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Needs assessment: Ottawa County to grow rental and for-sale supply, short on below-50% AMI units and specialized housing
Summary
County staff summarized a June housing needs assessment showing demand across income ranges, a shortage of deeply affordable rental units and gaps in housing for people with disabilities and seniors.
Paul, a housing commission staff member, summarized key findings from a housing needs assessment presented in mid-June by consultant Ryan Kilpatrick and told commissioners the full report is available in the commission packet and online.
Paul said the assessment projects the county is on track to meet demand for rentals serving 51% to 120% of area median income (AMI) but is underperforming in creating units below 50% AMI. "So less on track, for the below 50% AMI. That's a tougher market," Paul said, and noted nonprofit developers are among the groups working to fill that gap.
The report also showed the for-sale market meeting demand at higher price points but leaving a large affordability gap for households with more modest incomes. Paul highlighted data demonstrating that many professions (for example, schoolteachers) have housing budgets that fall short of median monthly mortgage costs in Ottawa County and urged continuing work on alternative products and capital stacks to serve lower- and middle-income buyers.
Paul and the commission discussed two needs the report flagged for special attention: housing for people with physical or developmental disabilities and housing for older adults. Paul said the needs assessment documented limited supply for people with disabilities and that staff had begun conversations with Community Mental Health (CMH) about convening partners to explore solutions. He also said the county's fastest-growing demographic group is people 75 and older and that the report found limited senior living options in some coastal areas.
Commissioners asked about local demographic data sources and suggested a township-level case study to show how population aging and youth retention trends affect housing demand; a commissioner volunteered to work on a case study.
Ending: Staff said they will circulate the full presentation and report, continue outreach with CMH and local planners, and pursue data-driven local case studies to support zoning conversations and targeted housing policies.
