KALAMAZOO, Mich. (Michigan News Source) — Ten new modular homes are being placed at Sugarloaf Mobile Home Park in Schoolcraft Township to provide stable housing for families in need, Kalamazoo County officials announced during a public update on November 26.

The initiative is part of an effort to address housing insecurity, which includes situations where families live in motels, share overcrowded spaces with others, or face the risk of losing their current housing. The project will prioritize families with school-aged children to ensure stability in both housing and education.

MORE NEWS: Democratic Exodus? Michigan’s Arab Vote Sends a Loud Message

“The idea is to get families that have children in school that are precariously housed into housing and give them wraparound services so that they can be successful,” Gwendolyn Hooker, a member of the Kalamazoo County Public Housing Commission, told MLive.

The first four homes are ready, with families expected to move in by early December. The remaining six units will be completed by Christmas.

The project, funded through the county’s “Homes for All” housing millage, includes modular homes with amenities such as washers and dryers. Rental costs are $870 per month for two-bedroom homes and $920 for three-bedroom units, including the $440 lot fee.

“We’re always looking for ways to be able to provide affordable housing outside of Kalamazoo city proper,” Hooker said. 

Families selected for the program will be able to keep their children enrolled in their current schools, even after moving to Sugarloaf.

“That consistency for the kids is important in school because they don’t have that consistency at home (and) they don’t know what’s going to happen next,” Robin Greymountain, a homeless liaison for Kalamazoo Public Schools, said.

MORE NEWS: State Budget Grows 15.5% Over a Decade, Adjusted for Inflation

The project also includes support services to help families transition into stable living situations. Some families may stay for 18 months while receiving assistance, while others may remain longer if they choose.

The modular homes are funded by $700,397 from the housing millage and supported by a $321,500 interest-free loan for infrastructure upgrades at the mobile home park.

The “Homes for All” millage, a property tax approved by voters in 2020, funds rental subsidies, permanent housing, and related services for Kalamazoo County residents.