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New Nonprofit Aims to Develop Affordable Housing in Berrien County
Southwest Michigan Community Land Trust launches to create more workforce housing in the region.
Apr. 17, 2026 at 6:00pm
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A community-driven approach to creating more affordable housing options in Southwest Michigan.Kalamazoo TodayA new nonprofit called the Southwest Michigan Community Land Trust has been established to address the lack of affordable housing in Southwest Michigan. The organization plans to use a community land trust model to develop and maintain affordable homes in the region, with a focus on creating housing for essential workers like teachers, healthcare workers, and first responders who are currently priced out of the local market.
Why it matters
The shortage of affordable housing in Southwest Michigan has forced many essential workers to commute long distances to their jobs, which can negatively impact the local economy, community stability, and quality of life. The community land trust model aims to keep home prices down and ensure long-term affordability for residents.
The details
The Southwest Michigan Community Land Trust will acquire properties, develop them into affordable homes, and then retain ownership of the land while selling the homes to qualified buyers. This model ensures the homes remain affordable even when resold, as the owners agree not to sell at a large profit. The nonprofit is currently assembling partners and has a few projects in the works, although specific details have not been shared. Their goal is to create housing for workers who cannot currently afford to live where they work.
- The Southwest Michigan Community Land Trust was launched about a year ago.
- The nonprofit recently partnered with the Pokagon Fund and assembled a board of advisors with experience in housing development.
- The organization plans to unveil its first affordable housing projects in the coming months.
The players
Dan Buckenmeyer
Director of the Southwest Michigan Community Land Trust.
Pokagon Fund
A partner organization that is supporting the launch of the Southwest Michigan Community Land Trust.
What they’re saying
“Affordable housing is at a premium. In fact, it's fairly nonexistent. So we are deploying a model called a community land trust. It's something that's been around for decades and has been proven not just in Michigan, but nationally and globally. We're going to be the first to bring this to Southwest Michigan, and we're pretty excited about it.”
— Dan Buckenmeyer, Director, Southwest Michigan Community Land Trust
“Essential employees like teachers, healthcare workers, and first responders are commuting long distances. We have evidence that many of them are traveling 45 to 50 minutes.”
— Dan Buckenmeyer, Director, Southwest Michigan Community Land Trust
What’s next
The Southwest Michigan Community Land Trust is currently seeking partnerships with builders, local governments, employers, and donors to support its affordable housing projects and expand access to homeownership in the region.
The takeaway
The launch of the Southwest Michigan Community Land Trust represents a promising new approach to addressing the affordable housing crisis in the region. By utilizing the community land trust model, the nonprofit aims to create long-term affordable housing options for essential workers and strengthen local communities.
