The Cadillac Area Community Foundation is hoping to help with the housing shortage, by giving the Cadillac Area Habitat For Humanity money to buy more property in the area.
The foundation awarded the non-profit $35,000 to buy three lots on Mark Lane in Cadillac.
Executive director Doreen Lanc said the properties are empty right now, but they were reasonably priced, making it an attractive purchase for habitat for humanity to develop.
She said it also has the infrastructure for water and sewage already in place.
“This is a small step forward, even if they put three homes on the three lots. But it’s a start and we have to start somewhere,” said Lanc.
Lanc said one of the ideas being tossed around by Habitat for Humanity is putting two houses on two of the lots and then an apartment style property, like a two-apartment unit or a duplex on the third lot.
She said this is exciting because more affordable housing is needed.
“We need several, several. We need apartments. We need houses. You know, manufacturing, our hospital, there’s so many businesses that want to hire help. But there’s no place for someone to move here and relocate and live here. And they want to live in the most beautiful area on earth, but we just don’t have the housing to bring them here,” said Lanc.
Lanc said the timeline for breaking ground on the project is slated for spring.