Welcome to the Northern Michigan Housing Exchange, an online platform connecting people with homes/space to share with local employers and employees who need seasonal or year-round housing.
The goal of the Housing Exchange is to address the local workforce housing shortage in collaboration with the people most impacted by this shortage: the people who live, work, learn, and play here. Together, we can support our local workforce; build relationships between our resident, workforce, and employers; and keep our wonderful communities thriving.
The Housing Exchange is currently being piloted in Benzie and Leelanau Counties as a potential solution to address the lack of workforce housing available in our region.
Are you a future Housing Exchange host? Do you:
- Own property in Benzie or Leelanau Counties with extra space in your home/property that is clean, habitable year-round, safe, with internet access, and available for “long-term” rent (for periods of about 3 to 12 months)?
- OR
- Rent a home in Benzie or Leelanau Counties, with extra space in your home that is clean, habitable year-round, safe, and with internet access, and approval from your landlord to sublet?
AND - Are you interested in making additional income to offset the cost of owning/renting your home?
- Are you concerned about how difficult it is to find local housing for our seasonal and year-round workforce?
- Are you seeking to be a local housing problem-solver?
If yes to the above, you sound like a great fit to be a Housing Exchange host (and hero)!
How it works:
- Host lists their space (room, house, cottage, etc.) by providing basic details regarding lodging location, size, amenities, and cost. Click “submit rental housing” at right.
- Employers who have enrolled in the Housing Exchange program can access the list of available properties and connect their seasonal employee(s) with property host(s).
- The Sleeping Bear Gateways Council updates the exchange platform, provides sample documentation to support hosts and employers, and answers questions along the way.
How do I enroll in the Housing Exchange as an employer?
- Submit this brief online form
- The Sleeping Bear Gateways Council is working to build a comprehensive network of hosts across Benzie and Leelanau Counties. We will open the rental inventory list to participating businesses as new rentals are listed by hosts.
For more details about the Housing Exchange, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.