Housing Programs and Services

Thriving communities start with suitable housing for all

People who live in the Western U.P. want to see the region thriving: a place where people love to live, work, and play.

WUPPDR and our partners are working to address one critical step toward realizing that vision by supporting housing programs and services across the Western U.P. Read on to learn more about the housing programs we are supporting in your area.

 

When everyone has suitable housing options:

Seniors can “age in community”

With suitable housing options, your parents, grandparents, and other elders in our community can age in community—downsizing without leaving the neighborhood they know and love. The grandkids can visit regularly, keeping generations connected and neighborhoods closely knit.

Young people can settle in their hometown

You have likely experienced a young person in your life—maybe your friend, child, or grandchild—leaving the community because they can’t find an affordable home. With suitable housing options for people at all stages of life, young people can settle near friends and family.

Employers can attract the best talent

With affordable workforce housing options, businesses can attract the best talent to the area, contributing to the local economy. Having suitable housing options near workplaces also reduces commute times, improving the workers’ quality of life, all while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and traffic congestion.

Western U.P. Community Development Corporation

L’Anse Area Community Development Corporation

  • To improve housing availability and affordability in the Western U.P., our strategies must be informed by good data. WUPPDR has supported housing-related data collection and analysis for the Western U.P, from conducting a Regional Housing Study and Strategy to arranging target market analyses (TMAs).

  • To examine the state of our housing stock, our market trends, and housing strategies for the Western U.P., WUPPDR completed a Regional Housing Study and Strategy in 2022.

    The strategy was completed as a follow-up to the development of our Pandemic Response and Resilience Plan and is now being implemented in conjunction with the RHP Action Plan.

    The Regional Housing Study and Strategy details regional trends and strategies, as well as county profiles and trends for: Baraga, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw, and Ontonagon counties.

  • Baraga County Target Market Analysis (TMA)

    WUPPDR facilitated a grant and process for the development of a residential target market analysis (TMA) for Baraga County in 2025 by consultant LandUse USA. The TMA was made possible by a MSHDA Housing Readiness Incentive Grant to the Village of L'Anse.

    Market Potential

    Includes market potential for
    Baraga County, including breakdown of potential for its villages and townships.

    Real Estate Analysis

    Includes analysis of available unit sizes (sq ft), asking prices (for sale values), and prices per square foot for real estate in Baraga County.

    Target Markets

    Includes an overview of the lifestyle clusters present in Baraga County and target markets for each geography within Baraga County.

    Demographic Analysis

    Includes Demographic analysis on demand and supply variables most relevant to the housing industry for Baraga County

  • Coming Soon!

  • Coming Soon!

  • Coming Soon!

Western U.P. Housing Finder

Ordinances

  • This template is intended to promote and encourage the creation of accessory dwelling units to provide additional housing opportunities within the [County, Township, Village or City].

  • The purpose of this ordinance is to advance the public health, safety, and general welfare of [Municipality] residents and property owners, as well as visitors to the [city, county, village, township], by regulating short-term and long-term rental properties to prevent nuisances and safety hazards that interfere with [Municipality] residents’ or property owners’ rights to a quality and vibrant community.

Housing Programs & Projects

  • In 2023, the Baraga County Chamber of Commerce Housing Task Force approached WUPPDR about applying for a Rural Readiness Grant from the Michigan Department of Agriculture’s Office of Rural Development (MDARD ORD) to establish an organization focused on housing in the L’Anse Area. This resulted in the creation of the L’Anse Area Community Development Corporation (LACDC).

    While the LACDC will initially focus on the L’Anse area, it was established to eventually serve the broader Western U.P.

  • A Community Development Corporation, or CDC, is a non-profit, community-based organization that brings resources, ideas, and dedicated stakeholders together to improve the lives of people within the community. CDC activities typically include real estate and economic development, community organizing initiatives, and more.

  • The LACDC came to life through discussions between dedicated local stakeholders with a passion for housing development. Formally established as a 501(c)3 in 2024, the LACDC is now working on identifying potential new housing development sites, providing technical assistance for housing grants, and more!

Learn more about the LACDC

Housing Finder Website

Regional Housing Plans, Data & Resources

Resources for Housing Developers

Regional Housing Partnership (RHP)

  • Michigan’s first Statewide Housing Plan was released in 2022 to increase access to safe, healthy, affordable, accessible, and attainable housing for all in a community of their choice. The plan also offered a blueprint for changing Michigan's housing “ecosystem” by creating a collaborative network of Regional Housing Partnerships (RHPs).

    The Western U.P. Regional Housing Partnership is composed of leaders and advocates from a diverse set of stakeholders, including local housing services organizations, economic development organizations, employers, community action agencies, and local elected officials.

  • The Region A Western U.P. Housing Partnership Action Plan‍ highlights the steps to build a connected, collaborative housing ecosystem to address the affordability housing crisis in our communities.

    Our regional priorities include preventing and ending homelessness, increasing available housing, and increasing education and awareness about housing-related programs and services in Michigan.

    You can see each region’s action plan on the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) Statewide Housing Plan website.

  • Preventing and ending homelessness

    This RHP goal focused on increasing cross-system partnerships to strengthen the homelessness response system, achieve greater stability, and impact social determinants of health. This included linking key contacts at various local organizations involved in homelessness response. The RHP also suggested new resources to be added to the Upper Peninsula Commission for Area Progress’s (UPCAP) 2-1-1 system – a free service connecting Michigan residents with local health and human services agencies and resources.

    Learn about 2-1-1

    Increasing available housing stock

    We are working to increase affordable and attainable housing throughout the Western U.P. through development of new housing of all types, including “missing middle” and workforce housing, and rehabilitation and preservation of existing housing.

    How are we increasing housing stock in the Western U.P.?

    We are…

    1. Providing technical assistance for housing grants.
      Learn about MSHDA MI Neighborhood housing funding

    2. Supporting the creation of a housing-focused organization.

      Learn about the L’Anse Area Community Development Corp.

    3. Creating templates for zoning amendments that municipalities can adopt to remove obstacles to increasing housing supply.  
      Learn more about Transient Rentals Regulations (slides from WUPPDR-supported Michigan State University Extension session)

    4. Developing a comprehensive guide for emerging developers to encourage housing development throughout the Western U.P.
      View our list of key documents, contacts, and utilities information for every municipality in the Western U.P.
      Coming soon: Read our Guidebook for Housing Development

    5. Supporting communities in applying for and administering grants from the Housing Readiness Incentive (HRI) Grant Program, which they can use for master plan updates, zoning text amendments, and other similar land use policy activities.
      Learn more about the HRI Program

    Increasing education and awareness

    We are developing educational materials to raise awareness of existing housing programs and services in Michigan.

    Coming soon: Read our Guidebook for Housing Development

    Coming soon: Find affordable housing in your area

Housing Grant Administration

How does WUPPDR support housing programs in the Western U.P. ?

Housing Development

The L’Anse Area Community Development Corp. is exploring potential development sites in the Village of L’Anse to expand housing opportunities in the area.

Single Family Rehab

We have helped dozens of families in the Western U.P. improve energy efficiency in their homes over the years.

Regional Housing Partnership

RHP housing advocates come together to address housing issues across the state.