Grand Rapids – September 24, 2026 -- The Grand Rapids Housing Commission (GRHC) hosted camera crews from the Public Television series "All Access hosted by Andy Garcia" on September 23, 2026, for a segment examining how the agency is combining rental assistance, affordable housing development, and resident services to address a tightening West Michigan housing market.
GRHC administers federal rental assistance to thousands of West Michigan households
The Commission delivers housing support through public housing, Housing Choice Vouchers, Project-Based Vouchers, and other federally funded programs, reaching thousands of individuals and families in Kent County.
Agency pursues development partnerships to expand long-term affordable housing supply
Beyond rental assistance, GRHC is structuring redevelopment and new-construction partnerships with nonprofit, public, and private developers, using Project-Based Vouchers and other financing tools to preserve and add affordable units in the region.
Econometrica study aims to update HUD's Fair Market Rent data for Kent County
GRHC has engaged research firm Econometrica to conduct a Fair Market Rent study intended to give the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development updated local rental market data, a move aimed at aligning federal subsidy levels with actual regional housing costs.
Resident programs target economic mobility alongside housing access
The Commission runs the Family Self-Sufficiency Program along with homeownership assistance, financial education, and savings initiatives designed to help residents build income and assets while maintaining stable housing.
"Affordable housing requires more than one program or one solution," said Lindsey Reames, Executive Director of the Grand Rapids Housing Commission. "Our work is about helping families access housing today, creating and preserving affordable housing for the future, and connecting residents with opportunities that support stability, mobility, and self-sufficiency."
The "All Access" segment will document how housing authorities like GRHC are blending traditional rental subsidies with development financing, local market research, and resident services to respond to shifting housing conditions.