Homeownership is part of the American Dream.
And for more and more Leelanau residents, this dream in unattainable.
A recent county housing workshop painted an unflattering picture of the slow-moving train of affordable housing pushing the county to a tipping point.
Organizers heard from community members and business owners who explained how the lack of affordable housing is impacting communities.
Many people, including professionals and public servants, can’t afford to live in the communities where they work.
A few local fire departments employ firefighters and paramedics who live hours away downstate but work an extensive schedule here, going home on their days off.
A lack of housing is about ready to drive an already dwindling pool of service workers to move elsewhere.
Employers already struggling to fill shifts and are forced to shut down early or close altogether on certain days.
Others are left with positions open as prospective employees face the reality that they may not be able to live where they work.
Local nursing homes appear to have been hit hard, based on frequent advertisements seeking candidates to care for our senior-most residents during their golden years.
It won’t be long before the 34.6% of the county population over 65, the county’s largest demographic group, will need nursing care.
But who will be around to do so? Leelanau County has many homes that are secondary residences. Some of these homes are occupied by snowbirds in the summer, while others are investment properties that are rented out on platforms like Airbnb or VRBO.
However, this takes what was previously year-round housing out of the market, pushing up prices further.
In December 2024, the median price per home sold in Leelanau County was $625,000 — a price way too steep for many.
As they say, the first step to solving a problem is recognizing that one exists.
Given this, it’s time for all parties (municipalities, schools, and businesses) to come together to address this issue.
It’s a multi-faceted challenge, but there are many people devoted to resolving the issue.
We wish them luck and we will continue to shine a light on an issue that could change the very fabric of our community.
