In a significant stride toward addressing the housing affordability crisis in Eastpointe, local officials unveiled the Kelly Court Apartments, a partnership effort by Macomb County Planning and Economic Development (MCPED) and Community Housing Network. The $1.8 million development, marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by County Executive Mark Hackel, signals a ramped-up response to a regional demand for affordable living spaces.
The newly minted apartments at the corner of Kelly Road and Toepfer Drive consist of eight modular homes, with space configurations ranging from one to two bedrooms, including an ADA-compliant unit. "We understand housing affordability and attainability are challenges facing many of our communities," Hackel told Macomb County. With the demand for affordable housing skyrocketing across Macomb County, these units provide a tangible solution to a mounting crisis.
Monthly rent for these units varies between $946 and $1,378, catering specifically to families earning below 50 to 60 percent of HUD-Adjusted Area Median Income (AMI). According to Kirsten Elliot, CEO of Community Housing Network, this project is lauded as a replicable model for workforce housing, suggesting that it could be a template for future developments. "Modular developments such as Kelly Court offer an innovative solution to the affordable housing crisis we face as a nation," Elliot explained, per Macomb County.
The project saw fruition through combined financing efforts, including over $1 million from Macomb County’s HOME program and a $450,000 loan obtained by Community Housing Network through Springhill Housing Corporation. Vicky Rowinski, director of MCPED, highlighted the collaborative nature of the endeavor, saying it's incredible to watch come together. Indeed, the ribbon cutting is just the beginning of their partnership, aimed at bolstering the quantity and quality, of affordable housing options.
As the Kelly Court Apartments gear up for occupancy in August, Community Housing Network’s efforts mirror the frightening statistics reported by the National Alliance to End Homelessness – a shortfall of 3.8 million affordable homes nationwide, with Michigan accounting for 185,354 of this deficit. Such data underscores the urgency and necessity of developments like Kelly Court for mitigating the housing affordability dilemma.
