Whitmer awards grants to help build modular homes and address affordable workforce housing shortages

Last Friday, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced seven local government and nonprofit organizations across the state will receive nearly $1.4 million to construct seven modular build/modified technology homes. The grants will reduce the typical single-family home construction timeline and allows housing to be made available for immediate occupancy.

“We need to work together to build more attainable, affordable housing so Michiganders have a place to call home,” said Whitmer. “These grants will incentivize the construction of affordable housing, reduce the build timeline, and ensure families can move in immediately. Getting this done will empower workers and have a positive effect on local economies. Let’s continue working together to increase the supply of affordable housing, and build on the bipartisan investments we have made in the Building Michigan Together Plan.”

The Michigan State Housing Development Authority’s (MSHDA) MOD program provides governments, nonprofit organizations, and housing associations access up to $200,000 in construction financing through a repayable loan to create modular build/modified technology homes. It is anticipated that the funds will be recycled and generate funding to build an additional seven homes, which will bring the program total to 14 modular build/modified technology homes.  

“The roadblocks impacting the creation of equitable pathways to quality, attainable housing requires creative solutions, which is exactly what the MSHDA MOD program delivers,” said Tonya Joy, MSHDA Neighborhood Housing Initiatives Division director. “By leveraging modular builds and modified technology homes, communities across Michigan can quickly scale their workforce housing to support local economic growth and development.”

Organizations and communities receiving MSHDA MOD loans include:

• City of Albion, Albion, $200,000
• Detroit Land Bank Authority, Detroit, $200,000
• Four County Community Foundation, Imlay City, $200,000
• Genesee County Land Bank Authority, Flint, $196,000
• Habitat for Humanity of St. Joseph County, Three Rivers, $200,000
• Jones Construction and Development LDHA, Detroit, $200,000
• Village of Cassopolis, Cassopolis, $200,000

Construction will begin this summer and is expected to be completed in late 2023 or early 2024. The Genesee County Land Bank Authority will be a modular tri-plex build, a first for the MSHDA MOD program. To date, 12 modular homes have been completed and sold to homebuyers.

To learn more about the Michigan MOD program, visit www.michigan.gov/mshda/neighborhoods/mshda-mod.