Ty Wessel’s push for affordable housing in Leelanau
From staff reports
The Leelanau County Commission — reshaped by a watershed 2014 election that saw Democrats on the board nearly pull even with Republicans — is stepping up to solve the county’s affordable housing crunch. The board voted 4-2, in mid-June, to form a volunteer task force that will study the issue of affordable housing (a topic the Glen Arbor Sun, and other local media, have covered at length).
Traditionally shy of government involvement, the previous board all but disavowed any role in solving Leelanau County’s problems surrounding housing and sustainable employment. The previous commission disbanded the county’s Economic Development Corporation, concluding that job creation was a tool of the private sector, alone. Meanwhile, home and property prices here have surged in recent decades as the wealthy acquire beachfront and sought-after properties. Consequently, service employees have felt the squeeze and often can’t afford to live in the tourism economies where they work.
In June, two incumbent commissioners, both Republican, who voted against the affordable housing task force initiative generated heated reactions from the public after they voiced following controversial statements:
“If we had husbands, wives with children, they would afford a home, but too often we have just a single mother or a single father with families and then they can’t afford to have homes like that,” said commissioner Bill Bunek. “To look at affordable housing, we need to really look at how we’re going to get back to traditional families.”
“We all sit here and we want to be benevolent to those poor people, but actually we’re hindering them,” offered commissioner Debra Rushton. “We’re not changing their behavior to become more accountable citizens. If you don’t change behavior, they feel very comfortable in poverty.”
Enter Ty Wessel, a Democrat from Northport who was elected to the board in 2014, and for whom affordable housing is a key issue. The push for a taskforce to study the issue came from Wessel. The Sun interviewed Wessel about solutions to the affordable housing problem, and whether attitudes in Leelanau County are changing.
Glen Arbor Sun: Who would make up the affordable housing task force? What partners other than Commissioners?
Ty Wessel: The Housing Task Force will consist of two County Commissioners and one representative from each of the following groups: County Planning Office, Business/Agricultural Community, Chamber of Commerce, Grand Traverse Band, Township or Village Official and Leelanau REACH.
Sun: Why are you so passionate about the issue of affordable housing? Tell us about your work with Leelanau REACH.
Wessel: I have been a member of Leelanau REACH (Resources for Economical and Accessible Community Housing) since 2007. My commitment to housing is related to the following realities: Many Leelanau County residents earn an annual wage significantly below the state average and struggle with housing costs that are above the Michigan average. The median-income Leelanau family spends 57 percent of their income on housing and transportation vs. the 45 percent standard. Leelanau County businesses report a severe shortage of available employees due to the high cost of housing and/or lack of housing.
Leelanau County median household incomes and housing values are mismatched. The average Leelanau County home is priced beyond the affordability of the average household. The median home value is $241,000 (the highest average home value in the Northwest Michigan region) with a gap of over $90,000 between what families can afford and what is available.
The recent Regional 2015 Target Market Report documents the need for 132-234 additional housing units, plus a like number of attached units per year for the next five years to meet the county’s minimum housing needs. County government support is essential for townships, villages, and private investors to qualify for existing and available opportunities for housing starts.
Sun: Given the relatively limited power of the County Commission, what can the body hope to accomplish in terms of housing solutions in Leelanau?
Wessel: Addressing the county’s housing shortage requires all partners to work together to market development opportunities, review and consider possible zoning changes, consider possible incentives, establish private/public/nonprofit partnerships, unite housing resources and maintain awareness. The taskforce can promote awareness, provide leadership and support townships, villages, chambers of commerce, nonprofits, Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) and developers.
Sun: Are there particular places where you’d like to see affordable housing units, or mixed-use units built?
Wessel: Recent housing discussions with MSHDA and Networks Northwest have focused upon the need for additional mixed use housing in walk-able communities. As we move forward we need to look at all options — mixed use neighborhoods, smaller lot sizes, ‘granny flats,’ cooperative living arrangements, workforce housing options, manufactured homes, etc. I suspect we have the best probability for success if we focus on mixed-use housing within/or near villages and other walkable communities on transportation routes.
Sun: Commissioners Bunek and Rushton used strong language to express opposition to the task force. What do their views, and their language, tell us about the perspectives of those who oppose affordable housing initiatives in Leelanau?
Wessel: I certainly don’t agree with Commissioner Rushton or Bunek’s stated opinions and I am hopeful that Commissioners will support efforts that address the needs for work force housing, mixed-use housing, and senior-friendly housing. Concerning Commissioner Rushton’s suggestion that families in poverty feel ‘comfortable,’ I strongly disagree and believe the idea to be uninformed and based on her lack of familiarity with the stresses experienced by families who experience homelessness, food insecurity, and financial crisis.
Likewise, I disagree with Commissioner Bunek and believe his stated view about ‘traditional families’ ignores some of the realities about families and our County’s housing needs. I would urge all to consider the statistics to my answer in Question #2 and the following statistics about Leelanau County families: Leelanau County business owners and farmers report severe shortages of employees because of high transportation and housing costs and the lack of available work force housing. Over 10 percent of residents (560 or 15.1 percent children under 18) in Leelanau County are ‘Living Below the Poverty Level.’ Over 250 Leelanau children are living in homes where less than 75 percent of the court-ordered child support is received. 65 children are living in homes where none of the child support owed is received.
Approximately 600 Leelanau families are eligible for Department of Human Services program support (Food, Emergency Relief, etc.). Over 40 percent of Leelanau County students are on free and reduced lunch and their families struggle to access health care, housing, heat, transportation, childcare, clothing and food. 866 Leelanau County residents (8.3 percent) have been identified as unemployed and looking for work. Many Leelanau County residents earn an annual wage significantly below the State of Michigan average and struggle with housing costs that are above the Michigan average.
Sun: Are the prevailing views of Leelanau County residents toward affordable housing changing? Was the 4-2 vote (with one Republican crossing the aisle) indicative of that?
Wessel: The conversations that I’m having with business owners, school officials and general residents have convinced me that there is tremendous support for addressing housing needs in a responsible manner.
As the sources for his statistics, Wessel cited the DHS Green Book (2015), The Annie E. Casey Foundation KIDS Count Report, Networks Northwest Housing Reports (2014-15) and US Census Bureau’s Quick Facts.
