Munson Healthcare among seven employers across the state to be chosen for the pilot initiative.
The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) has announced that it has approved and awarded a $500,000 Employer-Assisted Housing Fund (EAH) matching grant to Munson Healthcare.
The EAH Fund is backed by $10 million in state funding and offers direct support to employers that contribute matching funds through cash investments, land donation, a below-market interest loan, or a combination to help develop new housing options. Munson will receive a $500,000 matching grant to create a housing stipend for those who commit to a 24-month employment contract within the healthcare system. Munson estimates they will be able to hire between 40-60 additional employees using the stipend program. For this program, Munson is focused on attracting employees to the area into hard-to-fill roles like nursing and other clinical roles.
“We have 500 job openings across our healthcare system, and we are using a variety of tools to attract and retain team members in an increasingly competitive housing market,” said Shelley Spencer, Chief Human Resources Officer for Munson Healthcare. “This support from the State of Michigan provides another welcome tool in our toolbox to attract new employees into hard-to-fill roles, as they relocate to Northern Michigan.”
The Employer-Assisted Housing Fund (EAH) is a state-funded pilot initiative designed to help employers invest in housing solutions for income-eligible households. These new housing grants can be particularly helpful for rural healthcare organizations like Munson where housing can be a major barrier to attracting workers.
“These grants are more than an investment in housing; we’re investing in our workforce, our economic stability, and our future,” said Amy Hovey, MSHDA CEO and Executive Director.
According to the Michigan Health and Hospital Association, there are 23,000 job openings in healthcare across the state of Michigan right now.
“Workforce shortages are challenging healthcare systems across the country but especially those in rural areas,” added Spencer. “We thank the State of Michigan for helping to address this critical need and for their support of our Northern Michigan healthcare team, patients and communities.”