TRAVERSE CITY — The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) has awarded a $500,000 Employer-Assisted Housing Fund (EAH) matching grant to Munson Healthcare in Traverse City, Michigan, to support housing stipends for new employees.
According to a May 27 news release from Munson Healthcare, the EAH Fund, supported by $10 million in state funding, aims to assist employers in developing new housing options by providing matching funds through various means such as cash investments or land donations.
Munson Healthcare plans to use the grant to offer housing stipends to employees who commit to a 24-month contract, potentially hiring 40-60 additional staff for hard-to-fill roles like nursing.
“We have 500 job openings across our healthcare system, and we are using a variety of tools to attract and retain team members in an increasingly competitive housing market,” said Shelley Spencer, Chief Human Resources Officer for Munson Healthcare.
“These grants are more than an investment in housing; we’re investing in our workforce, our economic stability, and our future,” said Amy Hovey, MSHDA CEO and Executive Director.
The Employer-Assisted Housing Fund is a state-funded pilot initiative designed to help employers invest in housing solutions for income-eligible households. These grants are particularly beneficial for rural healthcare organizations like Munson, where housing is a significant barrier to attracting workers.
According to the Michigan Health and Hospital Association, there are currently 23,000 job openings in healthcare across Michigan, highlighting the critical need for workforce solutions.
“Workforce shortages are challenging healthcare systems across the country but especially those in rural areas,” added Spencer. “We thank the State of Michigan for helping to address this critical need and for their support of our Northern Michigan healthcare team, patients, and communities.”
The grant from MSHDA is expected to help Munson Healthcare address workforce shortages by attracting new employees to Northern Michigan, ultimately supporting the healthcare needs of the community.