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Channing Street.
I’ve lived in a lot of places in my life, from the early days in St. Clair Shores to the dorms at Michigan State University to my adopted hometown of Ferndale.
But that cozy bungalow on Channing is a spot that holds a special place in my heart and memory.
It was the first home I bought and owned myself, and it brought such a sense of dignity, safety and joy.
I was reminded of that last week when I toured the newest affordable housing development in Royal Oak Township.
The Royal Oak Cottages are a group of 28 beautiful new rental homes that were built with the help of a $2.5 million investment from Oakland County’s Housing Trust Fund. We started the fund two years ago to help expand the inventory of affordable housing in Oakland County.
Because contrary to the myth of Oakland County as home to the wealthy, nearly 45 percent of our residents are “housing cost burdened,” which means they’re paying at least 30 percent of their income on housing.
I want all of our residents to feel the same security I did when I closed on my first home. Whether it’s a brand new rental in Royal Oak Township, a senior condo complex in Pontiac or affordable, accessible housing for people with Intellectual and Developmental disabilities in Rochester Hills, a place to call home exists in Oakland County. And we’re just getting started.
What were once vacant lots in Royal Oak Township have been transformed into a bustling, walkable neighborhood, filled with people who now have the security and joys that come with having a place to call home.
Our investment in affordable housing doesn’t happen in a void, however. We collaborate with banks and developers, the state and local government to help bring these projects to fruition. And so far, we’ve invested in more than nine projects through the Housing Trust fund and other funding sources to bring 1,100 units of affordable, accessible housing to neighborhoods across Oakland County.
Six families have already moved into the Royal Oak Cottages, and two more should be in before the end of the year, with the remainder set for occupancy early next year. That is a blessing for the families and a boon to Royal Oak Township’s economy and certainly a reason to cheer this holiday season.
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