million of anticipated investment over the next five years,” Bohatch said. “That breaks down to roughly $27 million for Grand Rapids and $14 million for Kent County through 2026.”

Robust community engagement held this fall – highlighted by an online survey, nine community focus groups and 10 public forums – gathered input for development of the draft plan. Topics included equity and inclusion, affordable housing and fair housing, economic development, homeless and special needs housing priorities and municipal needs and priorities. Results of the engagement prioritized needs listed specific projects in following community needs and priorities – affordable housing, housing services, economic development, public infrastructure and public services.

In addition to that public input, the plan also draws from work outlined and prioritized in the City of Grand Rapids Strategic Plan, Housing Needs Assessments, Housing Next, KConnect housing stability, Housing NOW! and the Great Housing Strategies work and reports. That breadth of data and input formed eight five-year investment outcomes listed in the draft report. Those include:

• Prevent and resolve episodes of homelessness. Support efforts to obtain or retain housing stability for individuals and families experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.
• Improve access to and stability of affordable housing. Increase household stability and equitable access to housing.
• Increase the supply of affordable housing. Increase the number of newly constructed and rehabilitated affordable rental and homeownership units available to low- and moderate-income households.
• Improve the condition of existing housing. Support the maintenance, repair and improvement of existing housing.
• Foster engaged, connected and resilient neighborhoods. Support actions that build relationships, lift resident voice and enhance neighborhood stability.
• Improve community safety. Support efforts that enhance resident safety and quality of life in neighborhoods.
• Improve economic opportunity. Support equitable economic prosperity with an emphasis on improving financial and social capital.
• Enhance neighborhood infrastructure. Improve physical infrastructure and create a sense of place in neighborhoods and neighborhood business corridors.

During the public hearing, Mayor Rosalynn Bliss encouraged residents to weigh in on the plan, saying, “This is a critically important process, especially as we focus our attention and investment on housing, homelessness and eviction prevention.”

Nancy Haynes, executive director at the Fair Housing Center of West Michigan, expressed how grateful she is that the City continues to recognize fair housing and offers it as an essential service.

“We all are aware of the housing crisis and access to affordable housing, so anything we can do to remove the illegal barriers to housing choice is appreciated and is so important for us to take care of,” she said. “Thank you for that ongoing commitment. We are so grateful to the partnership we have formed with Connie Bohatch and her team. The Community Development Department of the City of Grand Rapids is among the best in the country.”

Those who would like to comment on the draft plan can do so at communitydev@grcity.us for the remainder of the 30-day public comment period which concludes Tuesday, Feb. 2. Questions can be addressed through the Community Development Department at (616) 456-3677. Commission will review the draft plan and consider its approval on Tuesday, Feb. 9.

To view the Housing and Community Development Plan PowerPoint presentation CLICK HERE. To watch the public hearing presentation, CLICK HERE.

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This press release was produced by the City of Grand Rapids. The views expressed are the author's own.