Affordability is often discussed as a housing issue, but in mostly rural, sprawling northwest Michigan, affordability is inextricably linked to the costs of transportation. We strive to provide affordable transportation alternatives for our workforce and celebrate when those options are made available. BATA’s regional bus service is an underutilized asset that is well positioned to address the region’s affordability and affordable housing dual conundrums.
Newly-released data from the United Way shows that nearly 40 percent of people in northwest Michigan struggle to meet a basic standard of living. United Way defines the working poor as living at or below a “household survival budget” of $19,872 for a single adult and $58,740 for a family of four.
Affordable housing isn’t just a problem in downtown Traverse City, but for farmers and agriculture workers as well.
Groundwork is partnering with the Health Department of Northwest Michigan (HDNWM) on a Building Healthy Communities program to make healthier food choices easier to make and ultimately impact our communities by reducing the incidence of chronic disease.
The way people think about food is evolving -that much is clear. Their food purchasing decisions are reflecting more awareness about health, environmental sustainability and the implications individual purchasing can have on the local community -socially and economically.
Maureen Robinson learned first-hand that there is a way out of poverty after getting involved in the Traverse Bay Poverty Reduction Initiative (PRI).