ANN ARBOR, Mich. (CBS DETROIT) — An Ann Arbor nonprofit that creates housing for people experiencing homelessness is noticing a troubling gap between the number of affordable housing options and the number of people who need them.
Avalon Housing says it has received approximately 7,000 applications for just 20 affordable units in their Groves at Viridian complex.
The nonprofit calls the demand for affordable housing in the new complex “bittersweet.” Although the organization says it is pleased that applications are coming in for 20 of the 50 units that will be ready in the spring, the large number of applications received raises some concerns.
They say new construction is one way to increase affordable housing stock in Washtenaw County, but it can’t be the only way.
‘Unfortunately the gap is still quite large. I think the city of Ann Arbor is doing some things and looking into things like zoning that can open up areas to more development and more density. And I also understand that the state legislature was looking for because we don’t have the ability to discriminate based on source of income,” said Wendy Carty-Saxon, director of real estate development at Avalon Housing.
These strategies could make existing options feasible for people facing financial barriers to housing.
The Groves at Viridian complex fits into Avalon’s mission of supportive housing that not only keeps rents low, but also provides comprehensive resources to address the reasons their tenants became homeless in the first place.
“There was something sad about that. It was just kind of the scale, where I very tangibly recognized at that moment the sheer magnitude of the needs out there,” Carty-Saxon said.
The 30 other units in the complex are reserved for people who are currently homeless. While Avalon often acquires land from cities or the county for affordable housing projects, it also looks for private sellers who want to make a difference.
“We completed the new construction a few years ago, the sellers had read in the newspaper about the need for affordable housing and then called us… The word is definitely getting out and we like to talk to people about that.”
Avalon says it will use a lottery system to reduce this huge waiting list. To meet demand, it plans to build more affordable housing complexes in the Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti-Dexter area.
Jack Springgate
