The Kalamazoo Community Foundation and LIFT Foundation recently collaborated to secure $9.2 million in funding from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority to increase affordable housing in Kalamazoo County.

Through a combination of Low Income Housing Tax Credits and other MSHDA funding, 79 apartments will be renovated at what is currently known as New Horizon Village. Once renovated, the property will be renamed Heather Gardens and will offer 20 subsidized housing units for people with disabilities, and 43 low-income and 16 market-rate apartments and town homes. LIFT will partner with Chicago-based Brinshore Development, LLC on the redevelopment.

"This MSHDA funding will improve the quality and availability of affordable housing and is quite an investment in our community," says David Anderson, board president of LIFT. "We're thankful for the $20,000 of support from the Community Foundation that was critical in receiving the LIHTC award from MSHDA."

According to the Community Foundation's Suprotik Stotz-Ghosh, "Our community has an inadequate supply of affordable housing. Through the LIFT Foundation's efforts, we are pleased to contribute to increasing access to this critical community need. LIFT is well-equipped for this project, with their history of demonstrated success in operating and renovating low-income housing for our community."