Great Housing Strategies

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On April 22, 2015, our City Commissioners Ruth Kelly, Senita Lenear, and Elias Lumpkins, Jr. led more than 200 people in a community conversation called The Great Housing Strategies. This event discussed the future of Grand Rapids housing.

The Great Housing Strategies reviewed best practices, tools, and strategies for Grand Rapids. Over 90 participants volunteered to serve on workgroups. These workgroups developed policy and program recommendations.

Around 100 people met to launch the Great Housing Strategies workgroups on June 12, 2015. Attendees selected the workgroup(s) in which they would take part. Workgroups topics include:
  • land use and zoning
  • housing finance, economic
  • workforce development
  • low-income and vulnerable populations.
Each workgroup met four times on a biweekly basis. They planned strategies specific to their area of focus. More information on the workgroups and meeting notes can be found below.

 
Great Housing Strategies- Addressing Current and Future Housing Needs(PDF, 2MB)

Great Housing Strategies Toolkit(PDF, 725KB)

Great Housing Strategies Presentation 10.13.15(PDF, 530KB)

People and Places Presentation 4.22.15(PDF, 5MB)

These are the meeting notes for the first workgroup brainstorming session:

Workgroup Kickoff Meeting Notes 6.12.15(PDF, 315KB)

The land use and zoning workgroup addressed opportunities and barriers for housing in our City.

Land Use and Zoning Meeting 1 Notes(PDF, 163KB)
Land Use and Zoning Meeting 2 Notes(PDF, 160KB)
Land Use and Zoning Meeting 3 Notes(PDF, 158KB)
Land Use and Zoning Meeting 4 Notes(PDF, 180KB)

This workgroup on housing finance analyzed financing tools.

Housing Finance Meeting 1 Notes(PDF, 163KB)
Housing Finance Meeting 2 Notes(PDF, 169KB)
Housing Finance Meeting 3 Notes(PDF, 159KB)
Housing Finance Meeting 3 Notes(PDF, 174KB)

This workgroup focused on improving housing affordability.

Economic Workforce Meeting 1 Notes(PDF, 160KB)
Economic Workforce Meeting 2 Notes(PDF, 169KB)
Economic Workforce Meeting 3 Notes(PDF, 185KB)
Economic Workforce Meeting 4 Notes(PDF, 165KB)

This group focused on the low-income and vulnerable populations.

Low Income Vulnerable Meeting 1 Notes(PDF, 233KB)
Low Income Vulnerable Meeting 2 Notes(PDF, 97KB)
Low Income Vulnerable Meeting 3 Notes(PDF, 159KB)
Low Income Vulnerable Meeting 4 Notes(PDF, 166KB)

Contact Us

Community Development

Email
communitydev@grcity.us

Phone
616-456-3677

Housing NOW!

We're working on ways to make sure everyone has access to healthy and safe housing. Check out what we've been working on.

 

Eviction Prevention Program

We work with community partners to prevent evictions.

 

 Eviction Prevention

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