Midland Apartment Occupancy Hits 97%, Squeezing Renters as Affordable Options Shrink
Affordable Housing Alliance's Home Starts Here Campaign Will Preserve and Build Affordable Homes; Donor Gifts Matched Dollar-for-Dollar Through November 20, 2026.
Midland’s rental housing market is nearly full. According to the Community Overview & Housing Market Summary, a study released in 2025 by Bowen National Research, 23 apartment properties in the city of Midland were surveyed, totaling 2,456 units, and just 74 sit vacant — an overall occupancy rate of 97%, leaving renters with few options.
The Affordable Housing Alliance of Midland County (AHA) is responding with Home Starts Here, a campaign supporting an approximately $45 million initiative to rehabilitate 69 existing affordable rental units and build new multi-unit complexes on three AHA properties.
Community gifts made before November 20, 2026, can go twice as far. The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation has committed $2.5 million to Home Starts Here — $2 million directly to the project and up to $500,000 in matching funds. Every charitable donation to the campaign through November 20 will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $500,000.
“Our Trustees are pleased to support Affordable Housing Alliance’s efforts to renovate and expand affordable housing in Midland County,” said Dr. Ruth Alden Doan, president of The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation. “Home Starts Here addresses a critical community need, and we encourage others to invest in this effort to provide housing opportunities in Midland.”
“This matching grant gives our community an incredible opportunity to double the difference it makes,” said Mara Stewart, executive director of AHA. “Every gift brings us closer to preserving homes that people already rely on and creating more affordable housing for the individuals, families, seniors and workers who want to remain part of Midland County.”
AHA has set a $6 million philanthropic goal for the campaign and has already secured strong early support, including $1.75 million from the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation, $850,000 from the Charles J. Strosacker Foundation, $100,000 from Memorial Presbyterian Church's Advance Concepts Committee, $20,000 from the Huntington Foundation, $5,000 from Hemlock Semiconductor, and $30,000 from a Home Starts Here Visionary donor — on top of The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation $2.5 million.
“We are deeply grateful to the foundations, organizations and individuals who recognized the importance of this project and stepped forward early,” Stewart said. “Their confidence in AHA — and in the future of affordable housing in Midland County — is helping turn a long-term vision into a realistic, achievable plan.”
Housing Is the Starting Point
The 97% occupancy rate reflects a shortage that's been building for years. Approximately 51% of renters in Midland County are housing cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of their income on housing, and local employers cite housing availability as a barrier to attracting and retaining workers. AHA's own waiting list has grown to about 180 households, with some applicants waiting more than two years for an affordable home to become available.
“Housing affects nearly every part of a person's life,” Stewart said. “A stable home helps children succeed in school, allows adults to maintain employment, supports better health and strengthens our workforce, so Midland County can remain a place where people at every income level can live and contribute.”
AHA's Role in the Solution
AHA is a nonprofit affordable housing developer serving Midland County. Today, AHA owns a portfolio of 93 affordable rental units throughout Midland County. Home Starts Here builds on that foundation by:
Preserving existing affordable homes for the people who rely on them;
Building new rental housing to meet the county's growing need; and
Strengthening the community by supporting housing stability, workforce participation and long-term opportunity.
The development is expected to serve working families, seniors, veterans, individuals with disabilities and other Midland County residents who struggle to find housing within their budgets.
Community Support Can Unlock the Match
AHA is inviting individuals, businesses, faith communities and civic organizations to help complete Home Starts Here and maximize the available matching funds before the November deadline. Gifts of every size help unlock the match; major gifts and multi-year pledges are also available through the campaign's giving levels.
“This project belongs to the entire community,” Stewart said. “The need is substantial, but so is the opportunity before us. With the support of our foundations and the generosity of individuals, businesses and organizations who share our vision, we can preserve the affordable homes people rely on today and create more of the housing Midland County will need tomorrow.”
To learn more about Home Starts Here or make a donation, visit www.ahamidland.org/homestartshere or contact AHA at 989-633-9910 or info@ahamidland.org.
About the Affordable Housing Alliance (AHA)
The Affordable Housing Alliance of Midland County is a nonprofit affordable housing developer serving Midland County. Founded in 1995 by the Problem Solving Committee of United Way, AHA owns a portfolio of 93 affordable rental units throughout Midland County and works collaboratively with community partners to help ensure residents have access to safe, stable, and affordable housing.
Learn more at https://ahamidland.org.