Slow progress on housing efforts

It’s hard to find a home in Leelanau County. And a Bowen National Research study suggests that the most acutely affected people are teachers and first responders — essential workers who tend to get underpaid.

Leelanau County has several housing nonprofit organizations. Each of them plans to add a handful of new affordable housing options to the market in 2025. But progress towards meeting the need is slow.

Homestretch Nonprofit Housing in Traverse City is developing three single-family detached homes this year, one each in Elmwood, Centerville, and Northport. Homestretch serves people at or below 80% of the area median income (AMI). In Leelanau County, the AMI is $71,900.