WASHINGTON - This month the Housing Next partnership was recognized nationally as one of seven partnerships around the nation to receive the Secretary’s Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships. In coordination with the Council on Foundations, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced the 2022 winners of the Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships on June 23, 2022. The awards recognize the partnership process and its impact as a community strategy to increase the quality of life for low- and moderate-income residents across all American geographies - urban, suburban, and rural.
The Secretary’s Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships recognizes excellence in partnerships that have both transformed the relationships between the public and philanthropic sectors and led to measurable benefits in housing and community development, including increased economic development, health, safety, education, workforce development, disaster resilience, inclusivity and cultural opportunities, innovative regional approaches, and/or housing access for low- and moderate-income families.
“This year’s awardees represent the great diversity of our nation and the tremendous need that exists in communities in every corner of our society,” said HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge. “It is my pleasure to join our partners at the Council of Foundations in highlighting programs that are having a positive impact on people and communities across this nation.”
“We’re honored to celebrate the hard work and vision of these seven community leaders, all of whom have demonstrated the power and impact of strategic collaboration with public sector partners,” said Council on Foundations President and CEO Kathleen Enright. “Congratulations on their success in making communities stronger and more inclusive.”
This year’s winners include:
- Black Hills Area Community Foundation
- Destination Home
- Grand Haven Area Community Foundation (Housing Next)
- JPMorgan Chase Foundation
- Red Lodge Area Community Foundation
- San Francisco Foundation
- St. Croix Foundation for Community Development
Accepting the award on behalf of the Leadership Council was Hadley Streng, President of the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation and founding member of the partnership. “We are grateful to the HUD and Council on Foundations for recognizing the work of Housing Next,” said Streng. “The collaboration of many public, private and philanthropic partners is what allowed Housing Next to focus on addressing our region’s housing problem and we look forward to continued efforts with additional partners. Considerable work has been done over the last five years and there is even more of a need for additional emphasis now than there was when Housing Next formed.”
The award recognized the partners who founded Housing Next and have had a hand in its success over the last 5 years in Ottawa County as well as the new partnerships that led to the recent expansion of Housing Next as a regional partnership. Partners included the Housing Next Leadership Council Partners (The Chamber – Grand Haven, Spring Lake & Ferrysburg, Community Foundation Holland/Zeeland Area, Grand Haven Area Community Foundation, Lakeshore Advantage, Lakeshore Nonprofit Alliance, Michigan West Coast Chamber of Commerce, Ottawa County, United Way of Ottawa and Allegan Counties), City of Grand Haven, City of Holland, City of Hudsonville, Grand Haven Area Community Land Trust, Grand Haven Charter Township, Grand Rapids Chamber Foundation, Haworth Inc., Holland Township, Matthew and Jennifer Haworth, Michigan Community Capital, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Michigan Land Bank Authority, Michigan State Housing Development Authority, Ottawa County Housing Commission and the Village of Spring Lake.
Housing Next’s model of focusing on housing supply, housing stability, and housing subsidies with private sector investment in housing supply at every price point was a highlight of the award. It goes on to detail the Housing Next’s support of local communities in understanding how to utilize state and federal housing programs proved successful in Ottawa County, sparking a 900% increase in investment and housing production for low- and moderate-income households using the tax credit program. Through partnership with the Grand Rapids Area Chamber Foundation the partnership expanded in March of this year to serve both Ottawa and Kent Counties.
“We are beyond thankful for the collaborations that have set the foundation for Housing Next and its continued impact as a regional partnership,” said Brooke Oosterman, Director of Policy and Communications for Housing Next, we are proud to have a model that serves to support housing at all price points through cross-sector partnerships and look forward to the work we as a region will do together. The partnership created here in West Michigan offers hope for the future, an opportunity for policy reform that allows for smaller lot sizes and higher density to serve our growing population and to move us meaningfully forward in the creation of the 37,000 new housing units needed in the two-county region by 2025.
To learn more about 2022 winners and their initiatives, visit: https://www.huduser.