Millions of dollars available in Michigan for affordable housing

LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — A $60 million funding program was announced today by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority .

Officials say state and local leaders discussed details about new efforts to make housing more affordable in Lansing. Community leaders are calling it My Neighborhood Progam.

City officials tell 6 News that Lansing is around 7,500 units short when it comes to affordable housing. For the state, that’s more than 100,000 units.

The new funding program will aim to help lower those numbers. This is a grant-funded program that will be used for incentives like construction, rehabilitation, or create new rental properties.

City officials also say they hope the efforts won’t just be limited to this year. They want the program to continue for the future.

The mayor of Lansing says he is grateful to see the work being done and he hopes the improvements will happen soon.

“I’m tremendously excited, making it easy to get $60 million and put it into the community for housing, there’s no negative there,” Lansing Mayor Andy Schor said. “This is going to be wonderful for Lansing and so many other cities throughout the state so we’re excited to apply and to get in and show that we have an incredible need here.”

The grants awarded are supported by state and federal funding.

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